• A red-eye tree frog balancing on a globe. The red-eye is one of the most photogenic tree frogs.red eye tree frog on earth image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
  
  Adding live plants to a frog terrarium requires an environment suitable for plants as well as frogs. Lighting, drainage and pruning become important factors in maintaining a healthy frog terrarium. Some plants are suitable for smaller frogs but will be trampled and damaged quickly by larger frogs. It is important that you consider the type of frog when choosing terrarium plants.
  
  

Drainage and Lighting

• The White's tree frog is one of the easiest species to keep and is perfect for beginners.green frog image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com
  
  Frogs don't require additional lighting in their habitats, but plants do. A simple fluorescent bulb works just fine. Look for fluorescent bulbs that provide a color spectrum between 5,000k and 6,500k. This range gives you a very natural looking white light. One bulb is fine; two or three bulbs are better unless the terrarium is small.
  
  Plants rot easily. The substrate of the terrarium must provide very good drainage. While gravel is common, expanded clay aggregate is used in hydroponic farming and is wonderful as your terrarium substrate because it is lightweight and quick draining. A screen to prevent the planting mix from packing into the substrate is recommended. Regular potting soil is not recommended for frog terrariums as it generally contains perlite, which irritates the frog's skin. Ground coconut husks with some chopped fir bark or sphagnum moss provides a great planting medium as does peat moss, leaf compost or a packaged soil blend sold at shops or websites specializing in terrariums.
  
  

Choosing Plants for the Frog Terrarium

• Red-eye frog clinging to the wall of his habitat terrarium.red eyes frog image by Christophe Fouquin from Fotolia.com
  
  In setting up a terrarium for a large frog, choose plants that will not succumb to trampling. A small frog does not wreak damage to plants like a large frog, so more plants are suitable for inclusion in the terrarium. Avoid plants with thorns, spurs or rough edges, which irritate or actually tear the frog's delicate skin.
  
  Calathea leaves provide a great perch for tree frogs, and the Calathea is a hardy plant for terrariums. Bromeliads and epiphytic orchids need very well drained soil, but they can be mounted on a branch or vertically on a terrarium wall to add extra visual interest. Polka dot plants and Philodendrons make excellent terrarium plants. Silver vine is a slow growing vine that has quite pretty foliage. Wandering Jew does not like to be stepped on no matter how large or small the frog, but does beautifully trained upward on walls or branches of the terrarium.
  
  Mosses would grow wonderfully in a frog habitat but, unfortunately, they provide hiding places for your feeder insects, thus upsetting your frog's diet. Keep all terrarium surfaces accessible to your frog so it can find and enjoy its meals.
  
  

Preparing Plants for the Frog Terrarium

• Poison dart tree frog on a leaf. These frogs are poisonous only if they ingest the poisonous ants that make their system toxic.Poisonous frog, Ronario Frog Pond, Costa Rica image by Oren Sarid from Fotolia.com
  
  A plant is not ready to be put into the terrarium the moment you purchase it. Before they are shipped to a greenhouse or box store, many plants have been treated with insecticides, miticides, leaf shine, fertilizers, etc. that may be toxic to your frog friend. Before using in the terrarium, wash the new plants thoroughly with lukewarm tap water. Repot the plants with fresh potting mix and let them get re-established for a minimum of two weeks outside the terrarium. This time allows the plant to recover from the stress of being repotted, and it allows any remaining chemicals to dissipate. If you have purchased your plants from a reputable pet terrarium supplier, it is quite likely that this supplier has grown the plants without toxins and you can skip this step.