When setting up your tarantula or scorpion enclosure, you want to consider adding plants, making the habitat as natural to your tarantulas as possible.
The good news is that when you add live plants to your tarantula or scorpion enclosure, there is no risk of them being eaten, but there is a risk that your pet may climb over them, so you want something that is hardy.
Continue reading for the best plants for tarantulas and scorpions.
1. Silver Elkhorn Fern
Species Name: Platycerium veitchii.
Common Names: silver elkhorn fern, silver staghorn fern.
This plant is a fern that is unique with antler-shaped leaves. This is a very hardy and durable plant that can withstand droughts, but it’s not that happy when the soil is too saturated.
The fern can be mounted to a variety of decorations inside the enclosure, adding a natural touch to your pet’s habitat.
It is a very easy-to-maintain plant and an excellent choice to add to your tarantula’s enclosure.
2. Dwarf Apache
Species Name: Euphorbia milii.
Common Names: dwarf apache, crown of thorns, Christ plant, Christ thorn.
The dwarf apache is a smaller copy of the Madagascar crown of thorns, both are succulents but require tropical conditions.
The thorny stems bush out, growing on both sides of the branches. Foliage is broad leaf evergreen. Note that it can excrete a milky sap, which can cause irritation to your skin.
They grow to around six feet with pink to red flowers during the season.
You must let this plant dry out between watering.
3. Aloe White Fox
Species Name: Aloe rauhii.
Common Names: Aloe white fox, snowflake aloe.
Aloe white fox is a very well-known plant, used in a variety of creams and cosmetics.
This plant is white with green spots, which are rectangular in shape. They grow thick leaves in clumps, that store water.
They must be planted in quick-draining soil and should only water once they become dry. They will die if overwatered. They love the sun and are tolerant of droughts.
The coloration of the plant is determined by how bright the light is, when the light is bright, the brighter the white of the plant becomes.
It must be planted in a well-drained area of the enclosure. Never allow standing water to remain on the leaves.
It looks beautiful in the foreground of your tarantula and scorpion enclosure.
4. String Of Pearls
Species Name: Senecio rowleyanus.
Common Names: string of pearls, string of beads.
This string of pearls plant has small leaves, which look like pearls, with a dark stripe on each pearl. This allows light to get to the center of the leaf. It is a very unique plant and will look fantastic in your scorpion or tarantula habitat.
It requires infrequent watering and should only be watered once the soil dries out completely.
It can take full sun or full shade, which means you can place it just about anywhere in the enclosure, as long as it has well-draining soil.
It is fast-growing, reaching heights of around 48”.
5. Ponytail Palm
Species Name: Beaucarnea recurvata.
Common Names: ponytail palm, elephant’s foot.
The ponytail palm is known for its upright leathery leaves with an expanded base, which allows it to store water.
It can grow up to fifteen feet, so you will need to remove it from the enclosure at some point and replant it as it gets too big. The good news is that it has a slow growth rate, so it will take some time to get there.
This is not a palm or a tree, it is actually a succulent that enjoys regular watering with the water being allowed to dry out between watering.
6. String of Dolphins
Species Name: Curio × peregrinus.
Common Names: string of dolphins, dolphin necklace, flying dolphins, dolphin plant, Senecio hippogriff.
This beautiful succulent has leaves which look just like dolphins jumping out of the water. It makes a beautiful feature in your scorpion or tarantula enclosure.
It doesn’t need much maintenance and only requires watering when the soil completely dries out. You can plant it anywhere in the enclosure, as long as it has good lighting and moderate humidity.
Note that it is slightly toxic, so you will want to wash your hands thoroughly after touching or handling the plant.
7. String of Bananas
Species Name: Curio radicans.
Common Names: string of bananas, fishhook senecio.
String of bananas is a beautiful training vine, which you can add to your tarantula’s habitat to add that natural touch while adding great decoration and hiding places.
The leaves are curved, making them look like bananas. Its flowers have a faint cinnamon scent.
It doesn’t need regular watering and should only receive water once the soil is completely dry. Ensure you have well-draining soil to reduce the risk of root rot.
It should be placed in a well-lit area, where it can thrive in moderate humidity.
8. Xerographica Air Plant
Species Name: Tillandsia xerographica.
Common Names: Xerographica air plant.
This air plant grows on trees, high up in the forest canopy, where they have adapted to rain and fast drying from the air. They do not need soil to grow, receiving all the nutrients that they need from water and light.
They are slow growers.
They do need air circulation and must be allowed to dry out completely between watering, which can make it tricky in your pet’s habitat.
They can be used as the back of the enclosure where they have adequate airflow. Another option is hanging them upside down, where any moisture can drain off quickly.
9. Snake Plant
Species Name: Dracaena trifasciata.
Common Names: snake plant, Saint George’s sword, mother-in-law’s tongue, and viper’s bowstring hemp.
Snake plants are easy to care for and have low maintenance needs while offering decorative foliage for your tarantula’s enclosure.
They are strong and durable with pointed leaves and a patterned stripe. They don’t need regular watering and do well when allowed to almost dry out, but not completely.
They need well-draining soil.
10. Haworthia spp.
These are small succulents that create a rosette of leaves, which can grow from 1.2 inches to 12 inches in diameter.
The rosettes do not have stems and can grow on their own or in clumps. The leaves are tough and fleshy, usually dark green. They do have small white flowers.
When they don’t have water and become stressed, the plant color changes to purples and reds.
11. Echeveria spp.
These plants are original from semi-desert climates forming colorful and symmetrical rosettes, made up of fleshy and spiky leaves.
They are bright in color and thrive in bright light.
They have attractive leaves and flowers and they offer the benefit of being drought resistant, making them ideal for your tarantula’s habitat.
12. Sweetheart Plant
Species Name: Hoya kerrii.
Common Names: sweetheart plant, valentine hoya.
This plant is known as the sweetheart plant because of its beautiful heart-shaped foliage.
It is a very undemanding plant that is drought resistant with mature plants developing heart-shaped leaves as it starts to vine out.
It doesn’t require regular watering and prefers for the soil to dry out before it receives water, damp soil can cause damage.
These are slow-growing plants which develop flowers when they start to vine, which adds color and beauty to your scorpion or tarantula enclosure.
13. Jade Pothos
Species Name: Epipremnum aureum.
Common Names: Jade pothos, golden pothos, Ceylon creeper, hunter’s robe, ivy arum, house plant, money plant, silver vine, Solomon Islands ivy, marble queen, taro vine.
Jade pothos is also known as Devil’s Ivy and is green in color, thriving under low light with low humidity.
The plant is durable and can take abuse from your tarantula or scorpion clambering over it. When the top inch of substrate becomes dry, it is time to water.
Due to the fact that this plant is a vine, it’s recommended that you plant it at the back of your tarantula’s habitat. If you plant it in the soil, it will grow quickly, covering any hardscapes and backgrounds.
It shows off its colors in bright light but can grow in dimmer light.