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Carnivorous Plants/food
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Question
Hi could i feed my drosera capensis tetra bloodworms freeze dried food for saltwater and freshwater fish food i heard it could burn them but i am not sure if that is true or not can you tell me is that is true or not and if that is a good idea to feed them that thanks.
Hello Ian,
There is no reason to feed your Sundews. If they are not catching anything for weeks at a time, drop a mosquito or fly on the leaves and let the plants do their thing. If you have to, fish food can be used as a supplement if other insect prey is simply lacking altogether. Only drop a few bloodworms or tubifex worms on the leaves every couple of weeks. Some fish flakes might be fine, but I personally would use the most natural source of prey item I could. Bloodworms and tubifex worms would be those sources. Try to avoid saltwater fish food as that might contain salt, which could harm your Sundews.
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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