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Carnivorous Plants/Water Distiller

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Expert: - 5/12/2009


Question
Hello. I have tons and tons of carnivorous plants outside, and they are costing me an arm and leg to purchase distilled water from the supermarket. I found this water distiller online http://www.pureprousa.com/aboutsystem/Water%20disteller.html and I was wondering if it would work to distill the water my plants need. I live in Arizona and we have extremely hard water so I am very worried about getting all the bad stuff out before watering my plants.

Thanks
Renee


Answer
Hello Renee,

After a good look at that system I am actually thinking about getting one myself. Steam distillation is one of the best ways to remove all of the contaminants that would harm carnivorous plants. If it does what it says it does, it would be a boon for those of us that need to run to the supermarket water machine every few days for gallons of water.

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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