What do you know about carnivorous plants?
Yuki ~ ♦Lion King of PHÆT♦
2012/06/09 01:50:34
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I've got a massive collection of them.
However, a lot of people who buy them don't seem to have them for very long-- they die rather quickly, despite being very hardy plants.
Education time!
1. These plants HATE fertilizer and miracle grow, and require soil that is poor in nutrients. Most popular choice among CP growers is Spaghnum Peat Moss (from Canada!)
2. They don't like to be poked. It removes dew from sundew plants, grease from butterwort leaves, and expends unecessary energy from venus flytraps. Only pitcher plants are tolerant of gentle handling, and that does NOT include sticking your finger down their "throats".
(Yes, I've seen some adults do this. And the poor plant pictured below is a tropical butterwort that had seen better days.)
3. They like sunlight and open air. Who knew? But most people who get them keep them shaded and, even worse, in terrariums. Even if you see those venus flytraps in terrariums in the grocery store, if you buy one, take the terarrium off. Those plastic little death domes contribute to your plant dying an agonizing and premature death. Tropical plants need terarriums, but North American plants don't. Venus flytraps grow in North and South Carolina-- not exactly "tropical".
4. And very importantly, don't use tap water unless you know the water in your area has a low ppm of solids. You want something as close to rain or run-off water as possible, because most tap water isn't safe for these plants. That's the mistake most people make-- watering every so often with tap won't kill them, but give them nothing but tap, and you'll have a dead plant on your hands.
Most people think these plants are difficult to grow, but they're really not. The solution to this, really, is to leave it outside, water it every couple of days, and let it do its job.
And if you have bug infestations in the house, like fruit flies or tiny little bugs and you have no clue where they came from, I highly suggest getting a sundew plant. Those guys are prolific-- I've seen whole marching trails of ants get caught in them, and enough of them have been enough to do a number on their population. These plants in particular are extremely useful in dealing with small household pests.
However, a lot of people who buy them don't seem to have them for very long-- they die rather quickly, despite being very hardy plants.
Education time!
1. These plants HATE fertilizer and miracle grow, and require soil that is poor in nutrients. Most popular choice among CP growers is Spaghnum Peat Moss (from Canada!)
2. They don't like to be poked. It removes dew from sundew plants, grease from butterwort leaves, and expends unecessary energy from venus flytraps. Only pitcher plants are tolerant of gentle handling, and that does NOT include sticking your finger down their "throats".
(Yes, I've seen some adults do this. And the poor plant pictured below is a tropical butterwort that had seen better days.)
3. They like sunlight and open air. Who knew? But most people who get them keep them shaded and, even worse, in terrariums. Even if you see those venus flytraps in terrariums in the grocery store, if you buy one, take the terarrium off. Those plastic little death domes contribute to your plant dying an agonizing and premature death. Tropical plants need terarriums, but North American plants don't. Venus flytraps grow in North and South Carolina-- not exactly "tropical".
4. And very importantly, don't use tap water unless you know the water in your area has a low ppm of solids. You want something as close to rain or run-off water as possible, because most tap water isn't safe for these plants. That's the mistake most people make-- watering every so often with tap won't kill them, but give them nothing but tap, and you'll have a dead plant on your hands.
Most people think these plants are difficult to grow, but they're really not. The solution to this, really, is to leave it outside, water it every couple of days, and let it do its job.
And if you have bug infestations in the house, like fruit flies or tiny little bugs and you have no clue where they came from, I highly suggest getting a sundew plant. Those guys are prolific-- I've seen whole marching trails of ants get caught in them, and enough of them have been enough to do a number on their population. These plants in particular are extremely useful in dealing with small household pests.
Sort By
- La 2012/06/10 23:22:37Awesome! I never knew any of this!
I've never had a carnivorous plant. We have some cactuses. Easiest plant ever.reply - Flowers 2012/06/09 19:40:24Awesome! I never knew any of this!+2Awesome explanations!reply
- Steve 2012/06/09 18:37:41Awesome! I never knew any of this!+2Some people like carnivorous plants, some carnivorous plants like people:
reply - Ruby Dear - The Fangirl of ... 2012/06/09 05:17:37Awesome! I never knew any of this!+2I actually have an ant problem in my kitchen, would a sundew plant be ok next to a window?reply
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+2A sundew plant would do well next to a window. A lot of small CP's make excellent houseplants, and as long as they get their sunlight requirements, they do just fine. :)reply
- Ruby De... Yuki ~ ... 2012/06/10 03:00:31+2Oh good. I'll take a look for one when I go to the markets next.reply
