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Carnivorous Plants/Beginner In Growing As a Hobby, Pt. 2

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Expert: - 3/26/2009


Question
I asked a question earlier (http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?
m=6&catID=711&qID=4767246) and made the corrections as indicated. Now
the Cobra Lily is dead; the butterwort seems to be dying, and the Pitcher
Plant is doing OK, but not as well as it was. There is a 'frosting' on the new
growing medium that resembles powdered sugar.

I am at a loss as to the next step. I really want to start this hobby, but I am
getting discouraged with results.

Please advise/help...

Answer
Hello Robert,

Since I do not know what corrections were made to the growing setup (I do not see any previous information regarding your first question in my list of answered questions) I will have to ask for a followup with more information pertaining to what you had set up before, what happened, what was done to correct it, and what happened as a result.

From your description, it sounds like mineral buildup on the soil surface from hard water. If the water you are using on your plants is hard, contains minerals, it will drastically sour the soil and cause illness and death in most carnivorous plants.

Make sure to always use distilled, reverse osmosis, or rain water that has not been softened by salt nor has had any minerals added as with what is called drinking water.

Please send me a follow up with more information so I can help you with more depth.

Christopher

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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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