There are few things as sad as a crested gecko whose tank contents consist of nothing more than a hide and water and food bowls! Did you know that you can even use real plants in your crested gecko’s tank? There are so many you can use – and they look a lot better than nothing or even plastic plants. 

There is a very wide variety of real plants that you can choose from for your crested gecko’s tank. All of the ones described on our list are safe to use for your crestie – from the popular pothos and bird’s eye fern to the creeping fig and goosefoot. 

Here’s our list of awesome plants that are perfect for your crested gecko’s tank; from angel vine to zebra plant. Keep reading to find out how to choose the best plants and also which plants you should never put in a crested gecko’s tank. 

But first, let’s look at the pros and cons of using live plants instead of fake plants for your crested gecko. 

The Pros And Cons Of Using Real Or Fake Plants In Your Crested Gecko’s Tank 

Using Real Plants For Your Crested Gecko
Pros	Cons
Your crestie will get a more natural habitat to live in	Some plants need a lot of TLC
They will have a lot of space to exercise and explore – especially if you change the setup when you deep clean the tank	You have to water them relatively often, which means that you need to keep a closer eye on the tank’s humidity
You will spend more time with your crestie while keeping their forever home neat and tidy	You need to prune them often to ensure that they don’t take over the tank.
If they do chew on a leaf or two, they won’t be ingesting fabric or plastic	You need to know which plants are safe and which are toxic to cresties

Using Fake Plants For Your Crested Gecko
Pros	Cons
You don’t have to water them, which makes it easier to keep the tank’s humidity stable	They may ingest some of the fabric or plastic by accident
You don’t have to prune them	They can become tatty after a while
You don’t have to worry about them taking over the tank because they grow fast	If you need a bigger plant, you need to buy a bigger one instead of simply waiting for it to grow
You can easily rearrange the plants without them dying	Your crestie can get bored with the plants because they always look the same

24 Plants That Are Safe To Use In Crested Gecko Tanks

Here is an alphabetical list of the plants that are safe to use in crested gecko tanks, including details about each plant’s size, upkeep, and more. 

Creeping Wire Vine (Muehlenbeckia complexa)

A native of New Zealand, the creeping wire vine/angel vine has long, wiry tendrils and small, delicate leaves that makes it ideal as a filler for a crested gecko tank.

Angel vines like humidity, which means that they’ll thrive in a crested gecko tank. Water it once to twice a week, but make sure that the water drains well. 

Angel vines prefer indirect light, so don’t plant them in the warmest part of the tank where the basking spot or other heat source is. (If you are using heat mats, that is a different story, but we’ll come to that later in this article.)

You’ll also need to trim the angel vine relatively often, as the tendrils can grow to be more than 12 feet long if left to themselves. 

Bird’s Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

The bird’s nest fern is a beautiful bright green fern that has large leaves that make for ideal hiding spots for when your crested gecko wants to cool down a bit.

As it likes the level of humidity in the cresties’ tanks and prefers moist soil, it’s best planted away from the basking spot and next to the cool hide. 

The leaves of this fern can grow to be quite large, so you’ll need to prune it to keep it from getting too big for the tank. It’s not as fast-growing as many of the other plants on this list, however. 

Bromeliads (Neoregelia sp.)

Bromeliads come in a wide variety of colors and can be used to great effect in your crested gecko’s tank. They’re especially handy when you want to add pops of color and they’re also easy to grow in a tank as they naturally grow on the sides of trees.

You can give them a cork or bark base to grow on and to stabilize them for when your crestie climbs around on them. 

Great bromeliad additions to your crested gecko tank includes:

• Billbergia 
• Cryptanthus 
• Guzmania 
• Neoregelia 
• Vriesea.

Chinese Evergreens (Aglaonema)

The Chinese evergreen is a fast-growing, beautiful plant that has green and white leaves. It is sturdy enough for your crested gecko to climb on and makes a great focal point when planted at the back of the tank. 

Just remember that the Chinese evergreen likes humidity but doesn’t like too much water, so make sure that the soil dries out a bit between watering.

As far as low-maintenance crestie plants go, this is one of the plants that you can mostly just leave alone and prune when necessary. 

