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About Sarracenia Northwest
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
Need help with your carnivorous plants? Ask the growers at Sarracenia Northwest! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin are here to give you myth-free advice regarding the growing of all types of carnivorous plants, including Venus flytraps, Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, Nepenthes, Heliamphora, Cephalotus, sundews, butterworts and bladderworts. If you had trouble growing carnivorous plants in the past, discover the simple secrets to keeping your plants alive, healthy and beautiful.


Experience
With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. Their unique philosophy is unparalleled in the carnivorous plant community!

No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.



Looking for General Care Information?
Read our care sheets on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets


How to Submit Your Question:
Use the "Ask a Question" link below to submit your question. Make sure to provide as much information about your growing conditions, and, if possible, upload a CLEAR photograph of your plant. No cell phone cameras, please. Allow up to 48 hours for a response.

(If you have a business-related question, please use the form on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/contact.)


If the link is not visible...
This means that we are maxed out with the number of questions for the day or we are away from the nursery. Please search the database for recently answered questions (click the link "View Past Answers" below), read our care sheets on our main website or return tomorrow to submit your question. Thank you for your understanding and patience.



   

You are here:  Experts > Style > Gardening > Carnivorous Plants

Questions Answered By Expert  Sarracenia Northwest 
In Category  Carnivorous Plants

SubjectDate Asked

Nepenthes7/10/2009
  Q: I bought a nepenthes.But I don't know it's species.Can you tell what it's name? And how to leaf ...
  A: This looks like Nepenthes x "Miranda". Its a hybrid of Nepenthes northiana and Nepenthes maxima. ...
Month-old Nepenthes Mirabilis severed7/10/2009
  Q: I own a month-old Nepenthes Mirabilis that was growing incredibly fast in a 50/50 sphag. moss and ...
  A: I'm not totally sure I understand what kind of damage occurred, but if your root mass is still ...
defects7/10/2009
  Q: Is it something other than aphids? Am I doing something wrong? I have been using Neem II for the ...
  A: Your plants look perfectly normal and healthy. I see new growth, colors are good, and I can even ...
Nepenthes7/9/2009
  Q: I just want to know some general conditions for my new nepenthes maxima I am going to be growing it ...
  A: It depends what size pot the plant is in. Nepenthes don't mind being a bit root-bound. If you do ...
Darlingtonia7/9/2009
  Q: I have question about cobra lilies;; 1. I want to know is the 4 week-period in fridge good for seeds ...
  A: Give them six weeks. Also, when you stratify seeds of temperate plants such as Darlingtonia, they ...
Nepenthes7/9/2009
  Q: I just want to know some general conditions for my new nepenthes maxima I am going to be growing it ...
  A: You'll be able to have it outside with some partial shade for the summer. I find hanging them under ...
Nepenthes7/9/2009
  Q: I'm from Asia and I've got some drosera seeds: D. Indica and D. Burmanii. I've just sowed them but I ...
  A: 50% shadecloth should be just fine. You'll just need to give your plants time to make new pitchers. ...
Cape Sundew not re-opening7/9/2009
  Q: I have a couple Cape Sundews one is the red version and also the thin leaf. They are in a terraium ...
  A: That's very common on Cape sundews. Newer leaves that capture insects will often unfurl after ...
self fertilization7/8/2009
  Q: So, I have a venus flytrap that I picked up at a local nursery [sadly before I found out about ...
  A: Sometimes another flower on the same plant can work, but usually self-pollinaton doesn't on Venus ...
Nepenthes7/8/2009
  Q: I'm from Asia and I've got some drosera seeds: D. Indica and D. Burmanii. I've just sowed them but I ...
  A: Feeding would help with new pitcher production. In your environment I would be shocked, however, if ...
Questions from Florida7/8/2009
  Q: I have a few questions regarding some plants I have been growing, and hope you can answer them ...
  A: Florida Giant dewthreads are fairly green. Then seldom get at red as typical filiformis filiformis. ...
Recovering Sarracenia7/7/2009
  Q: Well, it has been a tough spring for my Sarracenia. Aphids, lousy weather and who knows what else ...
  A: I know the feeling. We had some significant plant damage this year due to a freak thunderstorm in ...
carnivorous plants in alabama7/7/2009
  Q: is it illegal to dig up plants growing wild in alabama ? there are several that grow wild there, and ...
  A: For two species it would be a federal crime, Sarracenia oreophila and Sarracenia rubra ssp. ...
Drosera seeds7/7/2009
  Q: I'm from Asia and I've got some drosera seeds: D. Indica and D. Burmanii. I've just sowed them but I ...
  A: Both of those species are native to parts of Southeast Asia, so they will do best outdoors. Just ...
nepenthes alata7/7/2009
  Q: you have proberly been asked this question a 100 times over but after scanning threw a heap of the ...
  A: For whatever reason, this isn't mentioned in books or websites much, but Nepenthes often drop their ...
Nepenthes 'caesar'7/6/2009
  Q: ..i just got one off of ebay comming straight from leilani's nursery and i remembered you used to ...
  A: Fertilizer can be of great help, but if your plants are growing fine, and catching bugs, they don't ...
S. flowers and yellow flytraps7/6/2009
  Q: So i had a couple of questions, obviously. :) 1. I have an S. leucophylla and S. alata, and each ...
  A: With those flowers, just cut them off. They won't mature. This happens for some reason, and it may ...
Ailing Cape Sundew7/6/2009
  Q: I have been having trouble with a cape sundew. It was growing well, but then the new leaves started ...
  A: I think all you soil ingredients are fine. I've not had any trouble with the Whitney farms brands. ...
Pitcher Life7/6/2009
  Q: I just ordered a beautiful little N. ventricosa from you about two weeks ago. Of the three pitchers ...
  A: This is pretty common when Nepenthes go through a transition period, especially with ventricosa. ...
vft7/3/2009
  Q: I planted my vft in new dirt. but all the traps aren't closing. even the new one they all look like ...
  A: Venus flytraps definitely need full sun and do best outdoors. Be sure to visit our caresheet pages ...
Pinguicula Medusina7/3/2009
  Q: I currently bought a pinguicula medusina and I have set it in a west facing window and I water the ...
  A: Judith Finn is a cross between Nepenthes veitchii and N. spathulata. It tends to like it a bit warm ...
Nepenthes 'caesar'7/3/2009
  Q: ..i just got one off of ebay comming straight from leilani's nursery and i remembered you used to ...
  A: Caesar essentially likes it bright and warm. It's parents are both lowlanders. (Nepenthes ...
tropical pitcher plant7/3/2009
  Q: have an tropical highland pitcher plant from a greenhouse. the guy told me to put it at the ...
  A: You'll just need to look at the windows in your house and see which ones get some direct sun. To do ...
Minibog salt buildup7/3/2009
  Q: I started a minibog this summer using a ~4 ft diameter plastic kiddie wading pool. After mixing a ...
  A: You probably are getting some mineral build-up. You could also have some decay going on since the ...
RODI Water7/2/2009
  Q: I have seen that lots of people use reverse osmosis units to make pure water for their carnivorous ...
  A: That water is great. With readings like that you practically have distilled water. Our water ...
Bog growing slow7/2/2009
  Q: I started a Carnivorous Plant bog garden early spring, it is approximately 6’ x 4’ and 10”-12“ ...
  A: I don't think you need to replace the soil. They are not really showing signs of hard water damage, ...
Lighting question7/2/2009
  Q: I will be buying a lighting fixture that will have 3 T5 HO florescent tubes. What distance from the ...
  A: I've never personally used these lights. From others I've talked to who have, the consensus is that ...
Can7/2/2009
  Q: I have a Qustion about Sphagnum Moss, can dead sphagnum moss turn into live sphagnum moss, if can ...
  A: My experience has been that Chilean sphagnum doesn't seem to contain live spores. However, the New ...
General Carnivorous Info7/1/2009
  Q: I recently purchased a venus flytrap and a sundew plant. I read that the pot should be in standing ...
  A: For bog species such as Venus flytraps and sundews the crucial concept is that the soil should never ...
how long does it take to form picther7/1/2009
  Q: i just got a nepenthes deroose alata and i just whanted to know how long will a pitcher form, i ...
  A: If temperatures are warm, and you keep your plant well watered, you should see new pitchers in 3-4 ...
Flytrap7/1/2009
  Q: I have a mature Dente flytrap bought from your nursery about 2 or 3 years ago which is growing great ...
  A: What you're observing is called vegetative apomixis. It happens to Venus flytraps often when their ...
Ailing Cape Sundew6/30/2009
  Q: I have been having trouble with a cape sundew. It was growing well, but then the new leaves started ...
  A: I remember talking to you about this problem. I've looked at your photo for quite some time and I'm ...
use of a terranium6/30/2009
  Q: Does a Venus fly trap have to be keep in a terrarium? I will be keeping it in the house. Thank ...
  A: Terrarium growing is one of the leading causes of plant death among first time would-be growers of ...
Heliamphora flower6/29/2009
  Q: I have an unusual problem with my Heliamphora. The flower stem has reached the top of the hood that ...
  A: See if you can use a fluorescent desk lamp above the flower blossom. (Let it go outside the tank). ...
Carnivores plants6/29/2009
  Q: I want to put my vft outside with my Drosera Spathulata and Drosera Pygmy Scorpiodes. where should ...
  A: If you can't get the correct peat moss, you can always order premixed soil from a carnivorous plant ...
Pinguicula Medusina6/29/2009
  Q: I currently bought a pinguicula medusina and I have set it in a west facing window and I water the ...
  A: It does sound like you are watering excessively. When you water, just top water the soil until it ...
Drosophyllum6/29/2009
  Q: I was thinking about getting a Dewy Pine and was wondering how I should care for it? I live in ...
  A: I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but unless you have a sunny, hot west window, or a greenhouse, ...
sibuyanensis6/28/2009
  Q: I have been trying to raise the N. sibuyanensis I purchased from your nursery last year. All I can ...
  A: Because of the growth nature of Nepenthes sibuyanensis, this may be a plant that needs more ...
Dried Sarrs6/28/2009
  Q: I notice no insect type damage. They are sitting in plenty of rainwater in proper CP soil media. ...
  A: This fungus can spread fast if conditions for it are good. I tend to be very wary when we have ...
rain water and pools6/28/2009
  Q: Hey there, I was at your last open house and noticed you use kiddie pools for your plants. I also ...
  A: The black plastic on the pools is a sun shield. The plastic the pools are made from isn't UV ...
northern dewthread6/28/2009
  Q: My northern dewthread has begun to bloom for the first time and it would appear that I have a few ...
  A: The seedpods will turn black and open slightly when ripe. Seeds will need stratification. Just ...
dune craft6/27/2009
  Q: like so many other people I baught the carnivorous creations from dune craft I read that the plants ...
  A: You didn't state if your greenhouse is heated or not. If it's heated, you can keep your seedlings ...
Frequency of watering tray6/27/2009
  Q: hooded pitcher, purple pitcher, and vft in black 1 gallon plastic pots. I took clear plastic 1 ...
  A: When the weather warms up, it's not unusual to have to water your plants frequently. In some ...
Heliamphora flower6/26/2009
  Q: My heliamphora is getting ready to blossom, and I was wondering if it can produce it's own seeds, or ...
  A: It's really difficult to get seeds from Heliamphora flowers. In our years of growing this plant, we ...
Aphids6/26/2009
  Q: I live in Rochester MN, and I purchased this D. Prolifera from you guys last summer and it was ...
  A: Aphids can wreck havoc over your plants, so it's always a good idea to treat them immediately. This ...
Dried Sarrs6/26/2009
  Q: I notice no insect type damage. They are sitting in plenty of rainwater in proper CP soil media. ...
  A: That was a great help. When otherwise healthy leaves suddenly die like that, you may have a ...
Used Coffee Grounds6/25/2009
  Q: I keep reading that coffee grounds added to the soil for most plants can be beneficial; is this the ...
  A: Never tried it. I used them on my garden successfully, and everything I've read says they release a ...
Unknown Plant (to me at least)6/25/2009
  Q: I have a cactus plant that produces 2-6 flowers each summer.Each flower last for 1-2 days. On each ...
  A: Currently there are no know species of cacti or euphorbia know to be carnivorous. What you're ...
sarracenia not growing well6/25/2009
  Q: It is the end of June and my sarracenia are still making weak leafy like pitchers or very small ...
  A: That nailed it. Whenever I coach people on growing carnivorous plants, especially Sarracenia, I ...
drosera regia in SoCal6/24/2009
  Q: I was planning on re-potting my drosera regia. The pot it's in right now seems kind of small for ...
  A: With D. regia, go big. The King likes big pots. Go for a large white plastic pot. Give it about a ...
nepenthes maxima x ventricosa and cape sundew light6/24/2009
  Q: My plants are on a west window and 3 hours of direct sun starting at 2 in afternoon. Since the ...
  A: This question is a similar to your last question. If your Nepenthes is pitchering well, it sounds ...
nepenthes ventricosa x maxima and cape sundew light6/24/2009
  Q: Is it ok if I move my plants that were in a west window to a south east window because the SE window ...
  A: This is one of those situations where you need to evaluate your own windows for light, and just use ...
sarracenia not growing well6/24/2009
  Q: It is the end of June and my sarracenia are still making weak leafy like pitchers or very ...
  A: Your cool spring could definitely part of the problem. From your description it makes me wonder if ...
aphids and watering6/24/2009
  Q: damage to this plant I just need to know what pesticide is good for this plants. and i also need to ...
  A: I don't have any experience doing this. You would need to find out specifically how they use the ...
nepenthus6/23/2009
  Q: What part of the Nepenthus modified into the pot like structure.
  A: The leaf is what is modified to form a pitcher. Flowers are quite different, and no plant on Earth ...
Nepenthes Lighting6/23/2009
  Q: I was wondering what would be a good wattage for nepenthes lighting, as i am currently planning on ...
  A: If you are setting up shelves, use standard "shoplight" fixtures with 48 inch fluorescent tubes. Be ...
flytrap seeds6/23/2009
  Q: Hey guys! Just today i noticed some seeds on one of my flytraps. I collected three of the flowers ...
  A: A little sulfur fungicide never hurts. It is a good preventative. Also be sure to cover them with ...
Mosquitoes6/23/2009
  Q: I have 3 nepenthe alata plants. And I have a few questions. 1-Do mosquitoes lay their eggs in the ...
  A: 1. They probably can, but Nepenthes strong digestive enzymes are hardly ideal conditions. ...
N. Deroose Alata light6/22/2009
  Q: does a N. Deroose Alata need alot of light or just 2-4 hours of light
  A: As long as the window has good bright indirect light the rest of the day, 2-4 hours will be fine. I ...
Venus Fly Trap6/22/2009
  Q: My wife and wanted to plant venus fly traps in our backyard. We live in Seattle, WA and we wanted to ...
  A: If you are manually feeding the plants, yes. However, if you are letting them catch their own ...
definition6/22/2009
  Q: I check out your care sheet for my sarracenia and i dont know what this word mean (vibrant or ...
  A: That sentence is referring to how leaves (pitchers) will grow if they are in lower light. Vibrant ...
bladderworts6/21/2009
  Q: Can aquatic bladderwort be grown in a freshwater aquarium with fish? What issues could there be for ...
  A: Just generally speaking for the average home aquarium, I would say no. The water tends to be higher ...
aphids and watering6/20/2009
  Q: damage to this plant I just need to know what pesticide is good for this plants. and i also need to ...
  A: Use a Neem or Pyrethrins based product. Just follow the label directions. You may need to repeat ...
Venus Fly Trap6/20/2009
  Q: My wife and wanted to plant venus fly traps in our backyard. We live in Seattle, WA and we wanted to ...
  A: Venus flytraps will grow very well outdoors in Seattle. You can't actually plant them in the ground ...
Dionaea and Darlingtonia6/20/2009
  Q: About a month ago I bought a Darlingtonia from my local garden center. It was growing in about ...
  A: I'm afraid your Darlingtonia is on it's way out. When you see new foliage wilting, it's pretty much ...
Sarracenia won't stay upright6/20/2009
  Q: I know I committing a sin by keeping a sarracenia indoors. And I know better because I've read your ...
  A: See if you can find a fluorescent desk lamp you can use to supplement the light with. The ...
Recycling6/19/2009
  Q: Is the popcorn you use to protect your plants in the boxes recycleable?
  A: The peanuts are probably not recyclable at curbside, but check to see if any places in your city ...
No new plant6/19/2009
  Q: I transplanted these 2 pots in March. The one on the right seems to be growing OK, though I would ...
  A: I prefer not to have the water more than 1/4 of the way up the pots long-term. Short periods of ...
Pool water6/19/2009
  Q: i already have a large collection of temperate carnivorous plants (thanks to you all and your ...
  A: Unless you could make sure no pool water would splash onto your plants, that would be a bad spot. ...
light6/18/2009
  Q: whan I have my nepenthes outside in some shade the lid shuts is it getting to much light or is it ...
  A: Ki Kyle, They might, but just give your plant time. They take a little while to adjust after ...
Nepenthes khasiana light6/18/2009
  Q: i just need to know what kind of light it need i live in california. oh will it be a good house ...
