Carnivorous Plants

[weederwoman]

I've got butterworts, sundew, sarracenia and nepenthes in my greenhouse. I use our tap water, but it is good quality (from river, not well). My winter temps are in the 60's and my sarracenia seems happy with that. We are quite cloudy in the winter, so maybe that is enough dormancy for it. I've had these plants for a number of years now. I find them easy. Crickets for the pitchers, the others catch fungus gnats. The sundew is a much better catcher. The butterworts loose their sticky in the winter, but have lovely blue flowers over a long period of time. My sarracenia also flowers. I've got about 10 young nepenthes but all are noid hybrids. Only thing I failed with so far was a flytrap. Couldn't figure out how to feed it.

Laurel

[Skycat]

Originally Posted by weederwoman

Only thing I failed with so far was a flytrap. Couldn't figure out how to feed it.

They feed themselves really well when they're outside (maybe too well, depending on where you live). During the summer, I'd go outside each day to check on my plants and often find the flytraps with all traps closed. They don't even need that much food, but hey, it's nature.

Oh, speaking food, here's a little bonus, what happens when a pitcher chokes on a wasp.

[weederwoman]

poor thing ( I'm not sure which one I mean).
I tried putting the flytrap outside, and some critter dug it out of its pot. Just bad luck I guess. I may try again. Can it go all winter without food inside?

[Skycat]

Yep. They don't seem to need food when they're dormant (which is good because at least one of mine doesn't even have any live traps right now).

[LostInPeru]

So much interesting information on so many different types of CP. Thanks for taking the time to post and share your experiences growing them- it's really helpful.

I've heard that raccoons will dig up venus flytraps and eat them. One owner found raccoon paw imprints in their pots and no flytraps.

Those pictures are great. Thanks for sharing.

I'm thinking of trying to grow the N lowii Mt Trus Madi form as it's supposed to be the largest and quickest growing.

Most people grow them in sphagnum moss but I am a bit worried about using any type of peat or sphagnum as I have heard bad things about it being very dangerous. So I might just try growing lowii in expanded clay like hydroton instead as I don't think they need acidic soil. That way I don't have to worry about root rot or the moss breaking down or getting any type of health issues from using it.

I think lowii can tolerate growing a bit warmer if night temperatures drop by 10 degree celsius(50 degree fahrenheight) at night time. I will certainly give it a try anyway as I have always wanted one. I've read from people who own them on forums that they can be very forgiving of incorrect conditions.

I've read on other forums of people growing lowii in straight peat. Also a tip is to grow them in wide pots to encourage them to get large.

I am unsure how long they take to form upper pitchers but with careful fertilizing and a bit of care I think they can be grown as houseplants.

[My Green Pets]

Is that one with a wasp S. rubra? Just testing myself

[Subrosa]

Originally Posted by CambriaWhat

Is that one with a wasp S. rubra? Just testing myself

Yup.

[Paul]

Ah, but your conditions are far, far different than mine, JungleMe!

My winter RH is 30% if I am lucky ... and that is with a humidifier running 24/7. I doubt yours is ever that low. Furthermore, decent sunlight during the winter months is a very rare thing here. Very different situation than yours.

[Skycat]

Here's how that plant looked when I first got it



And then it grew into this over the summer



Right now it looks like this (well, except for the ice; that's melted now)

[My Green Pets]

Looks great! And very 'rubra' in that last pic. Love how they get completely stuffed with buggies!