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Carnivorous Plants/my flytrap
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Question
Hello,my name is Corbin,I water my flytraps,sundews,and cobra lily rain water.They are on my window sill.What can i do to know more about these bug bitting plants and how to raise them better
Hello Corbin,
The only ways to learn more about carnivorous plants are to read books and websites devoted to carnivorous plants and to actually grow carnivorous plants and see what happens in the various conditions you place them in.
The best and easiest site to access all kinds of information would be cobraplant.com since the owners place care sheets and an E-book at the disposal of carnivorous plant enthusiasts like you and me.
In general, your Flytraps would prefer full sun outside if you are in a region that is not too hot, too cold, or too windy all the time.
Keep giving your plants rain water and make sure to never fertilize them.
If you are only able to grow them inside, use some 40 watt twin tube shop lights with cool white or true daylight florescent tubes about 6-8 inches over your plants for extra light... the Venus Flytraps will really need it.
Last of all, remember to have fun with your new hobby. Growing carnivorous plants can seem challenging at first, but do not give up and keep learning more about them. Soon you will be growing them like a pro.
Christopher
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Answers by Expert:
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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