  A: You would want it in a west window. The reason I originally didn't give you a specific location is ...
problems with pitchers6/18/2009
  Q: I have a judith hindle and an areolata that i ordered from you. The pitchers about half way up are ...
  A: What you have happening here is what is called "pitcher plant indigestion". Your plants have caught ...
light6/18/2009
  Q: whan I have my nepenthes outside in some shade the lid shuts is it getting to much light or is it ...
  A: This always helps. It's a little hard to tell, but I would say your plant is a Nepenthes sanguinea. ...
Nepenthes khasiana light6/18/2009
  Q: i just need to know what kind of light it need i live in california. oh will it be a good house ...
  A: Yes. It adapts to low humidity well, and does well in windowsills. That's what "makes a great ...
Nepenthes khasiana light6/17/2009
  Q: i just need to know what kind of light it need i live in california. oh will it be a good house ...
  A: Nepenthes khasiana makes a great houseplant. Give it a moderately sunny window. I had a beautiful ...
Water Trays6/17/2009
  Q: I was wondering if there was an ideal "water tray" for carnivorous plants. I have about 9 pots of ...
  A: Anything that holds water is fine. I tend to prefer darker trays since algae doesn't build up as ...
Larva infestation6/17/2009
  Q: i recently found out that the soil on some of my Sarracenia is infested with fungus gnat larva. What ...
  A: A great product for fungus gnats is Neem. Lots of Neem products are on the market currently. Just ...
Sarracenia won't stay upright6/17/2009
  Q: I know I committing a sin by keeping a sarracenia indoors. And I know better because I've read your ...
  A: That always helps. You said it all in your first sentence. That is the greenest Judith Hindle I've ...
No new plant6/17/2009
  Q: I transplanted these 2 pots in March. The one on the right seems to be growing OK, though I would ...
  A: That always helps. There's probably a couple of things going on here. The first is that our summer ...
rain damage6/16/2009
  Q: yea where i live it had rained really hard today and i keep my plants outside. i have a couple of ...
  A: You did pretty much what you can do. They will recover. If strong thunderstorms are predicted, ...
insecticide instructions6/16/2009
  Q: Should I spray only the crown of my sarracenia with a water based insecticide, because this is the ...
  A: Yes, spray the crown. There's no need to saturate the soil. Also spray any leaf tips affected. I ...
Neem II6/16/2009
  Q: Neem II, a product by Green Light. Can I use this product on my outdoor carnivorous plants to ...
  A: This is a great product. It works well and is safe on most cp. Just spray the crown of the plant ...
care N. ventricosa6/16/2009
  Q: I just bought a N. ventricosa, i read the care sheet that came with it but it seem like is wrong. ...
  A: Visit our caresheet pages at http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets. Go to the link on Asian Pitcher ...
nepenthes6/15/2009
  Q: is peat moss and sphagnum moss a good mix of soil
  A: Not by themselves if you're using them for Nepenthes. You need rock ingredients to give better ...
some assorted questions...6/15/2009
  Q: First I'd like to say thank you for your most recent advice, my Sarracenias are both doing well and ...
  A: Your Welcome! We want people to be successful with their plants. Also, thanks for sending the ...
Pet Problems6/15/2009
  Q: How do you keep your dog from damaging your Sarracenia? Just recently my dog has developed an ...
  A: This may seem like a no-brainer, but you need to find a location for your plant that your dog can't ...
Butterworts on your site6/15/2009
  Q: On your website care sheets for the Butterworts for some reason i cannot open the link or the link ...
  A: These butterworts look like Pinguicula primuliflora, and they are looking good. What your doing now ...
Plant Availabilty and growing conditions6/15/2009
  Q: I was wondering if I could ask two questions. I was looking at your website with interest in buying ...
  A: We probably won't have any Drosera capillaris available anytime soon. Because of low demand for ...
N. Ephippiata and growing conditions6/14/2009
  Q: I'm interested in growing a N. ephippiata, but I'm unsure of whether the conditions in my house are ...
  A: Nepenthe ephippiata grows very slowly. I think it took me about a year before my plant produced a ...
Darlingtonia6/14/2009
  Q: I have always been fond of Darlingtonia with it's cobra-like pitchers. I always have wanted one ...
  A: I appreciate your thoughtfulness as you decide whether or not a Darlingtonia will grow well for you. ...
N. tobaica6/14/2009
  Q: 1. Hey guys! Well, i recently bought a N. tobaica from a Nepenthes grower and i was wondering if ...
  A: Nepenthes tobaica adapts well to a variety of growing conditions very much like Nepenthes sanguinea. ...
Drosera Falconeri6/13/2009
  Q: My D. Falconeri was looking great about three months ago, then turned brown after it bloomed, and ...
  A: This species is one of the more difficult species among the woollies to grow in cultivation. While ...
nepenthes6/13/2009
  Q: will my nepenthes do well outside under some shade I live on long island NY
  A: Yes Nepenthes sanguinea will grow well outdoors in Long Island during the summer months. Provide ...
nepenthes6/13/2009
  Q: I just baught a nepenthis and I want to know if it can grow in full sun I think it is a nepenthes ...
  A: Since I don't know where you live, I can't offer any opinions as how your Nepenthes will grow. ...
sarracenia purpurea grow6/12/2009
  Q: I just want to know how long does it takes for a new sarracenia purpurea leaf to grow into a ...
  A: Sundews tend to grow much faster. A new leaf a week is common during the summer. Venus flytraps ...
sarracenia purpurea grow6/12/2009
  Q: I just want to know how long does it takes for a new sarracenia purpurea leaf to grow into a ...
  A: In good growing conditions it will take about 3 weeks for a new pitcher to emerge from shoot to new ...
Coconut6/12/2009
  Q: What is the difference between coconut husk, coir, and fiber? Can all of them be used for Nepenthes? ...
  A: Coir and coconut fiber are the same thing. It's ground up coconut husk used as a substitute for ...
why my sundew dont have dew?6/11/2009
  Q: I got my plant yesterday and i found out that my sundew capensis dont have dew on it and just ...
  A: This is very common after shipping. The plant has been in the dark for several days from shipping. ...
sarracenia purpurea dying6/11/2009
  Q: I'm currently growing a sarracenia purpurea in my windosill where it gets 5 hours of nice strong ...
  A: It could be a number of things. The two things come to mind from your description. The first is a ...
nepenthes6/11/2009
  Q: I just baught a nepenthis and I want to know if it can grow in full sun I think it is a nepenthes ...
  A: Nepenthes sanguinea is a good easy grower. If your greenhouse is super bright you should probably ...
nepenthes6/11/2009
  Q: I am looking to buy 2-3 new neps, Jeff gave me some that he thought were good. I live in Seattle, ...
  A: I can give you information on the ones we've grown. N. ephippiata is a good grower, densiflora is ...
red spots on venus flytraps6/11/2009
  Q: I am wondering if you can tell me what these spots are from on the three venus flytraps I bought ...
  A: The four hour number is a good ballpark figure. I find it varies some by species. I have four ...
Water quality6/10/2009
  Q: I usually use rain water for my carnivorous plants, but it's winter now in South Africa and we don't ...
  A: Bad news I'm afraid. That is very hard water. We recommend no more than 50ppm, your spring water ...
Cephalotus zone 106/10/2009
  Q: Hi Any tips for growing a Cephalotus in zone 10?
  A: Since it sounds like you are going to try and grow it outside, here are some things that should ...
Drosera Roseana Help!!!6/10/2009
  Q: I have been having a few (meaning many) problems with a pygmy sundew, D. Roseana. I am growing it ...
  A: That always helps. What is your water source? This looks like it could be hard water damage. ...
Clipping dead pitchers (Nepenthes)6/10/2009
  Q: I have a Nepenthes Unknown, from a local nursery. I have your ebook and "Savage Garden" but I didn't ...
  A: Clip away! Our general rule of thumb is to clip them when you can't stand to look at them anymore. ...
sundews and sarracenia in z7 texas6/7/2009
  Q: TX. I am fixing to start an outdoor bog. I am going to install a reverse osmosis system for ...
  A: Fortunately there are many heat lovers since many cp originate in the southeast US. The only plants ...
No Butterwort Flowers?6/7/2009
  Q: I have two mexican butterworts (P. Moranesis and P. x 'Sethos') and they will simply not flower. I ...
  A: Try fertilizing. Spray the leaves with an orchid fertilizer mixed at 1/4 strength every two weeks. ...
Nepenthes leaves turning red6/7/2009
  Q: I have a question about two of the nepenthes that I ordered from you last month. As you can see in ...
  A: Both your plants look great. The red color is very normal for Miranda. They develop a beautiful ...
Live spahagnum moss6/6/2009
  Q: I heard that live Sphagnum moss could contain, sporotrichosis, is that true because i need to know ...
  A: Yes, this is true. The other name for sporotrichosis is Rosarian's Disease. Rose growers have been ...
Lighting for D. Capensis6/6/2009
  Q: I am receiving a Drosera Capensis from you in the mail, and I have a small question. I will be ...
  A: Using a compact fluorescent in this way can give excellent results. The combination of natural and ...
Light red...rust?? spots on venus fly trpas6/6/2009
  Q: I have several venus fly traps that were red inside the traps when I got them and after replanting ...
  A: From what you've described my suspicion is that the water is stagnating below in the container. You ...
D. filiformis6/6/2009
  Q: I live in south TN. The summers get to and rema in the upper 90's for a month or two and the ...
  A: The following would all do well in an outdoor bog garden in your area: Drosera filiformis ssp. ...
red spots on venus flytraps6/6/2009
  Q: I am wondering if you can tell me what these spots are from on the three venus flytraps I bought ...
  A: Sorry for taking a bit to get back to you. You can put a little bait around your plant. I've put ...
Sarracenia ssp6/5/2009
  Q: I was wondering what type of subspecies of S. rubra I have. What is causing the browning in the ...
  A: It looks like a bug it caught causing decay. It also looks like an older leaf. Nothing to be ...
bonide insect control6/5/2009
  Q: in your monthly podcast for june you mentioned that u can use bonide insect control to control those ...
  A: Turns out what we were recommending was the liquid, which contains acephate. This is the same as ...
Sundew and ants6/5/2009
  Q: I have started to put my sundews outside in hopes that they will catch some food. My question is how ...
  A: Ants are just fine as prey, but generally sundews don't catch ants that often. They are strong ...
red spots on venus flytraps6/5/2009
  Q: I am wondering if you can tell me what these spots are from on the three venus flytraps I bought ...
  A: On the left leaf you definitely have a pest taking bites out of it. Slugs or snails would be my ...
Light red...rust?? spots on venus fly trpas6/4/2009
  Q: I have several venus fly traps that were red inside the traps when I got them and after replanting ...
  A: Tell me more about your growing conditions. What's the soil media? Water source? Temperatures? ...
Sarracenia ssp6/4/2009
  Q: I was wondering what type of subspecies of S. rubra I have. What is causing the browning in the ...
  A: The sweet pitcher looks like S. rubra ssp. rubra. The narrow pitcher and the veins are what I look ...
Shrinking Venus Flytraps6/3/2009
  Q: I have been growing carnivorous plants for a number of years now and I still have a reoccurring ...
  A: This probably isn't a big deal, especially if the rhizomes look nice and healthy. You might try a ...
Nepenthes Miranda6/3/2009
  Q: What would be the best type of soil for Nepenthes miranda, long fibered sphagnum moss or a mixture ...
  A: Most Nepenthes are tolerant of a wide range of soils as long as they retain moisture, but drain ...
Nepenthes identification6/3/2009
  Q: I saw this plant at a nursery. I want to verify the identity of this plant. Can you help me from the ...
  A: This is Nepenthes x "Miranda". It's a hybrid between Nepenthes maxima and Nepenthes northiana. ...
Plants!6/2/2009
  Q: I've seen a few of your vids on you tube, unfortunately my computer wont let me send a meesage on ...
  A: Most of your questions will be answered in our caresheet pages. We also have a special page devoted ...
yellow lids on sarracenia orephila6/2/2009
  Q: i dont know why the lids of my sarracenia oreophila are a pale yellow? my oreophila grows in 8 hours ...
  A: This helps me out. The yellowing you see is actually normal. However, it usually happens a bit ...
yellow lids on sarracenia orephila6/2/2009
  Q: i dont know why the lids of my sarracenia oreophila are a pale yellow? my oreophila grows in 8 hours ...
  A: This species should have green leaves. Our stock of Sarracenia oreophila grows in direct sunlight ...
sundew6/1/2009
  Q: I have a staghorn from you guys that I have already repotted a couple months ago. It's doing great, ...
  A: Yes, that happens with this plant. A simple remedy is to use a plant stake. I've done this before, ...
Alata getting brown leaf tips6/1/2009
  Q: I've had a large DeRoose alata for almost a year. Actually, its like 5 plants in one pot I think. ...
  A: This helps me out a lot. While it's normal for older leaves to turn brown, when it occurs on newer ...
Carnivores plants5/31/2009
  Q: I just got 1 Drosera Capillaris 1 Drosera Spathulata and 1 Pinguicula Primuliflora when i got them ...
  A: These questions are answered in our care sheets: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets D. capillaris ...
butterwort from death cube5/31/2009
  Q: I purchased a butterwort from a death cube..and i want it out. Last time i purchased a butterwort ...
  A: The process is called hardening off, which is gradually acclimating a plant to lower humidity. It's ...
Nepenthes x Judith Finn5/31/2009
  Q: I receved a Nepenthes x Judith Finn and it was doing fine at first "see picture" but suddenly the ...
  A: In your second photograph, I can see that your plant is growing in peat moss and perlite. This is ...
Carnivores plants5/30/2009
  Q: I just got 1 Drosera Capillaris 1 Drosera Spathulata and 1 Pinguicula Primuliflora when i got them ...
  A: Sometimes sundews and butterworts will lose the dew or stickiness during the shipping process. The ...
Pinched pitchers5/30/2009
  Q: Some of my pitchers are finally opening and they have a pinched appearance. Earlier in the season I ...
  A: Is that a Sarracenia flava or oreophila? I can't tell. In any case, this is weather-related ...
Nepenthes x Judith Finn5/30/2009
  Q: I receved a Nepenthes x Judith Finn and it was doing fine at first "see picture" but suddenly the ...
  A: You mentioned that the photograph is of the plant as you first acquired it. In this case, it would ...
which sarracenia to use for july wedding?5/29/2009
  Q: My fiance and I are planning our wedding for July 25. We would like to have a sarracenia sp. for ...
  A: This would depend on your color scheme, the quantity you need and your source for the plants. If ...
planting different species of VFT togeather5/29/2009
  Q: Good day Jeff & Jacob. I have recently purchased several different species of VFT from Sarracenia ...
  A: Venus flytrap is a monotypic species, which means there is only one species of flytrap. Cultivated ...
Pitcher Problems5/29/2009
  Q: I have a Pale Pitcher that I repotted this year (it's in its third year of growth). I left most of ...
  A: The spindly growth may be from lack of sufficient sunlight. If you have your plants in shade or ...
Bog Rock mulch5/29/2009
  Q: I started a Carnivorous Plant bog garden in Zone 5, it is approximately 6’ x 4’ and 10”-12“ deep. ...
  A: Avoid using that type of rock for top dressing. Instead, use pea gravel, which is washed river ...
Nutrients in peat moss5/29/2009
  Q: What is the maximum amount/percent of nutrients that peat moss can have (nitrogen, potash, and ...
  A: A better question is: Is it necessary to list nitrogen and other micronutrients in peat moss? I ...
watering and temps for darlingtonia in bog5/28/2009
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove NC. As you know I've had plans to build a bog and grow darlingtonia. My bog is ...
  A: If a drip system isn't possible, then water your plants twice daily, once in the morning and once in ...
Nepenthes Identification5/28/2009
  Q: My parents bought me this Nepenthes for my birthday from our local florist, but it came without any ...
  A: That's a hybrid of Nepenthes alata, more specifically Nepenthes alata x (alata x ventricosa). It's ...
Nepenthes5/28/2009
  Q: I just got back from college a few days ago to find my Nepenthes Raffelsiana in a not-so-good ...
  A: Part of the problem is the plant itself. It's a lowland plant, so it likes it consistently warm and ...
Harvesting VFT seeds5/28/2009
  Q: I have a typical Venus Flytrap that has been growing exclusively outdoors and is doing tremendously ...
  A: You'll need to wait until the seedpods turn black and split open. When the you see small shiny ...
how can u tell the difference?5/28/2009
  Q: I have 50 sarracenia purpureas.... how can u tell the differerence between a sarracenia purpurea ...
  A: In general, purpurea ssp. purpurea has shinier, smoother pitchers, while purpurea ssp. venosa has ...
Sped-up growth5/27/2009
  Q: - Since I live in a zone 9 climate, I was wondering if the summer heat will speed up growth in ...
  A: It's not just the daytime temperature, but the nighttime temperature that affects plant growth. In ...
Pinguicula on lava rock5/27/2009
  Q: I have a Pinguicula moranensis. I bought it when it was about the diameter of a quarter, I have ...
  A: You'll need to go to a specialty nursery that might carry decorative rocks. Since I don't live in ...
not what the box says?5/27/2009
  Q: I know buying from death cubes is taboo but they were right in front of me and i couldnt resist. ...
