Hibiscus blooms

[DixieParadise]

My sister works at a local florist. When she found out that I got my new Tort, she asked if I could use some Hibiscus blooms. The ones that dry up over night and fall off (not the pretty ones still attached). She gave me a small plastic bag of the blooms, they were a little dried but I took them all the same.

Question: Is this a safe thing to give to my Tort? I am trying so hard to give her a variety, so I thought I would go to the experts.

 

[Cameron]

it's safe as long as they don't use pesticides on them. all of my tortoises love hibiscus.

 

[Kristina]

Absolutely. Hibiscus are healthy and great for your tortoise.

However, coming from a nursery, I would worry about fertilizers and pesticides. I don't worry too much with greens and veggies purchased at the store, although I do prefer to buy organic. But because the hibiscus were not intended for food consumption, chemicals could be at dangerously high levels.

I would suggest just buying a couple of plants, planting them and letting them sit in the rain and the sunshine for a few weeks/months so that the chemicals leach out of them. That also gives you a renewable food source

 

[DixieParadise]

it's safe as long as they don't use pesticides on them. all of my tortoises love hibiscus.

I am pretty sure they are pesticide free. I couldn't beat the price either. Thanks for the reply. I will put them in the pen now and see what happens. It is fruit day, so Gypsy is still munching on some melon.

 

[DeanS]

I NEVER feed anything...no matter how desirable...that comes from a florist, nursery, etc...unless it's first had sufficient time to expel pesticides and fertilizers out of its system...usually a season or so! I would pass on the blooms...but if you were to grow a hibiscus, then you could feed out fresh flowers

 

[DixieParadise]

I NEVER feed anything...no matter how desirable...that comes from a florist, nursery, etc...unless it's first had sufficient time to expel pesticides and fertilizers out of its system...usually a season or so! I would pass on the blooms...but if you were to grow a hibiscus, then you could feed out fresh flowers

Ok. update. Blooms out of the pen. Will take the advice from the experienced ones, since that is why I asked.

 

[dmarcus]

It is most likely that flowers from any florist will have been treated with some type of pesticides because they want to ensure they are providing a nice pest free flower to there customer. With out it they face that problem...

 

[DixieParadise]

I have take tne advice of all that was given. I will pass on the Hibiscus blooms and have removed them from the pen. Thanks everyone, I knew I asked for a reason.

 

[ALDABRAMAN]

Ours love anything hibiscus.

 

[Maggie Cummings]

it's safe as long as they don't use pesticides on them. all of my tortoises love hibiscus.

I am pretty sure they are pesticide free. I couldn't beat the price either. Thanks for the reply. I will put them in the pen now and see what happens. It is fruit day, so Gypsy is still munching on some melon.

I'm just wondering what kind of tortoise Gypsy is...not all tortoises can eat fruit...

 

[DixieParadise]

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