Concinna Prayer Plant (Calathea concinna)

The concinna prayer plant – so called because the leaves open and close in the morning and evening like hands in prayer – has dark, waxy leaves and thrives in a humid environment. 

The prayer plant does need more TLC than some of the other plants on this list and, when watering, make sure that you keep the well-draining soil moist, but the leaves dry. 

Creeping Fig (Ficus pumila)

This creeper is ideal for use at the back of the tank and it forms a mat-like tangle of vines that your crested gecko can climb around on. It also “sticks” to just about any surface, making it an ideal backdrop or filler plant for any crestie tank. 

When we say it thrives in humid conditions, we actually mean that you’ll need to trim this creeper very often to keep it in check and not let it take over the whole tank. It’s an unbelievably fast grower. 

Dwarf Umbrella Tree (Schefflera arboricola)

This smallish tree with its fanned clusters of leaves (hence “umbrella”) and sturdy trunk is ideal for crested gecko clambering and climbing. It enjoys the humidity of the crested gecko tank and is easy to keep trimmed down to size. 

Plant it on the cooler side of the tank and let the soil dry out a bit before each watering as they don’t like too much water. 

Elephant Ears (Alocasia polly)

Elephant ears have large leaves on sturdy stalks that are excellent for cresties to climb and bask on. While the plant is usually dark green with silver-white veins, some of the types of elephant ears do come in other colors. 

It should be noted that the elephant ear needs quite a lot of TLC and isn’t a great plant for beginners to have in a crestie’s tank. Keep it moist and make sure that it doesn’t get direct light and it should grow quite well in your crested gecko’s tank. 

Goosefoot/ Arrowhead (Syngonium)

Another awesome – and quite easy to take care of – plant for your crested gecko’s tank, is the goosefoot or arrowhead plant. Its leaves are usually green and white, but new varieties also have pink in the leaves, making it even more attractive. 

Tip: If you’re looking for the goosefoot variety that contains pink, ask for the “Pink Syngonium” and “Neon Robusta” varieties. 

Although this plant is really easy to grow, it does require quite a bit of maintenance as it’s a fast grower that loves to spread out.

With some help from dried bamboo to grow against and around, you can make a great vertical climbing surface for your crested gecko. 

Goosefoot prefers indirect light and should be allowed to dry a bit between watering. Water about once or twice a week, depending on the size of the plant – the larger the plant, the more thirsty it’ll be. 

Jade Jewel (Dracaena fragrans)

The jade jewel plant is another favorite for crested gecko tanks. Its large leaves may seem floppy, but they’re actually large enough and sturdy enough for a crested gecko to climb around on.

It also tolerates different levels of light well, so you can plant it anywhere in the tank without a problem. 

Unlike some vivarium plants, the jade jewel is slow-growing, meaning that you won’t need to give it that much TLC even if your crestie is climbing about on it the whole day. Also, make sure that the soil that your jade jewel is planted in drains well. 

Lemon Button Fern (Nephrolepis cordifolia)

The lemon button fern gets its name from its lemon scent and leaf shape. However, this plant is more for hiding and for show as the stems aren’t strong enough for your crestie to climb on. 

The fern should also grow well if you keep it moist (but not wet) and keep it trimmed so it doesn’t take over the tank. Plant it more on the cool side of the tank as well, and not on the warm side or close to the basking spot. 

Lucky Bamboo (Dracaena sanderiana)

It is safe to use lucky bamboo in a crested gecko’s tank. You can also use bamboo canes (dried) in the tank to give your crestie extra items to climb on and explore. Some of the available bamboo are fitted with suckers so that they can be fastened to the sides of the tank.

These are easy to clean as well!

Lucky bamboo (which is actually a type of grass!), which is native to Africa, makes an ideal structural plant and focal point for your crested gecko’s tank. They can often be bought in twisted shapes, which makes the plant look even more amazing. 

These succulent-like plants are ideal for your crested gecko to climb on and can serve as a “ladder” between plants of different heights in your crestie’s tank. Avoid giving the lucky bamboo too much direct light. Water the plant about once a week, keeping it moist. 