  A: The plant is Sarracenia minor. The lid over the pitcher is to keep out rainwater, so avoid putting ...
Invasive Green Moss5/27/2009
  Q: I have a problem with some sort of dark-green moss that grows in some of my CP pots. I try to ...
  A: The only safe way to get rid of it is to repot your plant in fresh soil. Another option is to ...
PROPAGATION OF SARRACENIA BY USING DEAD LEAF PULLINGS5/26/2009
  Q: THE OTHER DAY I WAS PULLING OFF THE DEAD LEAVES THAT HAD FORMED AROUND MY SARRACENIAS WHEN I ...
  A: Most likely not. The leaf needs to be alive and have lots of green in it for photosynthesis. If ...
Subspecies5/26/2009
  Q: I had ordered a yellow trumpet (medium) from you, and was just wondering it almost looks like a ...
  A: That's most likely a copper top. Because there's a lot of gradations of copper top and red vein, we ...
can you please identify5/26/2009
  Q: i have one sarracenia purpureas that i bought from ebay. it wasnt labeled except for "sarracenia ...
  A: After viewing your second photograph, I've decided that both plants you have are Sarracenia purpurea ...
dead venus fly trap5/22/2009
  Q: It was a really good one because it had lots of traps and about to flower. At the time I thought ...
  A: The issue is acclimation. This is a process in which a plant adapts to its new environment. ...
drosera dichotoma5/22/2009
  Q: let me preface this question by saying thank you! I know you guys get tons of emails about ...
  A: First, make sure your water is appropriate for carnivorous plants. These plants require ...
cephaltous outdoors5/22/2009
  Q: What recommendations would you have for growing some of my carnivorous plants outdoors for the ...
  A: In the wild, Cephalotus will get partial to full sun. (Definition of full sun is 6 or more hours of ...
Ping questions5/21/2009
  Q: I have just recently gotten a Pinguicula Planiflora and I would like to put it in one of my outdoor ...
  A: Planifolia likes it hot and humid. It's one of those plants that hates it here in Oregon. They ...
Poor looking N. Ventricosa5/21/2009
  Q: I bought this young plant in a 3in pot from you guys back in January and it doesn't seem to be doing ...
  A: In this case, move your plant to a location where it would get only about 2 hours of direct sunlight ...
Lighting question5/21/2009
  Q: I have three sets of double-tubed florescent lights in my living room for the plants. They are also ...
  A: This depends on the strength of your lights. In any case, decreasing the daylight hours is best, ...
tiny worms on soil5/21/2009
  Q: Not sure if you can help me without a picture, but i figured i'd give it a try anyway. A few night ...
  A: Use any product with pyrethrin. I mentioned Safer® only because that's what we use. Fungicides ...
sarracenia5/21/2009
  Q: I know by looking at your photos and podcasts that you grow your Sarracenia in full sun. I wondered ...
  A: Yes, S. rosea will turn deep red as the season progresses. When leaves first emerge, they're pink. ...
Cape Sundew Questions5/20/2009
  Q: I have 3 varieties of cape sundew ( typical, red leaf, white leaf ) and here are my concerns with ...
  A: Keep in mind that I don't know how you're growing your plants, so I can't give you my assessment of ...
Deformed Daina's Delight5/20/2009
  Q: I have an issue that I'm not quite sure what to make of... Here's what I did in March: -I re ...
  A: In this case, I would have needed your location to assess your climate. I'm in zone 8, and our ...
Is she healthy?5/20/2009
  Q: I've been on forums a lot recently, and peeps have been saying my plant doesn't look healthy and i ...
  A: The flytrap definitely looks like it was grown in very low light conditions. The long lanky leaves ...
sarracenia seeds5/19/2009
  Q: I got seeds from rare seed source.com I have stratified the seeds for 4 weeks and nothing I used 50% ...
  A: Two things come to mind. First, you might need to give your seeds more time to germinate. After ...
My new Sarracenias are withering!5/19/2009
  Q: I purchased a few plants from you less than a week ago, S. flava and S. leucophylla and a VFT, and ...
  A: Your plants are doing just fine. The leaf in question regarding your flytrap is likely from the ...
Nepenthes Shock? And Butterwort Flower fell off..5/19/2009
  Q: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brandonbebout/3546211915/sizes/m/ Hi, This is my Nepenthes I got from ...
  A: Both plants look fine. Pitchers last for only a couple months. After that they slowly dry up. ...
VFT5/19/2009
  Q: I live in Northern Indiana, I am wondering when my flytraps will sprout back, along with my many ...
  A: It's hard to say. Unearth your flytraps and examine the bulb. If they're firm and white, they're ...
Nepenthes in the NW5/19/2009
  Q: I am newer to nepenthes, I have all kinds of other carnivorous plants that do well and I keep them ...
  A: Many of the Nepenthes that are listed on our website will grow well for you. We try to select ...
Add on to the last D. Prolifera question5/18/2009
  Q: Ok, so I live in NY,NY and my Prolifera gets around 3 hours of direct light and then an hour or so ...
  A: As long as your plant has lots of dew on it, it's happy where it is. The other plants, D. anglica ...
Butterwart identification5/18/2009
  Q: Can you tell me what type of butterwart I have here? Thank you Craig
  A: The proper method of identifying butterworts is with leaves and flower. What you have is a gorgeous ...
tiny worms on soil5/18/2009
  Q: Not sure if you can help me without a picture, but i figured i'd give it a try anyway. A few night ...
  A: Those are most likely fungus gnat larvae. You definitely want to treat for them because they'll eat ...
help!!!5/18/2009
  Q: Hey guys, It's been a pretty good spring except for two problems that I seem to have #1. My ...
  A: 1) It could be rot, but judging from the photograph, it could also be just a mild leaf imperfection. ...
Drosera adelae5/14/2009
  Q: I have included a photo of my Drosera adelae that I received last fall. Throughout the winter, it ...
  A: Ah, given that information, I'd say mites would be the culprit! Use permethrin to combat the mites. ...
Nepenthes soil mix5/14/2009
  Q: Recently I decided to repot my Nepenthes Truncata after two years. I would have repotted earlier, ...
  A: What a gorgeous plant! Yes, your current soil mix will do just fine. All the soil mixes we mention ...
Perlite5/14/2009
  Q: This question is just out of curiosity. The nice snow-white color of the perlite on top of 50:50 ...
  A: Yes, that's exactly what's going on. As you've discovered, a layer of decorative rock does the ...
i5/14/2009
  Q: hey, i heard that it is ok to put fly traps in the fridge. Is this true? also i live in san antonio ...
  A: The fridge method is specifically about winter dormancy. We're a long ways from winter, so lets ...
the transplanting of sundews and flytraps5/14/2009
  Q: I just wanted to ask you guys a quick question regarding flytraps and sundews. I will very shortly ...
  A: The process of replanting flytraps and sundews is the same as for Sarracenia. Keep in mind that we ...
Drosera adelae5/13/2009
  Q: I have included a photo of my Drosera adelae that I received last fall. Throughout the winter, it ...
  A: A couple factors might be affecting your plant, and I might need a bit more information from you to ...
Heliamphora5/13/2009
  Q: I was thinking about getting a Heliamphora for an unused 27 gallon aquarium i got. I just have a ...
  A: 1) Cool nights (50°-60°F) are essential if the day temperatures rises above 85°F. Otherwise, if you ...
A cheaper mister for Heliamphora5/13/2009
  Q: I've just bought a mister/spray bottle from a local pet store. It is made for terrariums. It ...
  A: The idea of a terrarium is to keep the humidity at a consistent level throughout the day. As long ...
nep5/13/2009
  Q: SO i bought a nep from lowes and placed it in direct full sun outside..and it started wilting..so ...
  A: That's a Nepenthes? I can't tell from the photograph. In any case, Nepenthes don't belong in full ...
VFT5/13/2009
  Q: I have ordered a PRIVATE COLLECTION red dragon VFT from you guys. An I was just wondering, every new ...
  A: The trap speed is dependent on age and temperature. Traps trigger slowly when they first open up ...
i am an idiot..dnt hate me5/12/2009
  Q: So the other morning i was kinda hazy and i went to check on my drosera capensis..and the flower ...
  A: The only cons of not having a flower stalk is that you won't have any seeds for future propagation. ...
Water Trays5/12/2009
  Q: My collection has outgrown my bogs, so I am resorting to the water tray method. I am using cat ...
  A: You know, I don't go by inches. Instead I go by pot height since pots range in sizes. My general ...
Nepenthes Sanguinea5/12/2009
  Q: Sometime ago, I bought a Sanguinea, later a fluorescent light that gives off 20,000 lumens of light. ...
  A: I actually don't go by percentage of light or lumens because I rarely use artificial lights for my ...
sphagnum5/12/2009
  Q: I want to know how to start live sphagnum moss through the dead stuff and the live stuff. Can you ...
  A: Once the moss is dried, it won't become live moss. Some growers were lucky enough to acquire ...
Nepenthes Rafflesiana5/7/2009
  Q: I ordered a this Nepenthes Rafflesiana about a month ago, and until last week, it was doing pretty ...
  A: Oh dear! Your plant is on a downward spiral! What it needs is lots of water. The type of pot ...
Nepenthes Rafflesiana5/7/2009
  Q: I ordered a this Nepenthes Rafflesiana about a month ago, and until last week, it was doing pretty ...
  A: Something else is going on. The lack of sunlight for one day isn't an issue at all. Consider the ...
Water Distiller5/7/2009
  Q: I am growing american pitcher plants, sundews, flytraps and tropical pitcher plants. I live in ...
  A: Yes, as your collection of plants grow, buying the amount of distilled water to keep your plants ...
nepenthis spp5/6/2009
  Q: I was at lowes and i couldnt help but notice the death cubes of CPS..i got a butterwort..that ...
  A: Ideally a sunny south window is best. Otherwise, you can grow it outside until winter arrives. ...
butterworts5/6/2009
  Q: Hey i recently bought (in a death cube unfortunately :( :() two CPs..the one i have a question ...
  A: Butterworts in general have very short root system. So what you're seeing is actually normal. It's ...
Fertilizer for Sarracenia5/5/2009
  Q: Today I bought a box of Miracid fertilizer and was hoping I could fertilize my Nepenthes with it, ...
  A: I wouldn't use Miracid. The reason is because it uses aluminum slats to increase soil acidity. ...
Larger plastic pots5/5/2009
  Q: Several of my Sarracenia and Flytraps are thriving in 6 inch plastic pots that I bought from you. I ...
  A: I don't know of any sources for larger round pots. We get our pots directly from the manufacturer ...
Nepenthes Gracilis5/5/2009
  Q: I've bought a small nepenthes Gracilis recently, and I've heard that the plants need high humidity ...
  A: Nepenthes gracilis is native Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia. So if you live in this part of ...
i5/5/2009
  Q: im planning to buy a venus fly trap and i have no idea of growing one. I was wondering if you guys ...
  A: The general care for growing flytraps is a bit too extensive to cover in this format. Instead, I'm ...
pinguicula medusina and drosera slackii4/29/2009
  Q: Is there any "special" do's and don't's for these two? I can't find any info on the slackii, as in ...
  A: The general care information about these plants is too extensive to cover in this format. Instead, ...
pygmy sundew4/29/2009
  Q: i know its supposed to be an indoor tropical plant but i have a question. The window im using gets ...
  A: Sun glare is not the same as direct sunlight. Pygmy sundews really need a lot of light. In the ...
2nd sundew4/28/2009
  Q: i purchased a 2nd sundew cuz i was bored about 2 weeks ago or somethin. When i bought it it wasnt ...
  A: Only time will tell. I can't predict whether your plant will survive or not. A lot of it depends ...
sundew4/28/2009
  Q: i have 2 sundews, drosera capensis, that i purchased in "death cubes" one month apart and now both ...
  A: It's perfectly fine to pinch off older leaves. We do that to our plants. Essentially, pinch off ...
Right setup?4/28/2009
  Q: I bought some carnivorous plants a year ago (not from you) and as soon as I got them I re-planted ...
  A: Frogs by themselves don't really pose a problem for these plants. At our nursery we actually ...
Robins pulling up newly emerging flytraps from dormancy.4/28/2009
  Q: I have this problem every spring with robins pulling up newly emerging flytraps that are coming out ...
  A: A BB gun works well. Have you tried bird netting? You'll need to prop the netting so it's several ...
Perlite4/28/2009
  Q: I was wondering if there is a preferable grade/size of perlite to use when creating the potting mix ...
  A: We use medium or propagation grade. With sundews and flytraps, the medium grade would work better, ...
drosera adelae4/27/2009
  Q: I live in minnestoa.Im worried about my 2 drosera adelae. I looked at some pictures of the drosera ...
  A: This particular species shouldn't produce a stalk. When it does, it's a sign that the plant was ...
sarracenia purpurea4/27/2009
  Q: I have a sarracenia purpurea in bay area california full sun in peatmoss, lil bit of play sand, and ...
  A: It's unlikely your pitcher plant will flower this season. At this size, they need about 3 more ...
Terrarium4/27/2009
  Q: I have a terrarium that is pretty plain and simple. It is 30 gallons and is 30 in. across and 12in. ...
  A: Heliamphora will actually do well if the temperature is consistently in the 70s during the day. If ...
pesticide4/26/2009
  Q: recently I bought a insecticide form portland nursery.Its an insectide that you have to mix in with ...
  A: We haven't used this particular product, so I can't say for sure how it works on carnivorous plants. ...
drosera capensis, serracenia purperea, dionaea muscipula4/26/2009
  Q: I have one of each of the following: drosera capensis, serracenia purperea, dionaea muscipula. ...
  A: Lets not worry about winter dormancy right now. The most important thing I want you to focus on is ...
flower(s)4/26/2009
  Q: My Drosera Capensis is already putting up a flower, but i just went to look and admire my ...
  A: Your photo didn't load properly, so I don't have one to view. In any case, it's common for a single ...
yellow perlite?4/26/2009
  Q: On most of the perlite I bought from you guys turns yellow? Is this maybe fungus? Would neem help ...
  A: I checked my perlite, both among my tropical and temperate plants. I don't see any of them turning ...
?4/26/2009
  Q: I just bought a cape sundew and when it came was is dewless.I heard when a sundew is dewless you ...
  A: If you just got the sundew through the mail, you may need to give your plant up to two weeks to ...
water4/25/2009
  Q: I live in Vancouver WA, and have a few pitcher plants. I didn't keep the name tag on the ones I ...
  A: Keep the water level no higher than half way up the pot, regardless of your pot size. Algae can be ...
Tropical Carnivorous Plants4/25/2009
  Q: I am considering in the future in acquiring more carnivorous plants and was wondering how well the ...
  A: The best candidates for your area are: D. binata dichotoma D. spatulata Any of the pygmy sundews D. ...
Daina's Delight and Tarnok4/25/2009
  Q: First I just received sarracenia Daina's delight and it is flowering however have nothing else ...
  A: Congratulations on successfully overwintering your plants! Even with the loss of the Tarnok, all of ...
Sarracenia Leucophylla4/24/2009
  Q: i bought a Sarracenia Leucophylla a week ago, and it's rather small. Since then i've been growing ...
  A: It's likely the plant was grown in a greenhouse prior to your purchase. What you're witnessing, ...
pesticide4/24/2009
  Q: recently I bought a insecticide form portland nursery.Its an insectide that you have to mix in with ...
  A: If you haven't opened the bottle, return it. I've never used this product or similar products, but ...
Sarracenia Alata Help.4/24/2009
  Q: First of all thank you for reading my concern. Well i am having a problem with my sarracenia alata. ...
  A: YIKES! You have a classic case of aphids! Sometimes you won't see aphids on the leaves because ...
New nepenthes4/23/2009
  Q: Hey, i just had a couple questions reguarding my nepenthes that i will be recieving soon... i just ...
  A: This is much easier to read! The actual growing tips for each species is too extensive to cover in ...
zinc in roof run off4/23/2009
  Q: Is there a simple way to test for zinc in the rainwater that runs off my roof into my rain barrel? I ...
  A: You'll need to use a total dissolved solutes (TDS) meter. They're kind of spendy, and it's not ...
mulching4/23/2009
  Q: when you guys say mulch in colder regions i was curious, I have created an outside inground bog ...
  A: Mulching is a specific winter technique to insulate your plants from rapid temperature changes. ...
sarracenia4/23/2009
  Q: I have a sarracenia hybrid and a couple of days ago I discovered that the 2 pitchers it had became ...
  A: Without actually seeing the plant, it's difficult to diagnose the situation. There are a number or ...
peat moss enriched w/plant food.4/22/2009
  Q: I noticed that the peat moss and perlite I was using to repot my plants was enriched w/plant food. ...
  A: I'm not certain how much fertilizer they put in them, but you should change the soil to be safe. ...
smell4/22/2009
  Q: I just had to re-pot my carnivorous plants because the cheep pots cracked, and they were kind of on ...
  A: The soil shouldn't have any smell. If it smells like manure, the peat moss may have been harvested ...
Mexican Pinguicula's4/21/2009
  Q: I recently received two Mexican Pinguicula's, P. moctezumae and P. moranensis both were ...
