Growing food in habitat

I got the seeds on sulcatafood.com highly recommend the site. They have a wide selection of seeds to choose from and they are reasonably priced.

So - I planted my broadleaf testudo seed mix in Irwins habitat on Saturday 11/28/15. Here it is Wednesday 12/2/15 and look at my garden grow!!!! I have a 75 watt blue day bulb on it right now. As soon as I get my LED grow lights that I ordered in - I will put them on it and I'm hoping they will grow strong and healthy for my Irwin to graze on. I will absolutely keep you posted!

Looks good let me know how the grow lights work might have to get some myself

Will do. They were reasonable - under 10 a piece.

TSchadel said:

So - I planted my broadleaf testudo seed mix in Irwins habitat on Saturday 11/28/15. Here it is Wednesday 12/2/15 and look at my garden grow!!!! I have a 75 watt blue day bulb on it right now. As soon as I get my LED grow lights that I ordered in - I will put them on it and I'm hoping they will grow strong and healthy for my Irwin to graze on. I will absolutely keep you posted! View attachment 157543

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Look how many germinated! Awesome! Good job! They're starting to stretch looking for light. I'm eager to see what happens once you're able to install the new LEDs.

Very cool. I've been wanting to do this for Tippie, too.

Prairie Mom said:

Look how many germinated! Awesome! Good job! They're starting to stretch looking for light. I'm eager to see what happens once you're able to install the new LEDs.

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Yes. The lights are supposed to be delivered to my Saturday. I will definitely keep you posted and send updated pics

dmmj said:

my suggestion is to grow it in little trays outside of enclosure and put the trays in there once it gets to desired size.

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@TSchadel - maybe I'm mistaken, but when I read dmmj's post don't think he necessarily means under artificial light. A sunny south facing window or outside if possible. Even when it is cold, if you can use a coldframe (mini greenhouse thing) that works well. Growing plants in enclosures brings many benefits, but when the things you grow are really attractive diet items like the Testudo Mix, then they will sorta get destroyed by the very purpose you have them there.

By growing a few trays that can be exchanged into and out of the enclosure, the plants can recuperate after being eaten down.

As for artificial lighting to grow plants indoors, there is a whole industry supporting that interest. Hydroponic stores for indoor plant growers have a huge range of lighting for that purpose. Indoor reptile lights are not a best choice.

Thanks WIll. I plan on doing both. I went ahead and planted in Irwin's habitat - but didn't take into account the re-growth. So I am going to start some trays with different seeds for a variety. I did go ahead and order some plant grow lights. I appreciate all the great advice you and everyone on this forum has given me and Irwin!
Tortoise-ON

I don't use artificial lighting they grow outside in the small trays that the frozen lasagna and other various meals come in. I just swap them out as they get eaten. easy peasy as the young kids say.

dmmj said:

I don't use artificial lighting they grow outside in the small trays that the frozen lasagna and other various meals come in. I just swap them out as they get eaten. easy peasy as the young kids say.

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Since I live in a cold/snow state - I can't grow outside in the winter. So I purchased 2 plant grow LED lights and will use those. Good idea on the lasagna trays..... I've been stocking up on the containers that I get my greens in because they have lids....

I only mention lasagna because I like to eat it but any small plastic tray will do.

well - I finally got my LED lights on the seeds I put in Irwin's habitat. I had the seeds growing for 10 days without "plant grow" lights. It's been 3 days since I put the LED lights on them. Haven't seen much change. I'm going to give it another 10 days - and if I don't see them getting healthier instead of just stringy - I'm abandoning the whole "growing in the habitat" idea. I've already started to brainstorm a plan to make my own greenhouse using the LED lights I have in Irwin's habitat.
As soon as I get my camera working on my darn phone again - I will post pictures...

Grapes said:

Looks good let me know how the grow lights work might have to get some myself

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Well - I abandoned the growin food in Irwins habitat because even with the LED grow lights they were still "stringy". I started some planters in a window and they seem to be doing good. I made my own greenhouse with a plastic tub and the led grow lights and have put several plants in it. They seem to be growing well too. Irwin likes having his whole habitat back as well so all is good!