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Carnivorous Plants/Freeze dried worms?

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Expert: - 9/2/2011


Question
I've read on another carnivorous plant site, some people feed their plants freeze dried blood worms (a fish food).

I also keep fish and know of this product.  They're actually the freeze dried larva of a species of mosquito, red in color due to the hemoglobin in them.  I've read that people soak them in distilled water first and feed away.  You can buy these at Petco/Petsmart and checking the label, they're 100% all natural, just freeze dried insect larva.

Do you consider something such as this safe to feed to carnivorous plants?

Thanks.

Answer
Hi Akira,

Feeding dried insect products is fine, and can be helpful if your plants are not catching insects on their own.  You'll find them excellent for most pitcher plants since they can readily accept food this way.  Hydrating them is the best way to do it.  Sundews and butterworts also respond well.  The Venus Flytrap is the only plant that doesn't seem to utilize dried, rehydrated insects products.  They seem to need the movement of an insect to finish their trap closure to initiate digestion.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com

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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!

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