  A: I tend to avoid using live and dried sphagnum moss with Mexican butterworts. With live sphagnum, ...
Sundew troubles...4/21/2009
  Q: I'm having 2 problems with a series of Sundews that I got recently. 1) I received the sundews ...
  A: Your plant is most likely Drosera spatulata. If you have Drosera aliciae in your collection, it ...
Sarracenia Psittacina4/21/2009
  Q: I have a parrot pitcher plant that i got about a month ago. it has many pitchers, but they are small ...
  A: More and more I'm leaning away from tissue cultured plants, particularly Sarracenia. It works well ...
peat moss enriched w/plant food.4/21/2009
  Q: I noticed that the peat moss and perlite I was using to repot my plants was enriched w/plant food. ...
  A: Unfortunately the enriched peat moss and perlite are not appropriate for carnivorous plants. The ...
soil mix questions4/18/2009
  Q: i've recently transplanted my sarracenia's into much larger and taller pots, i've upped the soil ...
  A: In general, it's best to err on the side of too much perlite than too much peat moss. We use large ...
flower4/18/2009
  Q: I have 2 drosera capensis that are putting up a flower, one is a little bit more along in the ...
  A: It's always better if you can get two plants from different populations to pollinate because you ...
baby pitchers4/18/2009
  Q: "I have a pitcher plant and it has like 4 big pitchers with openings big enough for bugs, and then ...
  A: Those baby pitchers are from last season, so it's perfectly fine to trim them off to make way for ...
wetness4/17/2009
  Q: I made my 2nd batch of potting mix which is sphagnum peatmoss, play sand, and now some pumice. (the ...
  A: As long as the soil is moistened throughout, it'll be fine to use. The pot will be sitting in water ...
VFT Flowering4/17/2009
  Q: I have three pots of venus flytraps, two of which has flower buds. One pot though has almost 15 ...
  A: You really don't need to do anything. Flytraps self-pollinate very readily. In all my years of ...
Darlingtonia4/17/2009
  Q: I have a small Cobra plant that I bought from you over the summer. I love this little plant and I ...
  A: Older leaves from last season normally dry up by springtime, so what you're witnessing is a normal ...
Mystery Monster Plant4/16/2009
  Q: While I just placed my first order with you guys, I simply couldn't resist when I stumbled across ...
  A: If you use peat moss, make sure the mix is 1 part peat moss and 2-3 parts perlite. Peat moss ...
Lime Sulfur and Nepenthes...4/16/2009
  Q: After asking you a question about mold growing my nepenthes you informed me I needed sulfur ...
  A: I didn't know that lime sulfur existed! I've never seen this product, and given that it's made in ...
Soil4/16/2009
  Q: I recently bought a N. Rafflesiana (bare root) and the only soil I could get a hold of was that ...
  A: With Nepenthes, you can get away with a touch of fertilizer in the soil. In fact, some growers have ...
Nepenthes Bicalcarata4/16/2009
  Q: Does this plant grow bigger than a terrarium? I would like a small, lowland species that can grow ...
  A: This species is a bit inappropriate for a terrarium because it will get huge very fast. When it ...
Nepenthes Types to grow4/16/2009
  Q: I need your help in which types of Nepenthes would be most suitable for my region. I live in San ...
  A: I really don't have much experience with terrariums. I'm actually a strong advocate of growing ...
My new set up4/15/2009
  Q: Before i had my plants, pitcher, sundew, and venus outside in full sun all day, but now im back in ...
  A: Light intensity is the most important thing, so make sure your fluorescent tubes are 40-watts. ...
Mystery Monster Plant4/15/2009
  Q: While I just placed my first order with you guys, I simply couldn't resist when I stumbled across ...
  A: The plant you have is likely Nepenthes Miranda. It's a common hybrid that can get fairly large. ...
Venus Flytrap4/14/2009
  Q: My Flytraps appear to be dying.They are turning blacker and blacker with less green .I live in St. ...
  A: OK, so you got your plant outdoors where it gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight, you're using ...
Sarracenia4/14/2009
  Q: I ordered 50 S. oreophila seeds that were collected in autumn and kept in 36 degree temps. Will they ...
  A: In your case, grow the seedling in your greenhouse during the winter. That way they'll be sheltered ...
sarracenia flower4/14/2009
  Q: my S.flava has flowered, but my other sarracenia arent' flowering. So can I take the pollen from ...
  A: Yes! You can use the pollen from the same plant to self-pollinate the flowers. Within a couple of ...
cobra plant4/14/2009
  Q: how do you tell the difference between the mountain veriety and the coastal veriety of the cobra ...
  A: The morphological differences are extremely general, so it's not always easy to tell them apart. ...
Advice on terrarium plants4/14/2009
  Q: I am asking your opinion on what kind of plants I should get for my particular type of terrarium. ...
  A: The ultra highland plants, such as N. rajah, N. villosa, N. inermis. N. dubia, and N. hamata. N. ...
VFT in "Death Cube"!4/13/2009
  Q: OK, so I just got a teeny little Venus flytrap from Lowe's and it was growing in what I have heard ...
  A: Congratulations on rescuing the flytrap from the stifling terrarium. The actual process is a bit ...
purchasing from you4/13/2009
  Q: I am interested from buying plants from you guys..i am in california..zone 9...and most of the ...
  A: Yes, any of the North American carnivorous plants will grow well in zone 9. The zones only refer to ...
propagation4/13/2009
  Q: I have a sundew capensis, and i took one of the older leaves off and put in a new soil pot with sand ...
  A: Yes, that's the general idea. You're on the right track. Just keep in mind that the leaf should be ...
Ventricosa Lower stem4/13/2009
  Q: I have a Ventricosa and the plant is alittle over 2 years old and I have recently transplanted it. ...
  A: It's likely that your plant is sending up a shoot from the lower portion of the stem, so it's a good ...
Breeding mosquitos in watering trays4/13/2009
  Q: I have several sarracenia and flytrap plants growing side by side in the same big watering tray. My ...
  A: Use mosquito dunks. It's a product that contains a bacteria that kills mosquito larvae. The ...
Advice on terrarium plants4/12/2009
  Q: I am asking your opinion on what kind of plants I should get for my particular type of terrarium. ...
  A: Actually you should focus on the highland plants because they can tolerate cooler temperatures: N. ...
VFT Winter dormancy in Phoenix4/12/2009
  Q: About a two and a half weeks ago, I purchased a Venus Flytrap from Lowe's and so far it's doing ...
  A: Based on growers' reports, flytraps tend to wither away when the temperature goes above 100°F for ...
soil4/12/2009
  Q: SO i made my own potting mix for my Carnivorous plants (sundew, pitcher, and venus...and two extra ...
  A: That's a fine mix. I'd add a bit more sand, but other than that, you're on the right track. When ...
Sarracenia4/12/2009
  Q: I ordered 50 S. oreophila seeds that were collected in autumn and kept in 36 degree temps. Will they ...
  A: It might be too late to stratify your seeds outdoors, so you'll need to do this in your ...
Black Mold and Identification of Nepenthes.4/11/2009
  Q: I am from Australia and let me say... Gee I wish we had Carnivorous Retailers like yourselves in ...
  A: We plan to film the second and third volumes this summer. Hopefully they'll be released in fall. ...
Wooly Sundews4/11/2009
  Q: I have been considering growing wooly sundews for a couple of weeks now and I've decided I would buy ...
  A: Yes, woolly sundews are challenging because they have a narrow range of growing conditions. They ...
superthrive4/11/2009
  Q: I know that you do not wish for us to use fertilizers because most of the carnivorous plants cannot ...
  A: SuperThrive is safe to use with carnivorous plants. Some growers swear by it, while others think ...
soil4/11/2009
  Q: I am using organic sphagnum peatmoss, and i am trying to find plain perelite, but so far all i can ...
  A: Play sand is already washed so you could use it straight from the bag. If the current soil your ...
soil4/11/2009
  Q: I am using organic sphagnum peatmoss, and i am trying to find plain perelite, but so far all i can ...
  A: Appropriate substitutes for perlite are pumice, washed sand, silica sand or play sand. Avoid using ...
New pitcher leaves4/10/2009
  Q: 1. Im guessing Sarracenia Purpurea? 2. Full outside sun, distilled, sphagnum peatmoss (cant find ...
  A: Your question gave me a chuckle, in a good way. You see, purpurea means purple. The common name ...
Advice on terrarium plants4/10/2009
  Q: I am asking your opinion on what kind of plants I should get for my particular type of terrarium. ...
  A: Oh, Oh! You triggered my soapbox speech. Yes, I'm not at all a fan of terrariums because it ...
nep maxima4/10/2009
  Q: Recently my nep maxima hit "maxima" growth and was producing feet of growth a month. After 3 trims, ...
  A: As long as you're not seeing signs of the plant declining in health, your plant is doing fine. In ...
Pitcher Plant4/9/2009
  Q: I purchased the pitcher plant you see in the photo while in the Netherlands last May. I do not know ...
  A: It's impossible to identify the plant without seeing a fully developed pitcher. The leaves alone ...
Flytraps and seedlings.4/9/2009
  Q: Hey guys, got a couple of questions for you. Most of my flytraps are producing a flower stalk. I've ...
  A: The flower stalk is a common mutation that occurs mostly when flytraps have a short winter dormancy. ...
Drosera capensis-windowsill light4/8/2009
  Q: I have a Cape sundew that has been growing very well in my terrarium until about a month ago. It had ...
  A: It might be easier to let the plant grow in lower humidity from the beginning. This will eliminate ...
Pruning Nepenthes.4/8/2009
  Q: My Nepenthes Spathulata is growing out of control. It is crowding my terrarium and I need to do ...
  A: This is a difficult plant to grow in a terrarium because it's actually one of the larger species of ...
Sundew4/8/2009
  Q: 1.Drosera Capensis 2. Outside full sun, distilled water, organic sphagnum peatmoss (i coldnt find ...
  A: Unfortunately, plants grown in those cubes aren't the healthiest, hence the nickname. Cape sundews ...
Flytraps and seedlings.4/7/2009
  Q: Hey guys, got a couple of questions for you. Most of my flytraps are producing a flower stalk. I've ...
  A: In order to answer your question properly, we first have to address the current growing condition. ...
Ventricosa4/7/2009
  Q: I have a concern about me Nepenthes Ventricosa. On the 9th of April it will be 1 month since I ...
  A: Well, it depends on what type of soil mix you used, how you're watering your plant and what type of ...
Drosera capensis-windowsill light4/7/2009
  Q: I have a Cape sundew that has been growing very well in my terrarium until about a month ago. It had ...
  A: First, lets make sure you have the right type of fungicide. Use only sulfur-based fungicide or Neem ...
Nepenthes Maxima not doing well4/7/2009
  Q: I got a N. Maxima – won it actually – a couple of days ago, but I don't think it’s doing so well. ...
  A: It's really unusual for Nepenthes maxima to decline so rapidly. It's a fairly tough species. It ...
australian pitcher plant4/6/2009
  Q: I have been wondering if I should get a australian pitcher plant. I would grow it outside, unless ...
  A: First read the general care for Cephalotus: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets For our area, grow ...
repotting a nepenthes4/6/2009
  Q: Hey Jeff and Jacob! so, my question is regarding repotting some of my younger nepenthes... namely ...
  A: These particular Nepenthes wouldn't grow as well in African violet pots. They tend to like the soil ...
Nepenthes Maxima not doing well4/6/2009
  Q: I got a N. Maxima – won it actually – a couple of days ago, but I don't think it’s doing so well. ...
  A: The best thing to do is contact the nursery from which you got the plant. They grew the plant and ...
transplanting sarracenia bare root after dormancy4/6/2009
  Q: I have a quick question regarding sarracenia. It looks like by late spring or early summer I will be ...
  A: Have you ordered from Meadowview before? I sometimes get plants from them, but I only get them in ...
N. Miranda: Dark Leaves & Repotting4/5/2009
  Q: I placed my plant in a sunny south facing window that gets about 4 hours of direct sunlight. When i ...
  A: As this particular Nepenthes hybrid receives more light, the leaves will develop a bronze tinge and ...
Pollen4/4/2009
  Q: As you know its flower season, and my sarracenias are flowering. How do you preserve the pollen?
  A: To preserve Sarracenia pollen, gently shake the flower in glass jar. Make sure the flower is dry ...
Is this a smart investment?4/3/2009
  Q: Previously, I asked about my N. Miranda and N. Saguinea and if they are getting too much sunlight. I ...
  A: The settings seem appropriate, but only time will tell. The plants are always the final judge about ...
Help with Sphagnum moss4/3/2009
  Q: I'm going to start trying to grow some live Sphagnum moss like you said on the website, and I have a ...
  A: I haven't experimented with growing live sphagnum as you've described. I've only grown it outdoors. ...
Is this a smart investment?4/3/2009
  Q: Previously, I asked about my N. Miranda and N. Saguinea and if they are getting too much sunlight. I ...
  A: A fan isn't necessary in your situation. If the day temperature directly under the lights is ...
sarracenia spring treatment4/2/2009
  Q: Should I prune off all of the Sarracenia pitchers this spring? Some look quite viable.
  A: This is best answered with our video podcast, Ask the Carnivorous Plant Guys - Episode 5. ...
Too much light?4/2/2009
  Q: On my Nepenthes Miranda and Nepenthes Sanguinea the pitchers keep dying one after the other. There ...
  A: I don't know how long you've been growing your plants in this manner, so I can't really say if ...
Flrorescent Light vs Natural Light4/2/2009
  Q: How are you? You probably don't remember me, so please refer to one of my posts. Here's a link to ...
  A: 1) Fourteen hours of fluorescent lighting is sufficient. 2) Place your plants outdoors after the ...
sudden butterwort death3/31/2009
  Q: I'm trying to figure out why my Pinguicula primuliflora suddenly died after being seemingly so ...
  A: Actually, the terrarium is the likely issue. This species is very prone to fungal infections, and ...
early planting from a differnt zone3/31/2009
  Q: I enjoy your site and your videos & postings. I’m soon receiving some younger & Mature Serracenia ...
  A: You have to judge this based on the type of growth you see on your rhizomes. If the plants are ...
Judith Hindle-repotting3/28/2009
  Q: I got my Judith Hindle and dvd in the mail and I must say my plant looks very pretty and healthy for ...
  A: The amount of water you leave in the saucer depends on the over wintering technique you're using. ...
Sundew flowers and Sarracenia propagation Questions.3/28/2009
  Q: I have a Drosera Spatulata from you guys, and it's flowering! Well, the other day I noticed that its ...
  A: Like the leaves, the flower stalk produces beads of nectar, but is not considered to be carnivorous. ...
aphids attack3/28/2009
  Q: flava. So I bought insect killing soap with seaweed extract, from the Safer Brand. It contains ...
  A: We generally recommend avoiding soap-based insecticides. The fatty acid compounds will sometimes ...
healthy drosera aliciae?3/28/2009
  Q: I recently received a pot with two alice sundews. One is slightly more red (to the left) and the ...
  A: The most important things right now are time and patience. You just received your plant, and ...
Judith Hindle-repotting3/27/2009
  Q: I got my Judith Hindle and dvd in the mail and I must say my plant looks very pretty and healthy for ...
  A: and thank you for your kind comments. Before sending out the plants, I inspected the soil, and it ...
Nepenthes Pitchers3/27/2009
  Q: The lids on my Nepenthes ventricosa are closing and curling. It is in a South window and I water it ...
  A: Each pitcher lasts for about 2 months. After that it will dry up. What you're witnessing is normal ...
Pots3/26/2009
  Q: I have every species of sarracenia except S. oreophila. I also have two venus flytraps. They are in ...
  A: Avoid plugging the holes in your pots. Your plants need the drainage. Without it, bacteria will ...
Growing Nepenthes Outdoors3/26/2009
  Q: I just bought a very large Nepenthes x Miranda hybrid and I live in Alabama (zone 7). I was ...
  A: While this Nepenthes will tolerate cool nights, make sure that the nights are above 55°F. Spring ...
Nepenthes Fertilization3/26/2009
  Q: I have been growing carnivorous plants for quite some time now. I am growing several species of ...
  A: Fertilizing your plant does help your plant produce more pitchers provided that its also getting ...
soil mix3/26/2009
  Q: Will the northern species of carnivorous plants grow in a mixture of solely sphagnum peat (the ...
  A: The green fuzzy kind? Sphagnum peat moss is brown. What you've described sounds like fungus! ...
Red leaf Dewthread3/25/2009
  Q: I just received my "Red Leaf Dewthread" the other day and I noticed the leaves are browning and ...
  A: If you just received it in the mail, the plant is likely going through a transitional period. It ...
Mysterious Tiny insects!3/25/2009
  Q: I found these tiny bugs on my White top pitcher plant. They are so tiny i have trouble seeing them ...
  A: Yes, that's a strange one! I don't think I've heard of this pest, but it could be a species of ...
Oyamo Pots3/25/2009
  Q: I am preparing to re-pot several of my carnivorous plants--drosera, butterworts, pitcher plants, & ...
  A: I haven't used those particular pots, so I can't comment directly about their effects with ...
