Expert: Christopher Littrell - 5/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I have 4 butterworts that I have had for a short
time, I keep them inside and they get about 4 hours of sun
a day. My humidity is 50% or a little higher, and at night
I have noticed it goes to 60% or more. How can I get the
humidity higher for them during the day, I know they like
50%, but 60 to 70 is better. Someone told me about the
pebbles in water method, but will that make that much of a
difference. Please let me know if you have some
recommendations for me to raise the humidity. Thanks for
your help..........Scott Clark

ANSWER: Hello Scott,

Thee really is too much hype about humidity for carnivorous plants. My humidity level is between 45-55% for all my carnivorous plants, Butterworts included. It sounds like you have a good setup for your plants and they should do well. Mainly keep the plants away from sunlight that is too direct. They can suffer leaf burn from ultraviolet light. If you note blistering or browning on leaf tips and edges, move the plants farther from the windows by a few inches. There really is no reason for you to raise the humidity.

Christopher

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: One more question, I live in Washington, and I am germinating some seeds or drosera and butterworts, do they need to have air holes in the top of the lids or not, I have seen two schools of thought on this. I have them in clear containers with lids with four holes built in the lids, is this ok or will it work. I guess this is a humidity issue also, but I KNOW FUNGUS CAN GROW WITHOUT AIR, are the air holes good or should I cover them. Thanks...........Scott Clark

Answer
Hello Scott,

Actually, I germinate my carnivorous plant seeds in open pots with no covers in 50% humidity. I mist them once or twice a day to keep up hydration on the seedlings and I have few mold problems. Open air and light help keep the fungus problems down. If you use a cover, keep the airholes open and keep a careful watch for fungus. Your present humidity should be fine for germination so long as you keep the soil moist and mist the seeds well. Fungus spores tend to be removed by misting and open airflow and are killed by ultraviolet light. In closed, stagnant, dark conditions, like a refrigerator, under humidity domes, and in rooms with no fans or vents, mold tends to become more prevalent.

When removing the covers after germination, you will need to slowly adapt the plants to lower humidity by punching more holes in the covers or raising the covers a fraction of an inch every three days until the covers no longer hold in humidity and can be removed after two weeks.

Christopher