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Carnivorous Plants/black young traps
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Question
Hi guys, me again. I've been having some problems with the second Venus flytrap i have. the most puzzling of all would be that all the new young traps are coming in black and dead while the rest of the leaf is perfectly green and healthy. I'm using 50% peat moss and 50% perlite as my medium, and the good ol' sun for light #outside#. I am using a hose that is not hooked up to any softening or sterilization chemicals #or so i am told#. I live in Grand Island Nebraska, and it has been nice and sunny and warm for the past couple weeks now. #sorry no photo#
Hi Joseph,
Are you using water from the tap? If so, check your mineral levels. It should be less than 50 ppm. Otherwise, I would say it's the minerals in the water that causing the symptoms you're seeing. It's OK to use tap water ONLY IF the mineral levels are less than 50 ppm. Of course, the lower the better. Switch to bottled distilled water until you get your tap water checked out.
I recommend watching Volume 1 of the Grow Carnivorous Plants DVD series. In this volume, we discuss the issue of water rather extensively:
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD
Write back as a follow-up if you need further assistance.
Good growing!
Jacob Farin
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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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