Dead "Dente" Flytraps!3/24/2009
  Q: I bought 2 dente flytraps from you guys back in January and they looked very healthy. I placed them ...
  A: Despite the fact that all of your plants received the same growing conditions, a couple things ...
bog garden3/23/2009
  Q: I am interested in starting a bog garden. but i am having trouble locating supplies. i.e. peat moss, ...
  A: We don't have sphagnum available yet, but it may be later this spring. You can purchase it from ...
Judith Hindle/growth habits and flowers3/23/2009
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove, NC zone 7. My questions concerns the Judith Hindle cultivar you carry. As you ...
  A: It's also great to see you on Facebook. Judith Hindle has S. purpurea in it, so it will retain some ...
drosera3/21/2009
  Q: I have a Drosera adelae(?) that I picked up from the local store. There is a smell of sulphur coming ...
  A: Don't worry about the flowers. Worry about the plant as a whole. When it comes to soil health and ...
fugus+flytraps3/21/2009
  Q: hey guys my name is brandon and i live on the west coast in southern california. i had a couple of ...
  A: Good for you for growing your flytrap outdoors! That's definitely one of the essential requirements ...
Vacation in Maui, Hawaii3/20/2009
  Q: Next week my family is going to Maui for spring break. Do you know if there are any carnivorous ...
  A: I'm not aware of any carnivorous plant nurseries on Maui, but I know of two on the Big Island. If ...
Heliamphora3/20/2009
  Q: This is a follow-up question to one I asked a couple weeks ago. I bought a large size H. hereto x ...
  A: Yes, there are many opinions about how to grow Heliamphora and carnivorous plants in general. With ...
drosera3/20/2009
  Q: I have a Drosera adelae(?) that I picked up from the local store. There is a smell of sulphur coming ...
  A: You should change the soil of the unknown sundew as soon as possible. It's likely carrying some ...
Pitcher Plant3/20/2009
  Q: I have a small pond that I want to place a pitcher plant into. I leave near Greensboro, NC. Would ...
  A: All of the North American pitcher plants will survive in your climate with minimal winter ...
Help with a Ping Prim.3/19/2009
  Q: I just got a Pinguicula Primuliflora at Lowes a month ago, and it is putting up a flower stalk. I ...
  A: You'll need two plants to pollinate your butterwort. It's actually a difficult process, which is ...
Aphids, green pitcher question3/19/2009
  Q: I have a couple of questions for you guys. I'll try and keep them short and down to the point. I ...
  A: You can use Neem oil to kill the aphids, but aphids are very elusive. Neem oil will only work if ...
I have a couple of questions3/19/2009
  Q: I grow my plants outside with 6+ hours of sunlight. I live in Portland, Oregon. 1. In your e-book ...
  A: Yes, the rock method will work with the plants you've listed. These particular plants will enjoy ...
light3/19/2009
  Q: yeah, it's I again, I hope I'm not getting on your nerves guys. Well this doubt that I have is about ...
  A: Jacob here. Jeff's away from the nursery. Our lighting recommendations are general guidelines. As ...
pots3/18/2009
  Q: I live in zone 7 in Walnut Cove, NC. As you know I've had plans to construct a bog. Unfortunately, ...
  A: Are you referring specifically to Sarracenia and flytraps? My recommendation would be different for ...
judith hindle3/18/2009
  Q: I just ordered a judith hindle in a medium size pot from you guys. when will it need to be ...
  A: The current batch of plants are from last season, so they could use some fresh soil. Spring is the ...
My Flytrap is starting to flower3/18/2009
  Q: I have a Long Red Finger Flytrap and I believe it is starting to flower. I have heard that this may ...
  A: This is a loaded question because it has two assumptions. The first is the more obvious - flowers ...
potting3/18/2009
  Q: Would an African violet pot (self watering pot) be safe to use for plants such as lanceleaf sundews ...
  A: African violet pots are best suited for Mexican butterworts. These plants like slightly damp soil. ...
Repoting Nepenthes3/17/2009
  Q: I need help on potting Nepenthes Truncata! I tried but the plant began to wilt. Can you help me? ...
  A: From your description and the sudden wilting, it certainly appears to be root damage. The technique ...
Repoting Nepenthes3/17/2009
  Q: I need help on potting Nepenthes Truncata! I tried but the plant began to wilt. Can you help me?
  A: Repotting a Nepenthes is very straight forward. Most species can handle a bit of root disturbrance ...
light3/17/2009
  Q: yeah, it's I again, I hope I'm not getting on your nerves guys. Well this doubt that I have is about ...
  A: Filtered sun has to do with decrease in intensity. It has nothing to do with the number of hours. ...
Nepenthes3/17/2009
  Q: I bought a sibuyanensis from you guys last November. I understand that some pitcher plants will go ...
  A: Part of the issue is simply the plant itself. This species is fussy. Even in our stock plants, not ...
Venus Flytraps3/16/2009
  Q: Okay, so I have ordered 3 Venus flytrap off of Carnivorous Plant Nursery as it was recomended to me ...
  A: I'm not a big fan of growing flytraps indoors unless you live in an extreme climate. Otherwise, ...
Dormancy3/16/2009
  Q: My name is Louis and I am from Canada, Toronto. My venus flytrap has been in dormancy for more like ...
  A: Just for clarification, did you mean to say you kept your flytrap in the terrarium all winter? If ...
Acclimating Plant From Plastic Cube3/16/2009
  Q: I just bought a butterwort from Lowes on Saturday. I think it's a temperate butterwort. ...
  A: It's very normal for leaves to curl and shrivel up as you acclimate a plant from a terrarium to the ...
Nepenthes Miranda3/16/2009
  Q: I aught a Nepenthes Miranda from you guys last fall and it said on the summary of the plant that it ...
  A: If you have Nepenthes truncata and Nepenthes copelandii growing well, then we can safely assume that ...
repotting stress-Drosera adelae?3/11/2009
  Q: OK, repotted the sundew, managed to keep the plant mostly clean after reading hints on website and ...
  A: Congratulations on repotting your D. adelae without getting soil of over it! Yes, as you've ...
Beginner In Growing As a Hobby, Pt. 23/11/2009
  Q: (I have P. agnata, S. alata, and Darlingtonia californica. I am using an indoor grow light as the ...
  A: First, change the soil. The standard soil mix 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite. Avoid using ...
Mysterious Sarracenia Death!3/11/2009
  Q: I have been growing Sarracenias of all types since 1990. However, the only plant Ive had super long ...
  A: This is a bit mysterious, but here's what I think it might be. Often during hot weather soil can ...
starting off with temp. carnies in a pot/darlingtonia in pot as opposed to bog3/11/2009
  Q: I live in zone 7 in Walnut Cove, NC. As you know I've had plans to construct a bog. Unfortunately, ...
  A: Nearly all of the temperate carnivorous plants will grow well as container plants, even when you set ...
Water purity and D. Binata question3/10/2009
  Q: I recently received a TDS meter, and found out I've been giving my plants water that's 43ppm. I've ...
  A: At 99 ppm, your tap water has too much minerals, which would be harmful to your carnivorous plants ...
double poted3/10/2009
  Q: i have a double poted N.rafflesiana that i buy about a year ago, how can i divided? gracias
  A: You'll need to take it out of the pots and see if the plants have their own root systems. If they ...
Substrate3/10/2009
  Q: well, I was finaly able to get volcanic rock to increase the aeration of my substrate in my pots. ...
  A: Nearly all volcanic rock is inert, meaning that they don't impart any minerals into the soil. So ...
scorpido sundew repotting3/10/2009
  Q: as i understand it, d scorpido only live 2+ years, i've got one that's going strong on a little over ...
  A: The brown hardened stalk is a natural development of this species. I have some going on their third ...
Algae On Seedlings3/9/2009
  Q: I am growing cape sundew seedlings. They had algae growing in their soil. I pulled it out when I ...
  A: If you cover the pots to block out light prior to germination, that will help some. Try also ...
Nepenthes3/9/2009
  Q: I am interested in getting a nepenthes. I saw that most of them have to be in a place with a high ...
  A: The elevation information you're reading about refers to the elevation the plants grow at in nature. ...
Darlingtonia Californica/Nepenthes Alata3/9/2009
  Q: I keep these plants at a steady temperature of 85 degrees. After a week of the time I bought the ...
  A: Those plants are radically different in their care requirements. Visit our caresheet pages at ...
Mysterious Sarracenia Death!3/8/2009
  Q: I have been growing Sarracenias of all types since 1990. However, the only plant Ive had super long ...
  A: This may have something to do with soil overheating and breaking down during the hottest parts of ...
Sarracenias coming out of domancy3/8/2009
  Q: well this is my first winter season where i own carnivorous plants and springs is around the corner. ...
  A: If either the pitcher or phyllodia looks good, you can keep it until they start browning up later in ...
POnd setup3/8/2009
  Q: I am currently in the process of setting up a pond for U. Intermedia. It consists of a bowl with ...
  A: Since they are technically a tropical plants, you would need to keep them in an aquarium indoors ...
Plants in pots/tubs3/7/2009
  Q: I live in No.Virginia and had a carnivorous plant garden several years ago that looked great the ...
  A: Yes, it's perfectly OK to create container bog gardens. We actually keep all of our Sarracenia in ...
nepenthes picture3/6/2009
  Q: Under the "Tropical Plants" page of your website, what is the Nepenthes that serves as the image ...
  A: That hybrid is Nepenthes ventricosa x ampullaria. We're currently sold out on it, which is why it's ...
sarrs/mex pings3/6/2009
  Q: i just had a couple questions reguarding these, plants. For the sarrs, i live in zone 6, and was ...
  A: Congratulations on growing Sarracenia! Pretty soon you'll have so many divisions you'll have to ...
repotting3/6/2009
  Q: 1)venus fly trap 2)In a window, currently in the peat moss it has came planted in 3)Florida and its ...
  A: First, let me address the issue of soil. Peat moss, also known as sphagnum peat moss, is partially ...
Sarracenias coming out of domancy3/6/2009
  Q: well this is my first winter season where i own carnivorous plants and springs is around the corner. ...
  A: Yes, it's perfectly OK to trim off all the dead leaves from last season. This is important because ...
Algae On Seedlings3/6/2009
  Q: I am growing cape sundew seedlings. They had algae growing in their soil. I pulled it out when I ...
  A: I don't recommend the vinegar; I killed some plants that way. The peroxide has promise, but the ...
Question about Dormancy for Sarracenia and Darlingtonia3/5/2009
  Q: I live in Ky, which is Zone 6. I really want to grow Darlingtonia Californica and some Sarracenia ...
  A: You definitely have given this a lot of thought! Many growers are not attuned to such nuances of ...
What to do with old pitchers?3/5/2009
  Q: I purchased a Nepenthes Deroose Alata from your site. I am very happy with it & all is doing well. ...
  A: With old Nepenthes pitchers, cut them off when you can't stand to look at them anymore. It won't ...
MY CARNIVOROUS PLANTS3/5/2009
  Q: I have two nepenthes growing under artificial light. I have a N. Miranda and a N. Sanguinea, they ...
  A: Get your plants closer to the light. Brighter light helps them to make pitchers. What your ...
Perlite3/5/2009
  Q: I was wondering if there is a good substiture for perlite when making a soil mixture for carniverous ...
  A: See if you can find pumice or washed sand. Both of those will serve the same purpose. Small ...
learning to grow new carnivorous plants3/4/2009
  Q: Im planing to grow aldrovanda,drosophyllum and byblis but I dont know how to grow them. And when ...
  A: Since this format is primarily for troubleshooting, I won't be able to help you with the care ...
H. heterodoxa x minor3/4/2009
  Q: I ordered one of the 4" H. hetero x minor recently. When I received it the plant was beautiful and ...
  A: The red spots are usually of no concern since they always begin to appear on older leaves. You ...
N. Villosa with possible rust spots3/4/2009
  Q: hey i just got my N. Villosa from you guys and it looks fantastic for being a very tiny Nep, anyways ...
  A: Actually, they carry several different products that contain Neem. Shultz houseplant insecticide is ...
POnd setup3/4/2009
  Q: I am currently in the process of setting up a pond for U. Intermedia. It consists of a bowl with ...
  A: Water Hyacinth dying? That is truly bizzare. They are often used to pull toxins our of water, and ...
Splitting Nepenthes3/3/2009
  Q: I have an Asian Pitcher plant and im curious about how you split it? Because I would like more than ...
  A: Nepenthes don't really develop independent crowns the way Sarracenia do. If you see multiple ...
Cephalotus conditions3/3/2009
  Q: I am very excited to have just purchased a cephalotus. I was wondering if the conditions I am ...
  A: Your conditions sound good. A couple things to refine it a bit. Don't keep the light on 24/7. ...
N. Villosa with possible rust spots3/3/2009
  Q: hey i just got my N. Villosa from you guys and it looks fantastic for being a very tiny Nep, anyways ...
  A: Those are probably fungus gnats. Usually they are of no concern, but if you start seeing lots of ...
POnd setup3/3/2009
  Q: I am currently in the process of setting up a pond for U. Intermedia. It consists of a bowl with ...
  A: Yes and Yes. How big is this pond? It will also help if you have some type of aeration such as a ...
Drosera Capensis Seeds3/3/2009
  Q: How much light should I give to Drosera capensis seeds once they start to germinate? And will a CFL ...
  A: The compact fluorescent will work just fine. Just monitor temperature at the soil surface some ...
Nepenthes3/2/2009
  Q: Hey guys! Other than the snow storms. How was your winter? Okay, so i recently came across a N. ...
  A: Winter's been fine. We are starting to get slightly warmer weather, and many hardy plants are ...
N. Villosa with possible rust spots3/2/2009
  Q: hey i just got my N. Villosa from you guys and it looks fantastic for being a very tiny Nep, anyways ...
  A: Pictures would be great. The rust spots, especially if they are on older leaves, are usually of no ...
Nep. Sibuyanensis3/2/2009
  Q: I have a nepenthes sibuyanensis I was looking to repot it due to the soil starting do sink and it ...
  A: If you repot, you can definitely put the stem lower into the soil. I don't recommend taking any ...
nursing vft & ping back to health.3/2/2009
  Q: I bought a venusflytrap and a butterwort this afternoon. Both the vtf and the butterwort were ...
  A: They both should be fine. It sounds like they were in pretty good condition. Once the weather ...
stratification?3/1/2009
  Q: my name is Brandon and I live on the west coast near a city called Palm Springs. I just baught a ...
  A: That is what you need to do. Sarracenia pitcher plants and American sundews are perennial and the ...
My tropical carnivorous plant update3/1/2009
  Q: I decided to give a carnivorous plant update before I move to Key West in may, Just to see if ...
  A: Nepenthes tend to be much tougher than people think. Just pot it back up and cut off any damaged ...
Red Leaf on Nepenthes3/1/2009
  Q: I Been enjoying your plants for years. One of my Nepenthes is starting to turn red.I mean, one of ...
  A: Nepenthes developing red leaves is simply a sign of it getting plenty of sun. Many species, ...
broad leaf cape sundew3/1/2009
  Q: I repotted my broadleaf capesundew 3 weeks ago, and ever since, it hasn't been showing any dew on ...
  A: That's the process exactly. We often do it in horticultural trays that have those transparent lids ...
growth2/28/2009
  Q: 1. Nepenthes khasiana or something similar...i just bought it and its still small and havent needed ...
  A: Nepenthes khasiana is an intermediate plant that will tolerate both highland and lowland conditions. ...
Beginner In Growing As a Hobby2/28/2009
  Q: I have started a collection of carnivorous plants: Butterwort, Green Pitcher, Sundew, and a Cobra ...
  A: I'm not sure how much I can help you because I don't know exactly what type of plants you have. You ...
Mosquito Problem2/28/2009
  Q: I am currently growing U. Inflata in a small tub. However, the water in the tub provides a nice ...
  A: Yes, that's an appropriate substitute. We also have them in our Sarracenia pools. We're hoping to ...
Nepenthes Pots2/27/2009
  Q: In my never ending search to provide the perfect growing environment for my Nepenthes, I have come ...
  A: These would probably be fine for Nepenthes. It may be a bit experimental. I've not personally used ...
Drosera in Mich.winter2/27/2009
  Q: I live in Mich. and I am presently growing Drosera Capensis,Adelae and a Cephalotus Follicularis, in ...
  A: As long as it's a sunny window, it should be great. What you may need to do is monitor temperatures ...
Mosquito Problem2/27/2009
  Q: I am currently growing U. Inflata in a small tub. However, the water in the tub provides a nice ...
  A: Dragonfly nymphs are strict carnivores, so they don't eat plants at all. I suppose they can bite, ...
Mosquito Problem2/27/2009
  Q: I am currently growing U. Inflata in a small tub. However, the water in the tub provides a nice ...
  A: I've always found the dunks incredibly effective, and we use them on a large scale. Different ...
Algae On Seedlings2/26/2009
  Q: I am growing cape sundew seedlings. They had algae growing in their soil. I pulled it out when I ...
  A: Depending on how big the seedlings are, you may be able to just scrape away the algae. Algae is ...
broad leaf cape sundew2/26/2009
  Q: I repotted my broadleaf capesundew 3 weeks ago, and ever since, it hasn't been showing any dew on ...