Snake Plant (Sansevieria laurentii) 

The Snake Plant /Mother-in-law’s tongue has straight, sword-shaped leaves that are green and creamy-white. It’s low-maintenance, but grows to a large and tall size; therefore they should only be planted in large crested gecko tanks. 

Although your crestie won’t be able to climb around on the snake plant, it does serve as a great hiding place and can always be used as a focal point at the back of your crested gecko’s tank. 

Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

The peace lily is able to thrive in many different temperatures and light and isn’t toxic to crested geckos, which make them ideal for crestie tanks and then also for beginner live plant keepers. 

When using the peace lily in your crested gecko’s tank, keep it trimmed and make sure you don’t overwater it. Due to the humidity in the tank, it should need less water than if it was used as a normal houseplant. 

Petra (Codiaeum variegatum)

The striking petra has variegated foliage that will add immediate color to your crested gecko’s tank. The broad leaves and sturdy trunk will give your crestie endless fun and when kept pruned, it won’t take up too much space. 

Because of the petra’s size, it should be planted at the back of the tank to serve as structure for the rest of the plants. You can even trail some sturdy vines over and around the branches. Be sure to let the soil dry out a bit between watering. 

Pillow Moss/Cushion Moss (Leucobryum glaucum)

Pillow moss really looks like their name implies and these squishy cushions are ideal for your crested gecko’s tank as they not only look great, but also keep moisture locked in and in that way help to keep the tank humid.

Your crestie can also nibble on the moss – and some cresties really like doing that. 

Pink Quill (Tillandsia cyanea)

If you’re looking to add some bright color to your crested gecko’s tank, the pink quill with its bright pink stems and purple blooms is ideal. You won’t have to worry about the purple flowers; as they aren’t harmful to your crestie.

They also won’t wilt in the humid environment of your crestie’s tank.  

Pothos/Devil’s Ivy (Epipremnum aureum)

The pothos or devil’s ivy is a rapid-growing vine that has bright green leaves. Low growing, it makes for excellent hiding places for your crested gecko when they want to escape the heat for a while. 

This is one of the most popular plants for crested geckos and looks really good when planted more to the side of the tank as this also gives its vines space to grow.

Although pothos mostly provide shelter, its low vines are ideal for your crestie to clamber on. 

Rabbit’s Foot Fern (Davallia/Humana tyermanii)

The rabbit’s foot fern is a beautiful, light green fern that grows about 5” tall. It can be planted as a terrestrial or grown as an epiphyte (grown on another plant like a weeping fig or dwarf umbrella tree). 

Its rhizomes are furry and silver-white in color, and, when planted on a darker plant or pot, will look striking. The rabbit’s foot fern should remain moist, but not wet. Plant it away from direct light as well. 

Radiator Plant (Peperomia)

Radiator plants only grow to about a foot tall, making them the ideal size for a crested gecko’s tank. They also only need minimal TLC – unlike some of the fast-growing plants on our list. 

The dark green-black leaves of the radiator plant can look very striking when planted between the light and lime green leaves of ferns, goosefoot, etc. Give it indirect light and keep it moist, but not wet. 

Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum)

Spider plants are very adaptable and will make a great addition to your crested gecko’s tank. They aren’t that fast growing, so you won’t have to trim them too often, but spider plants do need well-draining soil otherwise they are prone to root rot. 

Most spider plants are white and green, although there are now also variegated varieties that are just as easy to care for. 

Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina)

The weeping fig is more there for making your crested gecko’s tank look good than it is for giving your crestie a tree to climb around in. You should also choose an older weeping fig that already has a thick trunk.

Your crestie will be able to climb up the trunk, so ensure that you arrange the tank so that they can also clamber around the tank from there using ledges, hammocks, bamboo, etc. 

Zebra Plant (Calathea zebrina)

Not to be confused with the prayer plant, this native of Brazil can grow quite large (6ft. x 3ft.) and is only suitable for the largest of crested gecko tanks.

Some of the varieties have leaves striped in yellow or pink, making them even more striking as a display piece in your crestie’s tank. 

