Plant safety question

Okapizebra

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
88
Location (City and/or State)
West Palm Beach, Florida
Hi all, I had some questions about the safety of collected plants. My parents have a yard full of plants but I just don't know if they are safe to feed my tort. I've got 2 general questions:

1. Potted plants. They have a huge aloe plant that's been growing for years. I know it was not planted in organic soil initially. Does this make the plant unsafe to feed? It has never been fertilized or sprayed with pesticides.

2. The yard. My parents have a lawn company that takes care of their yard. My mom claims the only thing they do is fertilize. Does this make anything growing in the ground toxic? What about bushes that grow off to the side? They have a huge hibiscus plant in the yard that I'd love to take advantage of but I just don't know if it's safe. It has never been fertilized or sprayed with pesticides. I'm guessing any weeds/grasses would be not safe?

I'm struggling to come up with ideas of places to collect plants. I'm just so worried wherever I might go gets sprayed with pesticides. I'm unable to grow my own because my HOA does not allow me to grow plants on my balcony (ridiculous). If someone could point me in the right direction I'd be extremely grateful.

Thanks!
 

Michael231

Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2016
Messages
90
Location (City and/or State)
California
What species is the aloe? I’m sure it’s fine to feed, but I’d double check on the Tortoise Table (google Tortoise Table and it will pop right up). It’s got a list of dozens of safe to feed plants, and not-so-safe plants.

Second of all, fertilizer is a general term. There are plenty of natural fertilizers that contain no synthetic materials. However, today, it seems like lots of people opt for the synthetic stuff because it claims to work better and add more nutrients. The synthetic stuff is what you want to look out for. If it’s all natural your safe in my opinion.

It can be tricky getting good produce. Especially when most tortoises opt for more dry grasses, perennials, and flowering plants. For produce, I’d say go organic. What kind of tortoise do you have? If it’s a desert species and needs grasses in its diet, your local supermarket or pet store should sell organic wheat grass you can cut and regrow. You might even be able to sniff out a bargain with your local plant store, where they can give you some leaves and dying flowers they don’t want on display for your tortoise....
 

Okapizebra

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
88
Location (City and/or State)
West Palm Beach, Florida
It's just regular aloe vera. The problem is that we replanted it at one point, and I have no idea what kind of dirt I used. But it's been out there exposed to the elements for years so I wondered if that made it safe.

So does that mean all synthetic fertilizers are not safe? What is in them that makes the plants they grow not to be eaten?

I have a russian. So don't need grass, or even tons of food. I'm just trying to find "safe" areas to collect plants.
 

Blackdog1714

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2018
Messages
4,666
Location (City and/or State)
Richmond, VA
Plantain-Weed-Benefits.jpg

Plaintain weed- they are very abundant this time of year
 

Blackdog1714

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2018
Messages
4,666
Location (City and/or State)
Richmond, VA
Rule of thumb is one year for store boughts-grown in heavily fertilized soil. So 3 years should be good.
 

Blackdog1714

Well-Known Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jul 30, 2018
Messages
4,666
Location (City and/or State)
Richmond, VA
Yep most fertilizers wouldn't last half that long. I find the best in my alley or areas that don't get regular traffic produce the bestest weeds.
 

Michael231

Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2016
Messages
90
Location (City and/or State)
California
It's just regular aloe vera. The problem is that we replanted it at one point, and I have no idea what kind of dirt I used. But it's been out there exposed to the elements for years so I wondered if that made it safe.

So does that mean all synthetic fertilizers are not safe? What is in them that makes the plants they grow not to be eaten?

I have a russian. So don't need grass, or even tons of food. I'm just trying to find "safe" areas to collect plants.

The chemical/inorganic fertilizers tend to be loaded with the nutrients a plant would receive naturally, however they undergo a manufacturing process which has been known to cause harmful chemical outbreaks in certain fertilizers. One such example is the occurrence of Polychlorinated biphenyls, an organic chlorine compound, in some fertilizers. Studies on snapping turtles have shown consumption of these compounds can lead to hatchling turtle deformity. For adults, the effects are less understood, however I wouldn’t want my tortoise eating that!

I think the other worry with fertilizers is that a tortoise could potentially ingest an unhealthy amount of some nutrients, leading to an imbalance of homeostasis and ensuing disease.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
Fertilizer is fine. ALL plants must have it to survive and grow. It does not need to be "organic". Plants grown in "chemical" fertilizers are fine to feed to tortoises or people. Just don't let the tortoise have direct access to the actual fertilizer product.

Your aloe should be fine, but your tortoise probably won't eat it.

Most "fertilizers" used on yards now are a mixture of all sorts of stuff. You need to know specifically what it being used. If its plain fertilizer, you are good to go. If its "weed n feed", or some sort of pesticidal, mix to kill lawn bugs, then its a no go.

When scrounging food abroad I look for unkempt areas, and I look for signs of insect life on the plants or nearby. Look for caterpillar holes on the leaves or leaf edges. Look for ants down below. Look for spiders and spider webs nearby. Look for aphids on some plants. If you see these things, the plant are probably safe to feed to your tortoises. You can always soak collected plants in a five gallon bucket to remove any residuals too. I would not collect plants from any place that is well manicured and maintained by "gardeners" or people you don't know. Even if they tell you it is safe, they often don't know what their guys are doing on a day to day basis.
 

Okapizebra

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
88
Location (City and/or State)
West Palm Beach, Florida
You were absolutely right, I put in a couple pieces this morning and she completely ignored them. I thought torts went crazy for succulents? What's different about aloe?

Thank you so much for the valuable info. That was a huge help!
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
You were absolutely right, I put in a couple pieces this morning and she completely ignored them. I thought torts went crazy for succulents? What's different about aloe?

Thank you so much for the valuable info. That was a huge help!
Any new food will have to be introduced over time. I have aloe growing in with two different species and they don't touch it. In the same enclosures, I have to encircle the spineless opuntia with blocks to keep them from destroying it.

This reply depends on the species, the succulent, and how it is introduced. Many of mine didn't take to spineless opuntia pads at first, but over time they came to love them. Now its a mainstay of their diet for several months of each year.
 

Okapizebra

Member
5 Year Member
Joined
Jan 1, 2019
Messages
88
Location (City and/or State)
West Palm Beach, Florida
How can I get her to eat new things? I've given her many new things that she took to right away. But like the aloe, she wouldn't even try a bite.
 

Tom

The Dog Trainer
10 Year Member!
Platinum Tortoise Club
Joined
Jan 9, 2010
Messages
63,264
Location (City and/or State)
Southern California
How can I get her to eat new things? I've given her many new things that she took to right away. But like the aloe, she wouldn't even try a bite.
Get the old favorites and chop it all up. Wet it down with a spray bottle. Then get a tiny amount of the new stuff and mince it up super fine. When I say a tiny amount, I mean like 1 or 2% of the total amount of food. Mix it all up thoroughly so the tortoise can't eat around the new stuff. Do the same mix for a few days. When the tortoise is eating the whole pile and not trying to skip the new stuff, gradually begin adding more of the new stuff over time. Eventually the tortoise gets used to the new food and will eat it by itself without all the trouble. It takes time and patience. And remember, a hungry tortoise is not a picky tortoise. Up the soaks in frequency and duration during this time if the tortoise starts skipping meal or eating light because of the new stuff. The soaks will ensure good hydration, and usually increase appetite by keeping the bowels moving.
 

New Posts

Top