  A: Chances are no dew will develop on any of the older leaves. New leaves coming out bent is ...
Sarracenias2/26/2009
  Q: My name is Justin. I am from San Diego California, and I had a couple of questions I would like to ...
  A: Spraying the new leaves and rhizome surface works great. It'll give you several weeks of protection ...
Pinguicula primuliflora2/26/2009
  Q: I bought my Pinguicula primuliflora almost a month ago. It was in the little death cube. I ...
  A: That always helps. Your plant actually looks pretty good all things considered. P. primulifora and ...
weird winter leaves2/26/2009
  Q: Is it normal for the phyllodia of S.flava and, Hibernaculum of D.filiformis'Florida Giant' to turn ...
  A: Very much so. As the weather begins to warm they get more sun, and that's where the red comes from. ...
Nepenthes seedlings!!!2/25/2009
  Q: i now belive i know what a nepenthes seedling looks like!!!, i have n. albomarginata, n. viking, and ...
  A: If the live sphagnum is overtaking the plants you should probably transplant soon. You can use a ...
Systemic insecticide and sphagnum2/25/2009
  Q: I have a nepenthes with red spots on the leaves. It is growing in a lot of sphagnum and the moss has ...
  A: That's a beautiful hamata. The red spots are pretty normal on older leaves. The plant is so ...
sealing clay pots2/24/2009
  Q: Would clay pots sealed with a water sealer or masonry sealer be suitable for carnivorous plants? I ...
  A: I'm not sure what they use in that sealer. You have to check what the ingredients are, and if they ...
Nepenthes/sarracenia/flytrap2/24/2009
  Q: My local florist said that if humidity is too low, Nepenthes' tendrils and developing pitcher will ...
  A: This can be true if the air is exceptionally dry, or if the plant is too close to forced air heat ...
many2/24/2009
  Q: well, I have a lot of questions, I hope you don't mind, but if you think they're just too stupid or ...
  A: You're welcome! The fungicide you have is copper sulfate and is sometimes called Bordeaux mix. It ...
many2/24/2009
  Q: well, I have a lot of questions, I hope you don't mind, but if you think they're just too stupid or ...
  A: It is quite a few questions, but very good ones. The sundews you mentioned definitely like full ...
Cephalotus2/18/2009
  Q: Can I grow Cephalotus in a raguler window that gets 8 to 6 hours of direct sun light. And does it ...
  A: They can do very well in a sunny window. If your nights don't drop below 70 degrees F., Cephalotus ...
Nepenthes Alata2/18/2009
  Q: I have two beautiful plants which look very healthy, but one has still got most of it's original ...
  A: More sun, period. Nepenthes alata and it's hybrids are infamous for doing this where they grow lots ...
Mexican Butterwort "Wet & Dry" Seasons2/18/2009
  Q: my question has to do with the dormancy of mexican butterworts. I read that, in general, when these ...
  A: Overnight lows of 50 are pretty low, and can trigger dormancy. The short days of winter initiate it ...
pests2/18/2009
  Q: Hey guys sorry for the bother, but you know how it is one problem after the other. So the point is ...
  A: Do send a picture. Be sure to include in the photo your growing area. I'm not entirely sure from ...
nepenthes2/17/2009
  Q: I have 2 questions. And thanks for your rapid reply earlier. 1. I have a biclarcata that is ...
  A: Low light is a very strong possibility for lack of pitcher production. It's also very common for ...
temporary greenhouse2/16/2009
  Q: Spring is only a little more than a month away here in the great northeast, but that would be the ...
  A: Your coldframe will work. We have our smaller Venus flytraps in a simple unheated coldframe, and ...
cephalotus2/16/2009
  Q: Do you have any current photos or any representative of the cephalotus you have for sale? Sorry if ...
  A: I just double checked the website, and the photos there are the plants we have for sale. The ...
any flaws2/16/2009
  Q: i am a 12 year old boy growing 2 venus flytraps.They are dormant now and have few leaves.But this is ...
  A: Sarracenia, If you haven't already, be sure to read the care directions on Venus flytraps on our ...
Water Trays2/16/2009
  Q: I am a long time grower of Sarracenia and recently relocated to southern California. I ...
  A: Check hydroponic stores in your area. We have some trays about the size you are mentioned, and ...
Soil/Lance Leaf Sundew2/16/2009
  Q: I have two questions, 1) What is the difference between repotting a plant and changing the soil? ...
  A: 1. Repotting would usually mean using new soil and a new pot. Changing the soil would imply using ...
Venus Fly Trap2/15/2009
  Q: I bought a Venus fly trap yesterday. When i go to bed i leave it under light and when i wake up i ...
  A: It will help you to have a basic understanding of how Venus flytraps grow, and what their basic ...
Flytraps breaking dormancy too Early2/15/2009
  Q: In winter my plants are in a sheltered area of my yard with mulch because here in Northwest TN we ...
  A: Leaving them outside is the better option. It's not unusual for Flytraps to begin showing signs of ...
Frozen Heliamphora2/15/2009
  Q: I ordered a Heliamphora a while ago from cobraplant.com, and shipping was delayed due to the cold. ...
  A: In this case the only thing you can do is just wait and see what happens. Heliamphora die from the ...
rot2/15/2009
  Q: I've had my 3 Nepenthes for almost two years. They are all in the same pot. My plants have always ...
  A: You didn't mention which species you have. That can be a factor sometimes. I'd like you to send me ...
new person to flytraps2/14/2009
  Q: i just got my fly trap plant today in the mail and the people my brother order it did not leave any ...
  A: Go to our caresheet pages at http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets/ for information on growing Venus ...
dormancy2/14/2009
  Q: i give my Venus flytraps distilled water,i give them peat and perlite soil,i give them 8 hours of ...
  A: Those growing conditions sound good. You should have your plant outside during the summer, but if ...
Ferns as companion plants2/14/2009
  Q: I have seen photos of ferns grown in container bog gardens with sarracenia and vft. I keep my plants ...
  A: Cinnamon ferns are good companion ferns since they are bog ferns anyway. Beyond those we haven't ...
cobra plant size and cites2/14/2009
  Q: I am in zone 7 in Walnut Cove, NC. My first question is about the three CITES protected sarracenia ...
  A: You'll love this answer. Just buy them bare root and plant them. This time of year is ideal, and ...
S. flava2/12/2009
  Q: I was wondering if the Sarracenia species has true roots that take in nutrients or roots that just ...
  A: Sarracenia do have true roots, and take in a certain amount of nutrients through their roots. They ...
Heliamphora2/12/2009
  Q: A couple of the pitchers on my heliamphora minor are brown at the top. They were like that when I ...
  A: Leave the pitcher until the whole thing is brown. You can do rhizome division on Heliamphora. ...
Cephalotus and nepenthes in Keywest2/12/2009
  Q: Can I grow Cephalotus all year long and my Intermediat nepenthes in keywest the temperatures ther ...
  A: Both of those should grow very well in your climate. The Nepenthes will make beautiful outdoor ...
cobra plant size and cites2/11/2009
  Q: I am in zone 7 in Walnut Cove, NC. My first question is about the three CITES protected sarracenia ...
  A: It's really hard to say with the Darlingtonia. If they have the drainage, and a drip system, they ...
Mold.2/11/2009
  Q: I live in New York City. I keep all of my plants in an unheated garage for the winter. They get some ...
  A: You did the right thing. Removing dead areas keeps mold from starting. Sulfur fungicides tend to ...
Helianphora2/11/2009
  Q: A couple of the pitchers on my heliamphora minor are brown at the top. They were like that when I ...
  A: When pitchers turn brown go ahead and cut them off. My best recommendation is to set up a misting ...
Worms, Soil, Roots!2/10/2009
  Q: Recently i purchased 2 Sarracenia from an online carnivorous plant nursery ( not Sarracenia ...
  A: Those roots being dark isn't a good sign. Keep an eye on the plants as the weather gets warmer and ...
Darlingtonia question2/10/2009
  Q: I am getting ready to repot my Darlingtonia in the spring, and I have a 14" x 10" x 4" deep catbox ...
  A: In a pan that size you can easily fit 2-3 medium sized plants. Once they begin to grow they will ...
My Judith Hindle Update2/6/2009
  Q: I have had great success with my carnivorous plants, I live near Pittsburgh, PA and have a bog ...
  A: Go ahead and put her back in the bog garden. Do also cut the leaves off. That helps cut down water ...
Byblis2/6/2009
  Q: As you know I live in NY and have two outside bogs. I was thinking about sowing some Byblis seeds in ...
  A: This is unexplored territory for us. I can tell you that Byblis liniflora likes it hot and humid, ...
cut n. talangensis vine2/5/2009
  Q: talangensis in my collection that I accidently cut the growing tip off of about 2 months ago. The ...
  A: Just make sure it has bright light, and you are doing the normal care. Try and make sure ...
Repotting2/5/2009
  Q: We just received a mass of D.Spatulata and and two D.Binata Var. Multifidas from you. We put them ...
  A: 1. You don't need to be in any hurry to transplant D. spatulata since the are a small plant anyway. ...
long fiber sphag. for cobras and dormancy2/4/2009
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove, NC in zone 7 and plan on having a bog garden soon. I want to include cobras. ...
  A: It's a bit of a judgement call. If plants are covered in snow, I would say no they'll be fine. But ...
nepenthes2/4/2009
  Q: I have several nepenthes,sanguinea, reinwardtiana and the one with really big pitchers. I bought ...
  A: Just go ahead and leave the lights on. For a couple of weeks while you're gone it's not going to be ...
Terrarium Setup2/4/2009
  Q: I recently received a 20 gallon (tall) aquarium and was planning on turning it into a mixed ...
  A: Appropriate plants for a terrarium that size would be smaller growing Nepenthes (Asian pitcher ...
long fiber sphag. for cobras and dormancy2/4/2009
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove, NC in zone 7 and plan on having a bog garden soon. I want to include cobras. ...
  A: Live sphagnum on top of the bog is great. If you are just trying to have some erosion control, ...
humidity2/3/2009
  Q: i live in newzealand and am growing carnivorous plants in a polycarbon type geenhouse,the house is ...
  A: Both Sarracenia and Venus flytraps are full sun plants. They don't like shade. Chances are the ...
seeds2/3/2009
  Q: What are your recommendations for germinating Cephalotus seeds? TN zone 6 I believe. I was told the ...
  A: Storing seeds, and stratification, which is part of what you're asking about, are two different ...
nepenthes2/3/2009
  Q: I have several nepenthes,sanguinea, reinwardtiana and the one with really big pitchers. I bought ...
  A: Just get an inexpensive timer to put on the lights. We have several of these on all of our lights. ...
Life time2/3/2009
  Q: I have an S. rubra, S. purpurea, D. muscipula, D. filliformis, N. deroose ventrata, and P. ...
  A: For the Sarracenia and Nepenthes, their lifespan is indefinite. I have S. rubra ssp. rubra plants ...
blackening sundew tips2/3/2009
  Q: I have a cape sundew in my window sill and I'm trying to slowly lower the humidity since that's ...
  A: Slowly increasing air flow like you're doing is great. You are going to see a little leaf burn, and ...
lowland1/28/2009
  Q: Hey guys hope you are having a good winter, I recently have thought about trying my hand at a ...
  A: Oh wow. For some reason I was under the impression you might have been somewhere like south ...
Sarracenia Flava1/28/2009
  Q: I have a Sarracenia Flava and they never seem to open up at the top. It just starts growing as a ...
  A: Better give you a little background here first, since it will help you understand my answer better. ...
Possible scale infestation?1/28/2009
  Q: i was looking through my plants and noticed my one of my orchids appeared to have scale. aside to ...
  A: The bumps may be the start of them. Just watch them carefully. When I've had scale on Nepenthes, ...
terrarium subjects1/28/2009
  Q: I am looking to buy a terrarium and put several plants in it. I would like to grow cephalotus, ...
  A: These are all really good terrarium subjects. I recommend the greenhouse tank style terrarium where ...
Cape Sundews Not Growing Well1/28/2009
  Q: I have a few Cape Sundews under 2 - 40 watt florescent tubes. They are 6 inches away fron the ...
  A: Purple Pitcher: Sarracenia purpurea tends to be slower growing. Keep in mind that under normal ...
venus flytrap soil1/27/2009
  Q: i am planning to transplant my flytrap to a terrarium, home made. i have some forest moss. is ok to ...
  A: Never use forest moss. For Venus flytraps a 50/50 mix of peat moss to sand or perlite is best. ...
Ornge leaves on Nepenthes Tuncata1/27/2009
  Q: Since I attained it it has grown 2 new leaves and one new pitcher. One of the original leaves is ...
  A: From what you're describing it simply sounds like you are having old leaves die off as part of the ...
Carnivorous plant growing idea1/27/2009
  Q: I was wondering if it is possible to grow a Sarracenia rubia in a hydroponics system. I thought it ...
  A: It works. I've grown several Sarracenia in rockwool in the past experimentally. There just isn't ...
lowland1/27/2009
  Q: Hey guys hope you are having a good winter, I recently have thought about trying my hand at a ...
  A: Your conditions sound very good. Using some shadecloth or dappled light from trees will be ...
Pitcher Plant No Pitchers1/26/2009
  Q: Hey! I have an incredible pitcher plant (not sure what type exactly) that is about to flower. The ...
  A: Go ahead and fertilize. Seaweed fertilizers tend to be very good for them. Do it just once a ...
Drosera spatulata1/26/2009
  Q: I'll admit, I'm new to Drosera. 3 weeks ago I received a Drosera Spatulata from your nursery. It ...
  A: If you want seeds, then go ahead and let them bloom. The flowers tend to self-pollinate and set ...
venus flytraps and cobras1/25/2009
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove, NC zone 7 and I just had a couple questions. I plan to have a bog which will ...
  A: Venus flytraps will grow in Darlingtonia mix. I have a few that I put in amongst ours, and they've ...
Pitcher Plant No Pitchers1/25/2009
  Q: Hey! I have an incredible pitcher plant (not sure what type exactly) that is about to flower. The ...
  A: First let me say, that you have a beautiful specimen of Nepenthes truncata. Thank-you for sending ...
what is the appropriate amount of sun ?1/23/2009
  Q: miranda and my d.capensis.I have a window that recieves about 8 hours of direct sunlight can I grow ...
  A: That's a really bright window, which is good. The sundew and the N. x miranda will do great there. ...
Is it too late to save this plant?1/22/2009
  Q: I bought a hooded pitcher plant (S. minor) at Whole Foods. It was in a metal container, which ...
  A: That helps so much. Brace yourself now. There's nothing seriously wrong with your plant. The ...
Little green parasite/bugs on my plant.1/22/2009
  Q: Have a Venus Fly Trap for over 2 years now and have noticed that during the "dormant" phase, ...
  A: Those insects sound like aphids. Usually you can tell by any new foliage coming out twisted and ...
D. regia, N. rafflesiana, N. Judith Finn1/21/2009
  Q: Me again. Haven't asked anything in a few weeks, thought maybe i was over due, lol, kidding. I live ...
  A: I'm not sure if the regia was a Big Easy or not. Some of them have gotten mixed in with the regular ...
Cape Sundews Not Growing Well1/21/2009
  Q: I have a few Cape Sundews under 2 - 40 watt florescent tubes. They are 6 inches away fron the ...
  A: As I suspected, I would be able to see things that I wouldn't catch from a written description. ...
Browning Nepenthes Leaves - HELP!1/20/2009
  Q: I ordered a N. ventricosa and a N. Miranda which both arrived with shiny green leaves. It has been ...
  A: If warm, dry air is coming right up where the plants are from the heater, that's not doing them any ...
cephs1/20/2009
  Q: I have been reading info from all over the web lately and came across some interesting comments in ...
  A: I would expect us to have the typicals back online if a couple of months or sooner. Hummer's Giant ...
Dormancy1/20/2009
  Q: I live in California in Santa Clarita and have been experiencing unussualy warm weather this time of ...
  A: You're going to love this answer. Don't worry about them. Between nights in the 40's and short ...
cephs1/19/2009
  Q: I have been reading info from all over the web lately and came across some interesting comments in ...
  A: This is a common debate that goes on all the time with plants selected as cultivars. Keep in mind ...
N. Ventricosa1/19/2009
  Q: i live in memphis TN and have a mature N. ventricosa that i have been growing in a makeshift ...
  A: This should be fine. Do the transition slowly as to not give the plant a sudden humidity change. ...
Sarracenia need dormancy in tropical weather?1/19/2009
  Q: I found this website very useful in information. but one more thing i want to know aabout ...
  A: We have friends that live on Hawaii's Big Island that have grown many of the North American ...
ventricosa won't pitcher1/19/2009
  Q: My ventricosa, which I got back in early summer, has been sitting in the window sill next to my ...
  A: We just did February's podcast. It'll be out soon. Try keeping it just a bit wetter if the soil ...
mexican butterwort1/19/2009
  Q: I have a very small Mexican butterwort that I have growing in 50% plain potting soil and 50% ...
  A: It looks like you have a couple different things going on here. The first is the soil. It's ...
Venus Fly Traps1/18/2009
  Q: To Jeff, You requested pics of my plants. I assume that these specimens are healthy. Do you agree?