Keep your zebra plant in check through trimming and give it indirect or diffused light to thrive. Don’t overwater it, and check that the soil drains well.

It also helps to maintain the humidity in the tank. Your crested gecko will love exploring this tree with its giant leaves!

11 Plants You Should Never Put In A Crested Gecko’s Tank 

• Begonias (Begonia)
• Braken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum)
• Calla lily (Zantedeschia aethiopica)
• Cycads 
• Dumbcane (Dieffenbachia)
• Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
• Ivy (Hedera spp.) 
• Mistletoe (Phoradendron villosum) 
• Philodendrons
• Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
• Voodoo lily (Dracunculus vulgaris)

All these plants are either not a good fit for a crested gecko tank or they can be poisonous or dangerous in other ways to your crested gecko.

Still, that is no problem at all since we showed you that there are more than enough plants that are a good fit for your crestie tank.

How To Choose Which Plants To Use In Your Crested Gecko Tank 

Having this long list of plants that you can use in your crested gecko’s tank can be quite overwhelming – especially since (unless you have a gigantic tank) you won’t be able to use them all at once.

However, there is a relatively simple way to choose which plants are the best for your crested gecko. 

First of all, you need to take into account the age of your crested gecko and then you need to take into account the size of your crested gecko’s tank. 

The Age Of Your Crested Gecko

Although your crested gecko will always want to climb, you can rather opt for smaller plants while your crestie is a baby or juvenile.

Once they’ve reached adulthood, you can then change up the tank a bit and add larger plants like the dwarf umbrella tree, zebra plant, etc. 

A baby crested gecko can hide beneath smaller plants and thinner vines and stems are able to support their weight. If you use smaller plants like angel vine, you will also be able to find them easier! 

An adult crested gecko will then need larger plants to support their weight when they climb around and go exploring. They will love petras, elephant ears, mother-in-law’s tongue, and bird’s nest fern. 

The Size Of Your Crested Gecko’s Tank

When choosing a tank for your crested gecko, always choose a vertical one rather than a horizontal one. This is because cresties love to clamber and climb.

To only give them a horizontal tank means that they won’t get the exercise that they need to stay healthy. It can also lead to stress because they don’t have enough space. 

A crested gecko’s tank must preferably measure 18″ x 18″ x 24″. This will not only give them enough floor space to move around in, but will also have enough space to add a number of plants and pieces of wood for them to climb on as well as their hides and basking spot. 

A completed setup of a crested gecko’s tank should leave half of the tank’s space open for your crested gecko. Therefore, make sure that you trim and prune the plants back as they grow so that they don’t take over and fill the whole tank. 

Note! Make sure that you only use sterilized wood in your crested gecko’s tank. This will ensure that you don’t bring any pests or diseases into your crestie’s tank by accident. 

Can You Use Potted Plants In Crested Gecko Tanks?

Yes, you can use potted plants in your crested gecko’s tank – as long as you’re using plants that are safe for crested geckos, like those on our list above.

If you do decide to use potted plants, you should ensure that you use good-quality pots instead of just any old container. 

One of our favorite types of pots to use in crested gecko tanks are terracotta pots. These pots are not only hard-wearing, but they also retain moisture much better than plastic pots.

As most of the plants that are used in crested gecko tanks need to remain moist, using clay pots like these are ideal. 

Using pots also makes it a lot easier to remove the plants when you’re cleaning your crested gecko’s tank (without killing them in the process) as well as giving you ample chances to rearrange your crestie’s tank. 

Start with small pots and then get larger pots as needed, hiding them in the substrate, behind hides, etc. 

Tip: When a plant in your crested gecko’s tank becomes too big, you can always just remove it and keep it either as a house plant or plant it in your garden. 

Using A Heat Mat When You Have Real Plants In Your Crested Gecko’s Tank

An important thing to note when using real plants in your crested gecko’s tank, is that you cannot then place a heat mat underneath the tank.

Although heat mats are often put underneath a tank in order to get the right temperature, the plants may die because their root systems get too hot (it’s normally cooler beneath the soil). 

