Carnivores and Such

[Wireman]

I have to admit, the majority of my plant collection is not composed of orchids. Instead, most of my plants eat things (mostly insects). So without any more delay, my carnivorous plants.


Nepenthes maxima "Lake Poso" is coloring up nicely! It's still relatively small, but exploded in size since I got it in October.

N. maxima "Lake Poso" by Wire Man, on Flickr

Utricularia graminifolia

U. graminifolia by Wire Man, on Flickr

Pot full o' purps. Can you find the hybrid? These are from Reedy Creek Bog in Caroline Co. VA. The site is pretty much dead now since it was sprayed with herbicide.

S. purpurea Seedlings by Wire Man, on Flickr

Largest leaf on the Sarracenia purpurea seedlings.

S. purpurea by Wire Man, on Flickr

Drosera spatulata

D. spatulata by Wire Man, on Flickr

D. venusta

D. venusta by Wire Man, on Flickr

N. burkei, hands down one of my favorite species. Still a baby, but showing potential.

N. burkei by Wire Man, on Flickr

And one of my primary interests, and something I have a real talent for finding in the field, my Sphagnum! This one is Sphagnum molle from Surry Co, VA

Sphagnum molle by Wire Man, on Flickr

Unknown Sphagnum from Caroline Co, VA

Sphagnum by Wire Man, on Flickr

U. multifida has germinated! Both divided lobe form and normal form.

U. multifida by Wire Man, on Flickr

Another of my Sphagnum discoveries, "Cushion" Sphagnum. Found in either Caroline or Surry Co, VA

Sphagnum "Cushion" by Wire Man, on Flickr

Size comparison of my purp seedlings.

S. purpurea by Wire Man, on Flickr

N. naga seedling.

N. naga by Wire Man, on Flickr

N. lavicola is showing some amazing color since I got it.

N. lavicola by Wire Man, on Flickr

D. aliciae

D. aliciea by Wire Man, on Flickr

And finally, a size comparison of my rosetted dews.

Drosera aliciea, spatulata, and venusta by Wire Man, on Flickr

That's it for now.

[tuvoc]

Awesome little 'buggers'. Well done.

Kim

[Gage]

Great job! All very interesting for sure.

[Wireman]

N. lavicola just opened the developing pitcher, and it looks amazing!

[camille1585]

What an awesome collection of carnivores! I love the Droseras, they're so neat looking.
How do you grow your sphag? It looks so nice!

[Wireman]

Thanks! I have a few more Drosera than these that I'll have to post. I think you'll love D. roseanna, which is a pygmy sundews. I'm looking to get more of those and some tuberous species.

The Sphagnum growing is pretty simple. I keep it constantly wet and in bright light. I interned for a small wetlands conservation organization last summer, and that's how I found most of the Sphagnum I'm growing. It grows in very wet conditions in natural sites, sometimes even partially submerged.

[bellini girl]

Very unique plants. Good growing. I envy you, tried growing a pitcher plant once and probs did not have the right conditions and it died

[isurus79]

Great thread! I have a miniature N. American pitcher, some flytraps and a sundew growing right now. Carnivorous plants are VERY cool!

[Wireman]

By miniature to you mean S. minor or one of the 'bug' hybrids? There's a S. flava var. rugellii at the place I interned that produces leaves close to 4 feet tall, so it's the exact opposite. Sadly, that population was destroyed so a guy could build his house on a pond....

Bellini, there's a pitcher plant for just about anyone's conditions (as long as it gets enough light). Sarracenia purpurea grows all the way up to the bottom of the Northwest Territories in Canada, just make sure the plant is from a Canadian population. A plant originating from the Southeast of the US would not last long in such harsh winters.

Nepenthes occur from sea level to 3,000 meters above sea level in Southeast Asia, so their temperature needs with vary drastically depending on the species. Gotta love the sundews. I find some of mine plastered with fungus gnats on occasion.

[isurus79]

I got the Sarracenia at Lowe's so I have no idea what it is!! Here are some pics. What do you think it is?


DSCF5006 by Isurus79, on Flickr


DSCF5008 by Isurus79, on Flickr

---------- Post added at 01:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:07 PM ----------

Going by your pix, I think I have D. aliciea as well. It's really exploding in size right now.