  A: Your flytraps look great. This is exactly how they should look in the winter. Just clip away the ...
Cape Sundews Not Growing Well1/18/2009
  Q: I have a few Cape Sundews under 2 - 40 watt florescent tubes. They are 6 inches away fron the ...
  A: I'd like you to do a follow-up here. Send me a photo of your plants and your set-up. If you don't ...
Nepenthes Alata1/17/2009
  Q: My nepenthes Alata is not getting any pitchers. It had them when I bought it.I water with distilled ...
  A: It's very common for Nepenthes to not produce much in the way of pitchers in the winter. Even with ...
Emargency!!!1/16/2009
  Q: sorry about all the questions recently but i have a big problem! i was pulling the dead leaves off ...
  A: It will probably recover. Just push it back down in the soil. The leaves you took off may very ...
bladderwort1/16/2009
  Q: I just got my U. Bisquamata last Friday 1/9. it put out its first bloom and it was way tinyer than ...
  A: We usually have a couple for sale in the summer. Currently they are dormant in their turion form. ...
bladderwort1/16/2009
  Q: I just got my U. Bisquamata last Friday 1/9. it put out its first bloom and it was way tinyer than ...
  A: U. bisquamata is a very tiny plant, but very prolific. Watch them as more flowers emerge. You may ...
darlingtonia survey and sarracenia hardiness1/15/2009
  Q: Some time ago when I asked you guys a question about cobras last year, you said that you would be ...
  A: As of yet we haven't conducted the survey of Darlingtonia purchasers from last year. We'll probably ...
P. Moctezumae questions1/14/2009
  Q: I have some specific questions regarding P. moctezumae. For a bit of background, I bought some from ...
  A: P. moctezumae do have winter rosettes, but they seem to behave much like P. moranensis where they ...
pygmy sundew1/13/2009
  Q: I am in Syracuse,NY and I keep my little sundew plant in the same pot you sent. It's in the kitchen ...
  A: I'm really confused. Initially you said the plant was in the original pot we shipped it in. In ...
anthocyanin UV and sundews1/13/2009
  Q: I have been growing droseras for a few years now and I am very interested in the way CP's get ...
  A: Your question is a fascinating one. It's a bit out of our expertise since our focus is more on ...
pitcher plants1/13/2009
  Q: I have had several kinds of pitcher plants for over a year. I live in the temperate area close to ...
  A: I just now noticed your question in the question pool, and I think I can help you with this. You ...
pygmy sundew1/12/2009
  Q: I am in Syracuse,NY and I keep my little sundew plant in the same pot you sent. It's in the kitchen ...
  A: Any chance you could send a photo of the plant? Also, I need to know a bit more about how you've ...
N. American pitchers1/12/2009
  Q: Last year i upgraded my n american pitcher plants to BIG pots, 10-16 inch pots. I'm wondering, what ...
  A: From what I've seen over the years, Cape sundews have no true dormancy. They are capable of ...
Cultivating Venus Flytraps1/12/2009
  Q: I have your book and I learned more from it than all others. My flytraps are slowly rotting. I am ...
  A: This makes more sense now. Venus flytraps, being perennials, cycle through different kinds of ...
darlingtonia sunlight1/12/2009
  Q: I live in zone 7 in Walnut Cove, NC. I have two brief questions for you. As you know I intend to ...
  A: Darlingtonia is definitely more shade tolerant than Sarracenia. Partial afternoon shade can be a ...
Cultivating Venus Flytraps1/11/2009
  Q: I have your book and I learned more from it than all others. My flytraps are slowly rotting. I am ...
  A: We tried hard to make it very user friendly. I need a little clarification on your growing. You ...
seeds1/11/2009
  Q: I just purchased Sar. minor, flava, and leucophylla seeds. How do I germinate them and when should I ...
  A: Go to our caresheet pages at http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets Go to the bottom of the page and ...
ventricosa x inermis and heliamphora1/10/2009
  Q: I just got a rather tall 1 foot ventricosa x inermis and was wondering if I should treat as a ...
  A: If your N. ventricosa is doing well in the window the N. ventricosa x inermis should be fine there ...
Trumpet pitcher from Hirt's Nursery1/10/2009
  Q: Are you familiar with this hybrid? It's called a "Judith Hindle" Pitcher-Saracenia. On a separate ...
  A: We're familiar with Judith Hindle. We have roughly 500 or so of them in the nursery. :) Let's ...
mini bog1/10/2009
  Q: Up until now i have grown all my carnivorous plants in individual plastic pots and they have all ...
  A: Your containers sound great. Definitely put holes in the bottom for drainage. A big container may ...
Nepenthes1/10/2009
  Q: How long does it take for a Nepenthes Rafflesiana and Nepenthes Ventricosa to mature to full size? ...
  A: If your daytime temperatures are in the 80's you should see mature plants from small ones in about 2 ...
Damaged N.Burkei1/9/2009
  Q: Today i noticed that my N.Burkei's growth point was broken off so now all thats left is the plant ...
  A: This will behave just like you cut the stem. New growth will commence from the nearest dormant node ...
Nepenthes help1/9/2009
  Q: My Nepenthes x Miranda is growing fine, but some of the pitchers have no fluid. I placed it in a ...
  A: Sounds like your plant is just fine. It's not unusual for older pitchers to not have much fluid in ...
sandstone in outdoor bog - water quality effects?1/9/2009
  Q: 10' x 3' x 24" deep in full sun just south of Pittsburgh, PA. Soil mix is approx 2/3 peat:1/3 ...
  A: From what I've seen, sandstone shouldn't be much of a problem. Limestone would be a different ...
N. American pitchers1/8/2009
  Q: Last year i upgraded my n american pitcher plants to BIG pots, 10-16 inch pots. I'm wondering, what ...
  A: It depends on the species some. If those plants are S. flava, S. oreophila, S. leucophylla, S. ...
Fetilizing Nepenthes1/8/2009
  Q: First of all--your guys are great, your site is great and your products are outstanding. Now my ...
  A: Part of the reason you see different opinions is that different methods and different fertilizers ...
pitcher plants/dancing ladies1/8/2009
  Q: This past 2008 summer developed slow and so did the plants. Winter seemed to start late, and the ...
  A: We've been trimming the plants for decades, and I can say they always look better when they are ...
Bog gardens1/7/2009
  Q: I have a bog garden (5 years now) which is doing well. I used a sand and peat mix (30 sand 70 peat) ...
  A: The soil media sounds fine. I would lean towards going 50/50 sand to peat just for better aeration. ...
larger plants1/7/2009
  Q: i want to expand on my outdoor bog. i have had success now for 3 years w/ venus fly-traps, pitcher ...
  A: Later on in the spring we'll have our larger Sarracenia online for purchase. If you are looking for ...
Advice for gnats and Spider Mites1/7/2009
  Q: I live in the Bronx of NYC, and I have a N. Sanguinea, N. Truncata, N. Miranda, and N. Ventricosa. ...
  A: That spray should be fine. Nepenthes are just as tough as most plants, and tougher than many. It ...
pitcher plants/dancing ladies1/7/2009
  Q: This past 2008 summer developed slow and so did the plants. Winter seemed to start late, and the ...
  A: Your plants look just like they should this time of year. Not all of them die back completely. ...
red dragon enviroment1/6/2009
  Q: i just received a couple red dragon venus flytraps and was wondering if my grow room would be a ...
  A: For indoor growing set-ups for Venus flytraps, this much better than most. With this you will have ...
spoonleaf sundew1/6/2009
  Q: I've got a 4x15 inch pot that is FULL of dark red, dewy spoonleaf sunnies, (i separated them from ...
  A: Tissue culture is an involved cloning process for producing thousands of new plants from seeds or ...
Couple questions1/6/2009
  Q: 1. My Nepenthes came and its pitcher is dry inside. I've already put it in a windowsill. Will it ...
  A: 1. It probably will. All the fluid gets dumped out during shipping. You can put just a little ...
fungicides1/6/2009
  Q: Hey guys, Just a quick question on fungicides. What do you recommend for use, you suggested I treat ...
  A: Glad you liked the calendar, and thank-you for the compliment. It's good to be getting back to ...
spoonleaf sundew1/5/2009
  Q: I've got a 4x15 inch pot that is FULL of dark red, dewy spoonleaf sunnies, (i separated them from ...
  A: What you have going on here is the original way the plants were propagated. The original clump was ...
RO units and Venus' Flytrap feeding1/5/2009
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove, NC in zone 7. My question is do most RO units have a connection where you can ...
  A: This is pretty typical RO unit. It has 1/4" lines. You should be able to find whatever adapters ...
nepenthes seedlings?basals?1/5/2009
  Q: i just had a few more questions. Ok, i have a couple of seed starting areas, and one especially for ...
  A: When Nepenthes germinate, the first leaves will be cotyledons, tiny regular seed leaves. The next ...
RO units and Venus' Flytrap feeding1/5/2009
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove, NC in zone 7. My question is do most RO units have a connection where you can ...
  A: Usually R.O. units will have just 1/2" or 1/4" rigid plastic tubing coming off them. What you need ...
Cobra plant1/4/2009
  Q: I am growing a Cobra plant and it is living inside. It has a florescent bulb which stays on for 11 ...
  A: That always helps. Now the bad news. You may want to say a few last words for your Cobra plant. ...
ID Please1/4/2009
  Q: Got this plant a few years back, pitchers looked like ventrata. Managed to split into 3 plants but ...
  A: I just picked up your question out of the question pool. This sort of lidless appearance of ...
heliamphora1/4/2009
  Q: hey, I know that heliamphora are plants difficult to grow that need fresh days and cool nights. I ...
  A: Hola! Alonso, Heliamphora should be very easy to grow if you get plenty of rain, and your night ...
VFT's / Pitcher (X Scarlet Belle)1/4/2009
  Q: First question is I'm wondering which Safer brand Fungicide to use on my plants. I'm located in ...
  A: Use the one that says just fungicide without any insecticide in it. Also look at the ingredients, ...
Cephalotus African Violet Pot1/2/2009
  Q: My cephalotus is currently growing in an African Violet (for ease of care and also the best way for ...
  A: The soil will absorb water just fine. Part of the advantage of the African violet pot is that it ...
Sphagnum moss1/2/2009
  Q: Okay, so I recently purchased a TDS meter. I use distilled and RO water. The meter shows zero when i ...
  A: The reading you're getting is dissolved organics such as tannic acid coming from the moss. That's ...
is my Utricularia longifolia dead?1/1/2009
  Q: A couple of months ago, I noticed that my pot of U. longifolia was losing a lot of leaves. They ...
  A: We've found that U. longifolia isn't very picky about the soil media. It does equally well in ...
Nepenthes12/31/2008
  Q: I bought a Nepenthes last summer so I have a question for you. My Nepenthes was bought at Lowe's and ...
  A: I was just looking at the question pool and picked up your question. Chances are, just because of ...
drosera intermedia12/31/2008
  Q: Do the seeds of the intermedia need stratification in order to grow . I've had some seeds on my ...
  A: Yes. They need about 2 months of cold, wet conditions in order to germinate. If you only have a ...
Un-potted plants12/31/2008
  Q: Hey there. My two dogs un-potted a few of my plants which consist of a Darlingtonia californica, ...
  A: I think you'll find that most of these plants are amazingly resilient from this kind of disturbance, ...
Nepenthes Eymae Pot12/31/2008
  Q: When my Nepenthes Eymae gets large enough for a 6 inch pot, should I get the regular of the hanging ...
  A: N. eymae would definitely look good in a hanging pot. Whether to put it in a hanging pot or regular ...
cephalotus12/31/2008
  Q: At what rate do the old pitchers die and regrow my plant seems to be doing fine. seems to have ...
  A: Growth rate is totally a factor of your growing conditions. Even under the best conditions, ...
Pitcher plants12/30/2008
  Q: I have two questions. 1) Does a tropical pitcher plant go dormant? 2) What tropical pitcher plant ...
  A: I'm assuming that by tropical pitcher plant you mean Nepenthes, Southeast Asian pitcher plants. ...
is my Utricularia longifolia dead?12/30/2008
  Q: A couple of months ago, I noticed that my pot of U. longifolia was losing a lot of leaves. They ...
  A: If you still have white root material below it should recover. It does sound like, however, that ...
Red color in Venus Fly Traps and Cape Sundew12/30/2008
  Q: I have a small collection of carnivorous plants, but there's an issue with my Cape Sundew and Venus ...
  A: I just picked up your question from the question pool. This problem seems a little mysterious. ...
Sundew refrigerator dormancy?12/23/2008
  Q: I also live in the northwest (Portland, OR). As I'm sure you're well aware, we live in a region that ...
  A: The best temperate sundew candidate for what your doing is probably Drosera intermedia. It grows ...
Nepenthes Questions12/23/2008
  Q: I have some questions about several individual species of Nepenthes... I am a grower in the Nirth ...
  A: Most of the plants you're looking at are not too challening. Here in our nursery we've had some ...
Cephalotus follicularis12/23/2008
  Q: me again. Just recently purchased a Cephalotus from you guys (at Sarracenia Northwest) and had a ...
  A: Were doing fine, but thanks for asking. We have 14 inches of snow on the ground, no power, can't ...
Gemmae question12/23/2008
  Q: Pygmy Scorpido Sundew, Gemmae are apparent at the top of one of my pygmys, when is a good time to ...
  A: It's a good idea to fill in the hole. The mother plants will have roots below, so by filling in ...
Gemmae question12/22/2008
  Q: Pygmy Scorpido Sundew, Gemmae are apparent at the top of one of my pygmys, when is a good time to ...
  A: We try hard to help people be successful. Just take a pencil and gently poke at them. If they fall ...
light and winterizing12/22/2008
  Q: i have asked you guys several questions and have always gotten a clear kind answer so thank you! I ...
  A: Ahh, this makes a bit more sense now. The reason it was confusing to me is that several ...
Cephalotus follicularis12/22/2008
  Q: me again. Just recently purchased a Cephalotus from you guys (at Sarracenia Northwest) and had a ...
  A: The wide containers your growing the Cobra plants in would be my first choice. These will provide ...
light and winterizing12/21/2008
  Q: i have asked you guys several questions and have always gotten a clear kind answer so thank you! I ...
  A: I'm not sure about the light. Do you have a web link to it or a similar unit? Is it fluorescent? ...
Just ordered a Nepenthes Eymae from you12/21/2008
  Q: I have just two questions: 1: Does the Nepenthes soil sold on your site (coconut husk and peat ...
  A: We've experimented with many soil mixes, and we've found our current mix of coconut husk and dried ...
Nepenthes Eymae questions12/20/2008
  Q: 1. Can N. eyemae adapt to windowsill growing (I was actually planning to grow it in a terrarium)? 2. ...
  A: Yes, N. eymae adapts well to windowsill growing, so it's not necessary to use a terrarium. Care for ...
Long term watering for Heliamphora12/20/2008
  Q: I was wondering how to water my Heliamphora minor x heterodoxa while I am gone for 2 week vacations. ...
  A: http://www.comforthouse.com/plantsitter10.html Here's one example I found with one web search. You ...
Fly Traps12/19/2008
  Q: I have had nothing but trouble with flytraps this year, and that trouble hasn't gone away yet. it ...
  A: I'm not certain if the plants in question are the same ones that you watered with from a carbon ...
Fly Traps12/19/2008
  Q: I have had nothing but trouble with flytraps this year, and that trouble hasn't gone away yet. it ...
  A: As I recall, you started off using an RO filter and then switched to a carbon filter in summer. Are ...
Frozen plants12/19/2008
  Q: I received a few plants recently and they had been frozen in the mail. The Mexican pinguiculas ...
  A: The first thing you should do is contact the nursery from whom you received the plants. I know we ...
SD wintering of n american pitchers12/18/2008
  Q: The general guidelines of "wintering" sarracenias is weather below 20'F for more than a week, ...
  A: What you're doing sounds good. Keeping the plants under mulch or similar covering to cut that ...
nepenthes Q's12/18/2008
  Q: Hey, i had another question about my nep cuttings, and one about there potting mix. Ok, i had ...
  A: That swelling at the cutting is a very good sign. Roots form from the stem's cambium and shoot out ...
look like grass12/18/2008
  Q: I have thing growing out of the soil in my Nepenthes Ventricosa and my Miranda that look like ...
  A: Yep, that's grass. Somehow lots of grass seed got into your planting media. Just pull it out. If ...
Darlingtonia pot choice12/17/2008
  Q: For pots for Darlingtonia, I know they should be short and wide. Would a drip system that waters ...
  A: I usually take about a 1/4" drill and bore 4 holes in the bottom. The water just needs to drain ...
Carnivorous Plants Not Doing Well12/17/2008
  Q: Attention Mr. Jacob Farin: Hi. You probably don't remember me, but I was the person who ...
  A: There are several factors going on with your plants. However, before addressing them, I'd like to ...
plant pulled out of the soil.12/16/2008
  Q: I ordered a cephalotus from you and it arrived today. While I was unpacking the plant I was trying ...
  A: As long as it hasn't dried out, or the roots pulled off, it should be fine. Give it a little extra ...