If you want to or need to use a heat mat in your setup as well, you will need to place it on the side of the tank. This will ensure that the heat is still added and distributed where it needs to be in the tank, but without harming the plants.

You should also make sure that you really need to use a heat mat for your crested gecko before buying one. 

Why You Should Know Your Plants’ Maximum Temperature And Humidity Tolerance 

When you’re choosing plants for your crested gecko’s tank, you need to know whether or not your plant likes cooler or warmer temperatures and what its humidity requirements are as this is how you’ll know where in the tank to plant them. 

For example, you will need to plant ferns on the cool side of the tank where they can stay moist for longer. You can also plant the larger plants at the back of the tank with smaller or low-growing plants in the middle and front of the tank. 

Plants that are more succulent-like can then be planted on the warmer side of the tank or close to the basking spot. You can also use the basking spot for plants that require direct light. 

You also have to keep in mind that the plants you use in your crested gecko’s tank are used to high humidity (just like your crestie).

However, with the use of real plants in a crested gecko’s tank, the humidity can fluctuate more than with fake plants. You, therefore, need to keep a close eye on your hygrometer – especially just after watering the plants. 

Tip! If you use real plants in your crested gecko’s tank, make sure that you get a good quality hygrometer that will give you ongoing accurate measurements. 

Plants’ Maximum Temperatures, Recommended Placement, and Watering Schedule

Plant Name	Maximum  Temperature	Humidity Tolerance	Recommended Placement	Watering Schedule
Angel Vine	80 °F |  27 °C	30% to 40%	Away from direct light, to the front of the tank where it’s not as moist.	Weekly, except in winter (then once every two weeks)
Bird’s Nest Fern	80°F | 27°C	40 – 60%	Indirect, low light. Plant on the cooler side of the tank, away from the basking spot.	Wait for the soil to dry out before watering again (every 1 to 2 weeks). Can mist between watering.
Bromeliads	90°F | 32°C	40 – 60%	Bright but indirect light – don’t plant too close to the basking spot.	Mist when the soil starts to get dry.
Chinese Evergreens	75°F | 24°C	60 – 70%	To the back on the coolest end of the tank.	Mist regularly to keep moist.
Concinna Prayer Plant	85°F | 30°C	70% or higher	Plant in the middle of the tank to keep humidity and temperature up.	Mist regularly to keep moist.
Creeping Fig	85°F | 30°C	50% or higher	Plant away from the basking spot to keep the amount of direct light lower.	Keep soil moist by misting regularly, not less than once per week.
Dwarf Umbrella Tree	75°F | 24°C	50% or higher	Plant in the back corner of the cool side.	Let the soil dry slightly between watering.
Elephant Ears	85°F | 26°C	60% or higher	Plant close to the centre of the tank.	Keep moist with deep watering once a month.
Goosefoot	85°F | 30°C	60% or higher	No direct light, so don’t plant it next to the basking spot.	Mist several times per week to keep moist.
Jade Jewel	80°F | 27°C	40 – 60%	Avoid the direct light around the basking spot; plant towards the cooler end of the tank.	Mist regularly, but don’t get the soil more than moist.
Lemon Button Fern	80°F | 27°C	60% or higher	Plant in the middle of the tank, towards the front.	Water thoroughly before planting and then keep soil moist through misting.
Lucky Bamboo	95°F | 35°C	50% or higher	Can be planted anywhere in the tank, but looks really nice forming a “background”.	Mist often with distilled water/tap water standing more than 24 hours.
Mother In-Law’s Tongue	75°F | 24°C	40 – 60%	Plant more towards the cool side, sheltered by larger plants.	Mist once or twice per week.
Peace Lily	85°F | 30°C	60% or higher	Plant on the warm side of the tank, but not too close to the basking spot.	Keep moist by misting regularly.
Petra	85°F | 30°C	40 – 60%	Plant on the warm side of the tank, but not too close to the basking spot.	Let the soil dry slightly between mistings.
Pillow Moss	80°F | 27°F	70% or higher	Plant on the cool side of the tank, sheltered by taller plants, where the humidity is higher.	Mist daily to keep it moist.
Pink Quill	75°F | 24°C	50% or higher	Plant on the cool side of the tank.	Mist to keep moist.
Pothos	80°F | 27°C	50 – 70%	Plant on the cool side of the tank.	Let the soil dry slightly between mistings.
Rabbit’s Foot Fern	80°F | 27°C	60 – 70%	Plant in the shelter of other plants, not in direct light.	Mist to keep moist.
Radiator Plant	75°F | 24°C	40 – 50%	Plant to the front of the cool side as it shouldn’t be in the shade.	Mist every couple of days to keep slightly moist.
Spider Plant	80°F | 27°C	60 – 70%	Plant to the front of the tank on the warmer side.	Keep moist through misting daily or every other day.
Weeping Fig	80°F | 27°C	60 – 70%	Plant to the back of the tank on the warmer side.	Mist to keep soil moist.
Zebra Plant	75°F | 24°C	60 – 70%	Plant to the front of the cool side as it shouldn’t be in the shade.	Mist to keep soil moist.

