Carnivorous Plants/Too many bugs?

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Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 11/4/2009


Question

D. adelae
I have three plants, each purchased from you, a D. adelae, P. "Aphrodite" and P. medusina. I purchased these plants last week so they have whatever your nursery's current soil mixtures are for those three plants. I am using a CFL with an output of 1400 Lumens and is equivalent to 100w, light source is about 10" above plants. I water my plants with distilled water, all three plants are sitting in about 1"-2" of water. My growing area is in a window, with the CP growing on a radiator. The radiator is working, since I live in Philadelphia, Pa.

I wanted to know if my plants can catch too many insects. The D. adelae is capturing small gnat like flies, and currently has about 11. These plants arrived on Thursday 10/29. So it is capturing roughly 2 a day. Is this too many insects?

Answer
Hi Gary,

This isn't a concern at all.  During the summer months, it's not at all unusual for our sundews to be specked all over with little insects.  Later this month, we're releasing volume 2 of the Grow Carnivorous Plant DVD series.  This volume will focus on tropical sundews and butterworts.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

Sarracenia Northwest

Expertise

If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!

Experience

With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again. Get the straight facts from the guys who grow and propagate thousands of these plants every year.

Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.

No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.


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