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Carnivorous Plants/Cultivating gnats?
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Question
Hi Sarracenia Northwest,
I have a terrarium that holds various sundews. Last year the moist, warm, north-Carolinian interior produced a bounty of gnats that were perfect food for them. It was like a small ecosystem in there, leading to some of the biggest, healthiest sundews I've ever managed!
The problem I'm having now is, ever since they've come out of dormancy, I haven't been able to get the gnat-attack back on-line. I think I'm sort of a victim of my own success, now that my sundews are so prolific. My question to you guys is, and this probably sounds pretty silly, any ideas on how I can actually TRY to cultivate these little guys? There is nothing, NOTHING on Google about cultivating/buying gnats or gnat eggs. To most people they are pests, but to my pets they are the perfect self-feeding food! :)
-Chris
PS: I'm taking your advice this year and going to try to grow my VFT's outside. Seems that no matter how good I think my interior grow lighting is, my Red Dragons still manage to turn green with sun envy.
Hi Chris,
The reason you can't find much on cultivating gnats is because your bug, Fungus gnats, are considered serious greenhouse pests. Their larvae eat plant roots. However, if you want to get some going to feed your sundews just get a pot of soil and inoculate it with some soil from a houseplant you seen some gnats flying around. You'll pick up some eggs that way and get them started again. One mans trash is another's treasure.
Good move on the flytraps. Red Dragons need strong sun to produce the dark red.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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Answers by Expert:
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.
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.
Just the straight facts from guys who grow and propagate
thousands of carnivorous plants each year.
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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTION: We no longer answer how-to questions (i.e. How do I propagate...?; How do I grow...?). Instead, we help growers by diagnosing a specific plant problem and offering solutions (i.e. Why is my sundew not producing dew?; Is now a good time to divide my Sarracenia?; Why are the traps turning black?; What's a good substitute for perlite?; Why didn't my seeds germinate?; Can you identify this carnivorous plant for me?) For general plant care, please read our care sheets on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets For business questions: http://www.cobraplant.com/contact |
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