What To Do If The Humidity In Your Crested Gecko Tank Gets Too High

If you find that the humidity in your crested gecko’s tank gets too high, the first thing to do is not to panic. 

If you’ve just misted the tank and closed it again, the humidity will be very high (in the region of 80% or so) for a while. This is normal and you just need to keep an eye on the hygrometer to ensure that the humidity range goes back to normal within a few hours. 

However, if it’s not a matter of having just misted the tank, or the humidity doesn’t go down, the easiest and fastest way to lower the humidity is to open the tank for a bit.

You don’t have to keep it open long or even open it completely. Just letting some of the drier air in the room into the tank will ensure that you drop the humidity inside the tank. Just be careful not to let the humidity get too low! 

Tip! If you find that the humidity of the tank stays high, you may be misting the tank too often. Cut back on the amount of water you’re using and keep checking the hygrometer to see if the humidity stabilises at the correct level.

How To Choose A Healthy Plant For Your Crested Gecko’s Tank

Choosing the best plants for your crested gecko’s tank is also about choosing the healthiest plants as these will not only look good, but will also be more likely to survive if you don’t have a very green thumb. When you look for plants to buy, keep the following in mind:

• The leaves should be a healthy color – whether that is green or another color
• The stems should be healthy and not soft or black as this is a sign of disease or over-watering
• The root system should be well-developed when you remove it from its original pot to replant it for the tank.

Is A Crested Gecko Plant Kit Any Good?

Whether a crested gecko plant kit is good or not usually depends on the supplier as some suppliers may not have very healthy plants. If you can’t look at the plants yourself before choosing which ones to buy, you need to make sure that you only buy from a reputable supplier. 

Also, make sure that you get a good variety of plants that will not only look good but – even more important – fit in your crested gecko’s tank once they start growing.

You would also want plants that are both fast and slow-growing in order to make it easier for you to keep everything trimmed and not have them take over the whole tank. 

Many of the gecko plant kits suppliers choose the plants for you, so while you have an idea of what you’ll get, the plants may be more of a “luck of the draw” regarding type and even health.

You also won’t be able to choose the size of the plants, making it difficult to know exactly where to plant them. 

If you are a beginner, however, choosing to take a crested gecko plant kit from a trusted supplier may be a very good idea as it will simply make it easier to set up the tank.  

How To Water The Plants In Your Crested Gecko’s Tank

To water the plants in your crested gecko’s tank, simply fill a clean spray bottle or mister with either distilled water or tap water that has stood for at least 24 hours.

This will give the chemicals in the water time to evaporate. Then, taking care not to use too much water, spritz some or all of the plants in the tank. 

Some plants may need to be watered more thoroughly once per month. To do this, water the plants when you clean the whole tank once per month.

While you’re cleaning the tank the water can then drain from the soil in the plants’ pots. You can then start misting the plants again when the soil starts to dry out.

Conclusion

Giving your crested gecko a more realistic natural tank setup can be very good for their overall health, as it will give them ample stimulation and exercise when they climb around on the branches and plants.

Keeping the plants that you’ve added to the tank in check will also give you more time to spend with your crested gecko – so enjoy it!