Looks like you've compiled a pretty good list. For the trees you might want to check some bonsai suppliers as they would sell something manageable for a desert vivarium. There are also a few books out about designing desert vivariums.

What do you have planned for substrate? I don't think sand would work. Have you conisidered using kitty litter? Yes kitty litter, the brands with no odor neutralizers or clumping materials are just straight clay. I don't think you will need anything too nutrient rich, the Bearded Dragon poop will provide some.

I have no experience with desert vivs just trying to help .

Wow Hide, that's a pretty extensive list!! Thanks so much for sharing.. I will get searching too for which plants are safe and which we can obtain here in the UK - you're certainly doing some wonderful research, perhaps when the list is final you could write an article on it for publication in our care sheets forum, of which plants are safe and which are toxic etc.

Many thanks again for sharing your findings.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

I am planning on using a redclay/sand mix to give the proper color and texture for a substrate. I may even have to add some tint if it's not red enough. The red ground comes from iron in the soil. I am going to use foam covered in grout to make fake rocks and I have several natural rocks from Australia to use as well. I have two nice large pieces of opal showing good color but uncutable that are going in as well. Sorry Lizard - your not getting my good opal rough! I have an idea of using windows for the glass front and side. I'm not sure yet, but if it will work I can just use pre hung and save myself time and effort. I am going to take photos and keep a list of materials used and of course post them when I'm done. I just hope my soon to arrive lizard likes it when I'm done!

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0.1.0 Bearded Dragon (Dundee)
1.0.0 Chow/mix Dog (Simba)
1.0.0 Russian Hamster (Bear)
1.1.0 Parakeets (Little Tweet and Feathers)
0.1.0 Long hair gray calico cat (Opal)
0.0.3 Red-eared slider turtles (Mommy, Daddy, Robbie)
0.0.16 Fishy Friends - misc. tropical fish

I would NOT recommend using kitty litter. The larger particles will pose more of an acute impaction danger than regular sand would.

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Merlin,
What's Life Without A Little Magic!

The clay/sand mix I am talking about is fortunatly my local dirt mixed with sand. Dampen the clay/sand and tamp down. It should dry as a kind of hard substrate with very little loose particles to cause impaction. I may have finally found a use for this red clay called dirt in this area! If I put down some paper under my substrate then when it is time to clean I should be able to pry up the corners and just lift it out! It does mean that I will have to sift or screen out my dirt and sand to only get the finer pieces. I guess I should bake it as well to ensure it is sterile. I also plan on having a feeding area that is formed out of my fake rock to reduce the chance of impaction.

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0.1.0 Bearded Dragon (Dundee)
1.0.0 Chow/mix Dog (Simba)
1.0.0 Russian Hamster (Bear)
1.1.0 Parakeets (Little Tweet and Feathers)
0.1.0 Long hair gray calico cat (Opal)
0.0.3 Red-eared slider turtles (Mommy, Daddy, Robbie)
0.0.16 Fishy Friends - misc. tropical fish

Would you not just be able to put the plant in a plant pot in the enclosure, so that it can grow in whatever substrate is best for it, but so that you don't have to change your entire enclosure substrate? - that way the beardeds won't suffer but can eat the leaves if they want to. - the only thing about using any kind of soil anywhere is that the crickets seem to love to lay eggs in it and you might end up with thousands of tiny crickets in the tank.

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"If you know everything you may as well blow your brains out because the reason for existence is to learn more everyday." - Mark O'Shea, 2004

Clyde, I like your idea! Beware that Bearded Dragons like to dig. Maybe you can test this soil mix with your Bearded Dragon before putting a lot of effort into it.

There are a few alternatives that might just work. Think hydroponics! A grid/mesh like the ones used in hydroponics might be Bearded Dragon safe and allow you to water your plants without effort. The real problem here, like in every other live plant terrarium, is keep hummidity to a minimum without drying out the plants.

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

My actual area that I am going to put down the Clay/Sand mix for the floor is not that extensive. I intend on having a lot of the floor being mostly flat fake rock. Sort of like shale. I do have some wells for a couple of plant pots planned. I will make some lovely fake rock covers so if one dies or I don't use all of them, I can just pop on the cover and no more hole! I'm not to sure about the thousands of baby crickets if I have fugitives from the feeding area. I guess if I have a problem then I will go with a straight sand. I had not thought much about that!

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0.1.0 Bearded Dragon (Dundee)
1.0.0 Chow/mix Dog (Simba)
1.0.0 Russian Hamster (Bear)
1.1.0 Parakeets (Little Tweet and Feathers)
0.1.0 Long hair gray calico cat (Opal)
0.0.3 Red-eared slider turtles (Mommy, Daddy, Robbie)
0.0.16 Fishy Friends - misc. tropical fish

thats really cool. id like to see a Bearded Dragon setup with live plants. keep the updates comeing!

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1.0 Golden Gecko, 2.o Cresties (super dal/ patternless fire)

that sure is quite a list you have there, i will have to bookmark this topic, so I can refer to it later, great work...

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Jayr & Mandy Robinson
J&M Herp Shack
"Are you watching closely?"