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Expert: - 1/25/2008


Question
Do you know what the best carnivorous plant would be to grow in Southern California(Orange County)?

Answer
Hello Ryan,

You can grow virtually any carnivorous plant there. Your humidity level would be great even for some of the harder to grow Nepenthes, you would just have to adjust the temperature for them; the seasons provide natural timing for North American Flytraps, Sarracenias, and Sundews. Sub-tropical sundews, like Drosera capensis and Drosera binata would like it there as well. If you want indoors plants, you can grow any tropicals there with no trouble. You could also grow Butterworts and Bladderworts of virtually any species there quite well.

Basically pick a species you like and try it. There are even people in deserts growing carnivorous plants of both temperate and tropical varieties with a bit of environmental control.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

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