Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 10/18/2011

Question
hi,

I've got a venus flytrap, and 2 sundews.(drosera capensis and the othere one i have no idea witch one it is). I live in an appartment in Belgium and was wondering if its ok if i put them at my east window first and later bring them to the west window, to get more sunlight. Or does this give the plants to mutch "stress"? And which is the best location? behind the window or on the window sill? Cause some days i put them on the window sill between 12 and 5 and take them back in after 6 and i was wondering if this is good or just stupid.

Answer
The best thing to do is select the sunniest window you have.  Typically a south window will provide the most sunlight.  If you don't have a suitable south window, then select either an east or west window.  Once you've decided on a location, keep your plants there.  Don't move them.  Plants adapt to a particular location.  If you keep changing their location and microclimate, you can do more harm than good.  

If the window doesn't provide sufficient sunlight for optimal growth, then supplement the lighting with fluorescent lights.  I'm not sure what measurements you use in Europe, but for US growers, we recommend a minimum of 40 watts of actual output.  For basic information about using fluorescent lights with tropical carnivorous plants, read our care sheets on our main website.
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

For demonstrations on how to use fluorescent lights with tropical sundews, watch Volume 2 of the Grow Carnivorous Plants DVD series.
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

Good growing!
Jacob Farin