D. filiformis12/16/2008
  Q: I just received a D. filiformis var. tracyi from www.hirts.com. I think it was raised in a green ...
  A: Drosera filiformis ssp. trayci is a temperate plant. You may even have this species wild in ...
Nepenthes cuttings12/15/2008
  Q: I've been growing carnivorous plants for a few years now, but this is the first time I've tried ...
  A: Just leave them alone for now. If the plant is growing new leaves, roots usually are getting ready ...
Darlingtonia pot choice12/15/2008
  Q: For pots for Darlingtonia, I know they should be short and wide. Would a drip system that waters ...
  A: The drip system works very well. Here's the key. Poke holes in the bottom of the litter pans. ...
Fungus12/14/2008
  Q: I received a red leaf dewthread from you guys a few weeks back and it was growing very well and ...
  A: It will probably recover. Another thing that could be happening is the plant is going dormant. Red ...
Long term watering for Heliamphora12/14/2008
  Q: I was wondering how to water my Heliamphora minor x heterodoxa while I am gone for 2 week vacations. ...
  A: You'll probably need to rig up a mister on a timer or a dripper. Lots of different models of these ...
Ampullaria not looking good...12/10/2008
  Q: well my N. Ampullaria is not looking ok and I don't know what to do, maybe I'm just freaking out and ...
  A: We've found that some Nepenthes just tend to get this, and some don't. Nepenthes rafflesiana always ...
Mexican Ping dish garden12/10/2008
  Q: I bought a 3 inch deep dish gaqrden bowl to plant some Mexican pings in it. It does not have any ...
  A: Since the bowl has no drainage, be sure to used distilled water or rainwater. That way minerals ...
over wintering venus fly traps12/9/2008
  Q: I have a Venus fly trap I purchased from a department store in one of those plastic terrariums. I ...
  A: With Venus flytraps if you catch them just as their beginning to wilt and water them they will ...
Re: Questions about Nepenthes Alata12/9/2008
  Q: I stumbled across this website and found it very informative and useful. I recently acquired my ...
  A: Overall Nepenthes hybrids such as your plant (I suspect this is actually Nepenthes x ventrata, an ...
Ampullaria not looking good...12/9/2008
  Q: well my N. Ampullaria is not looking ok and I don't know what to do, maybe I'm just freaking out and ...
  A: Absolutely. Because both the N. bicalcurata and ampullaria are having problems, it's certainly the ...
what plant is best12/8/2008
  Q: We live in Pittsburgh Pa. My 8 year old daughter wants a venus fly trap. Is this good choice? What ...
  A: Ahh, this is always the first desire of a young new carnivorous plant grower, but not a great first ...
Heliamphora12/8/2008
  Q: I have a Heliamphora (unknown species) growing in an unheated terrarium at a consistently 65 degree ...
  A: Even though you may see us warning against fertilizing, this is an exception. Regular, weak foliar ...
Drosera Scorpioides and Sarracenia12/8/2008
  Q: I have a couple of inquiries regarding some of my carnivorous plants. I have a Drosera Scorpioides ...
  A: This time of year you would need to supplement the plant with artificial light to help it out. We ...
Using Diluted Spray-on Fertilizer on Plants 0-12 mos.12/7/2008
  Q: I've always bought my carnivorous plants live, but I received a kit, as a gift, in which you grow ...
  A: This is actually valid, but go easy! If one has to choose to fertilize or not fertilize, to not is ...
Nepenthes cuttings12/7/2008
  Q: i recieved a few cuttings a while ago through some forum trades and was wondering how to tell if the ...
  A: Nepenthes cuttings are always a bit hit and miss. Some plants root much easier than others, plus ...
Dewless Aliciae12/6/2008
  Q: Perhaps a month ago, I bought a Drosera Aliciae from Sarracenia Northwest. It's still in the pot ...
  A: As Jeff mentioned, lack of lighting is usually the number one culprit for a dewless sundew. Given ...
N. alata12/6/2008
  Q: I have a N. alata that I got from a nursery last saturday. I repoted it into a pot twice as big as ...
  A: Your plant is actually an alata hybrid, Nepenthes alata x (alata x ventricosa). It's often ...
bugs12/6/2008
  Q: My Nepenthes are doing pretty good but have developed these spots. Can you please tell me what they ...
  A: These look like some species of thrip. Use a systemic insect killer such as Ortho systemic insect ...
Dewless Aliciae12/5/2008
  Q: Perhaps a month ago, I bought a Drosera Aliciae from Sarracenia Northwest. It's still in the pot ...
  A: Go ahead and remove the plastic bag and give the pot an actual tray. Could be that it isn't wet ...
repotting12/5/2008
  Q: I've heard so much about repotting,and have done so many times.One year I was not able to do so.At ...
  A: The issue of repotting depends a lot on several factors: 1) species 2) soil composition 3) pot size ...
nep maxima cutting12/4/2008
  Q: This summer i made a cutting of my nep maxima plant. i made one rather large one, instead of a few ...
  A: Since the cutting is growing, it sounds healthy. I wouldn't cut it off. Once you transplant it, it ...
sarracenia purpurea burki12/4/2008
  Q: I'm looking for a sarracenia purpurea s.venosa var.burki to purchase. From what I've been reading ...
  A: This is very real subspecies. The confusion has come about because botanists have be wrangling over ...
Overwintering of P. Primuflora and Flytraps12/3/2008
  Q: I have a small flytrap and a P. Primuflora that I've rescued from Lowes. I bought both plants around ...
  A: The conditions you're describing sound perfect. It's good to spray them with a sulfur based ...
adult pitchers12/3/2008
  Q: in reading about nepenthes i see the term adult pitchers and am not sure what this means. do the ...
  A: What an adult pitcher means is one that has finished growing. What that looks like is the lid is ...
Questions about the Cape Sundew12/2/2008
  Q: I have a few questions to ask you about the Cape Sundew. I got my Cape Sundew in ...
  A: You have quite a bit going on in this question, so I'll speak generally about Cape Sundew care, ...
nep maxima cutting12/1/2008
  Q: This summer i made a cutting of my nep maxima plant. i made one rather large one, instead of a few ...
  A: Opening the plant up to normal humidity like you're doing is just the right thing. After your plant ...
nep maxima cutting12/1/2008
  Q: This summer i made a cutting of my nep maxima plant. i made one rather large one, instead of a few ...
  A: Darren, This will be the time to transfer it. If you have it in high humidity, you'll need to ...
Identification12/1/2008
  Q: Ok well my seeds started to germinate but then the dome flipped over and I had to put the soil back ...
  A: Unfortunately, all of our photos are very general concerning seedlings. I find that I can't tell ...
Sarracenia11/25/2008
  Q: How do you tell the difference between S. rubra and alabamensis? How do you tell the difference ...
  A: It's really hard in just descriptions to show you the difference between these subspecies, ...
Nepenthes ventrata lack of pitchers11/24/2008
  Q: I have a very healthy Nepenthes with leaves up to 8 inches long and growing by leaps and bounds (see ...
  A: Ahh yes. I used to have a couple ventrata's (Nepenthes deRoose's alata) in my previous house that ...
What type of soil should they be in11/24/2008
  Q: I bought 2 types of sundew cape and spoonleaf sundews from Hirt's graden and they have potting soil ...
  A: Transplant them to a mix of 1/2 peat moss to 1/2 perlite. Never use any type of regular potting ...
Which plant would be best?11/24/2008
  Q: Good morning. I live in Ontario California in a housing development that was built on dairy land. ...
  A: We have a service on our website to help you with the selection. Go to http://www.cobraplant.com ...
Winterizing young plants11/24/2008
  Q: I have a follow up question, referring to an e-mail reply from Jacob. I have many young flytraps ...
  A: Go for the cold basement window. In this environment they will be cold enough to go fully dormant, ...
My Sanguinea Nepenthes11/23/2008
  Q: I have recently discovered a passion for carniverous plants and due to your great website I have ...
  A: Tell me more about how you are watering. This appearance looks like the plant has been sitting in ...
D. filiformis11/23/2008
  Q: I have just received an order for you guys and one of the plants was D. filiformis. I know it ...
  A: The Drosera filiformis you have is the sub-tropical red form that comes from central Florida. All ...
D. Nitdula x Ericksoniae11/22/2008
  Q: I am from San Diego Ca. I Just had a few questions regarding my Pygmy Sundews. First is I noticed on ...
  A: I don't think their are any digestive glands on the flower stalks. It is probably just defensive. ...
there an't no dew on my cape and spoonleaf sundew11/22/2008
  Q: I just bought 2 cape sundews and 2 spoonleaf sundew and there ain't no dew on it. i don't know why ...
  A: It helps immensely. First stop I'd like you to make is at our carepages at ...
identification ( nepenthes)11/22/2008
  Q: I recently purchased a nepenthes from a local nursery. It looked a little wimpy but after only a ...
  A: It's a little hard to tell since the plant has no color, but it looks like Nepenthes ventricosa. As ...
Nepenthes and snails11/21/2008
  Q: 1) Nepenthes maximus 2) Partial Shade, partial Sun 3) Puerto Rico 4) Not available. I already know ...
  A: You can't really put slug or snail bait down in the soil, so you'll need to transplant to see if you ...
Cephalotus11/21/2008
  Q: I have been growing a Cephalotus for about a year and smaller plants grew from its roots. I was ...
  A: If the plants are well developed, and look like they will separate easily, then you could separate ...
Overwintering,11/20/2008
  Q: I have a question for you guys. I currently have four sarracenia, one venus flytrap, and one hardy ...
  A: Depending on how cold it gets, the garage is a good option. Be sure to clip off any dead leaves, ...
Cephalotus Follicularis growth rate11/20/2008
  Q: How much time does it uusually take for a pitcher to form on this plant (not during dormancy)? I ...
  A: Under good summer growing conditions (warm days, cool nights) a new pitcher will develop in about 3 ...
Sarracenia11/19/2008
  Q: Could you tell me what type of subspecies of S. rubra you think this is? Go to. ...
  A: If the plant in the picture is actually what is sold, it is S. rubra ssp. rubra. However, just ...
winterizing carnivorous houseplants11/18/2008
  Q: I'm a novice at growing carnivorous plants (or any plants, really), so I started this spring with a ...
  A: Fortunately, both of your plants are true tropical plants. The decrease in vigor is due to short ...
Sickly Sundews11/17/2008
  Q: Per our conversation at the market today Jeff here is a picture of the sundews. We don't know if we ...
  A: It's starting to look like it might be a combination of both things. It's very common for small ...
Nepenthes - Asian Pitcher Plants/flowers11/17/2008
  Q: My Nepenthes - Asian Pitcher Plant is amazingly huge, but the little tips on the ends of the leaves ...
  A: When Nepenthes get older they often bloom. This doesn't mean they are dieing. Flower spikes ...
Cephalotus Growth11/17/2008
  Q: I'm growing my plant in perlite/sand/peat mix in an African Violet Pot. It is growing on a south ...
  A: Since your plant is just receiving just natural light, it probably is going dormant. Southwest ...
My sarracenia during winter11/17/2008
  Q: I live in Chicago,Ill and it is really cold right now. I have a pitcher plant that has all the right ...
  A: If you have just one plant, bring it indoors, but place it in a cold North window. In other words, ...
Hibernating sarracenia11/16/2008
  Q: I've had a sarracenia for 2 years now. I live in Yucatan so have to put her in the fridge in winter. ...
  A: You can go ahead and cut the stems. They will respond just fine. Here when they have a normal ...
Sickly Sundews11/16/2008
  Q: Per our conversation at the market today Jeff here is a picture of the sundews. We don't know if we ...
  A: I strongly suspect something is wrong with the soil. This looks very much like what happens when ...
dormancy11/14/2008
  Q: this year i was going to try a different method for dormancy, instead of mulching i was going to ...
  A: This is an excellent method for overwintering your plants. Keep the temperatures between 32°F and ...
overwintering flytraps11/13/2008
  Q: I have a bog garden which I have flytraps and pitcher plants. I live outside of Roanoke, VA up a ...
  A: The rule of thumb we use is if the temperature is not going to rise above freezing during the day. ...
Dormancy and Mulching11/13/2008
  Q: I am planning on putting my temperate plants (zone 5 to zone 8) to bed for the winter and I have a ...
  A: The leaves should be no problem at all. We get lots of leaves in our pools during the fall and ...
does flyspray kill carnivorous plants?11/12/2008
  Q: i was just wondering, if i spray flyspray around my house will it kill my carnivorous plants? (VTF, ...
  A: Most insecticides won't harm carnivorous plants. However, general spray insecticides for your home ...
sarracenia winter haircuts11/11/2008
  Q: well, its that time of year here in SD, cold, snow, and winter weather. night time temps dipping ...
  A: The only other plants that need some of their leaves left on are S. psittacina, and psittacina ...
Nepenthes Caesar - no new pitchers11/11/2008
  Q: Hanging in SE facing garden window along with several orchids. Fairfax, VA. Water every other day. ...
  A: I sat looking at your picture for quite some time. A couple things are puzzling. Your window looks ...
Venus Flytrap dormancy11/10/2008
  Q: I have a few venus flytraps that I have been keeping in a terrarium that is 3-4 inches full of ...
  A: It's going to be too late to try anything outside in your climate. This may be something to try ...
Nepenthes11/10/2008
  Q: i have a few nepenthes, (truncata, myranda, sanguinea, and ventricosa) all sitting in the window ...
  A: Yes, if you only have a north window, supplement the ambient light with fluorescent lights. Always ...
winterization11/9/2008
  Q: I have a small collection of pitcher plants and flytraps that I've kept outside in bowls all ...
  A: It's possible to over winter your plants outdoors as long as you're willing to mulch your pot very ...
Wintering Carnivorous Plants11/8/2008
  Q: I had my plants in a screened in porch (south sun) all summer and fall until a few days ago. I ...
  A: Yes, mold is a big issue when growing carnivorous plants indoors. This of course depends on the age ...
my plants11/8/2008
  Q: My venus flytrap sent up a flower stalk 2 months ago and I cut it off. Do I need to let it go ...
  A: Based on your description, I'm going to assume that you're growing your flytrap and Sarracenia ...
Nepenthes11/8/2008
  Q: i have a few nepenthes, (truncata, myranda, sanguinea, and ventricosa) all sitting in the window ...
  A: There are numerous reasons why developing pitchers turn brown. The most common problem is lack of ...
Light timer11/7/2008
  Q: A couple years ago I bought several Nepenthes plants from you guys and, I am very happy with them. ...
  A: Nepenthes are equatorial plants, so they don't need a drastic change in light hours as temperate ...
how hard is it to grow hamata?11/7/2008
  Q: I've been eyeing the n. hamata for a few months, such an awesome looking plant! Is it possible to ...
  A: A mature plant will adapt more readily to your conditions. There is a grower in the New England ...
winterization11/7/2008
  Q: i have alot of garden plants in pots, how do i winterize them in my garage and when do i put them in ...
  A: You can store your plants after you've experienced a series of overnight frost and your daytime ...
neem oil11/7/2008
  Q: Do you know what kind of surfactant i could add to neem oil to make it dissolve into water? I want ...
  A: The only thing I can tell you is to follow the directions provided by the manufacturer. I'm not ...
flytrap11/6/2008
  Q: get your e-mails didn't know if I read right. I'm in zone 8 in Dec. do I need to put mulch in pot? ...
  A: Yes, if want to mulch your plants, you place the mulch on top and on the sides of the pot. ...
how to mulch my pitcher plants11/6/2008
  Q: I don't want to appear dumb, but just how do I mulch my pitcher plants? What do I use to mulch them ...
  A: You're in zone 8, which is the same zone as we are. You don't need to provide any winter protection ...
Indoor judith hindle11/6/2008
  Q: I just realized a friend has a Judith Hindle she bought at some store. She didn't know it was ...
  A: I've seen those plants in the stores, and unfortunately many of them looked very week and unhealthy. ...
neem oil11/6/2008
  Q: Do you know what kind of surfactant i could add to neem oil to make it dissolve into water? I want ...
  A: You don't need to add a surfactant to Neem oil. All prepared solutions of this compound are ...
Dionea Help11/5/2008
  Q: i buyed a dionea muscipula from a local shop where was o very bad conditions ,i give her very much ...
  A: You will need to adjust your soil mix for your flytrap. The ideal mix is 1 part peat moss and 1 ...
plants to grow in northern Rhode Island11/4/2008
  Q: I am looking to expand my outdoor carnivorous garden, which currently contains Sarracenia purpurea, ...
  A: Maybe the more accurate thing to say is that you can grow nearly all North American carnivorous ...
Please help identify my pitcher plant11/4/2008
  Q: hope you can help me. The two plants in the picture came from the same packet of seeds I bought. The ...
  A: Both plants are very young, so I can't properly identify them just yet. I agree that the plant on ...
Dionea Help11/3/2008
  Q: i buyed a dionea muscipula from a local shop where was o very bad conditions ,i give her very much ...
  A: It sounds like this is your very first flytrap. Unfortunately, purchasing a plant in poor health is ...
plants to grow in northern Rhode Island11/3/2008
  Q: I am looking to expand my outdoor carnivorous garden, which currently contains Sarracenia purpurea, ...
  A: Congratulations on your growing success! Overwintering carnivorous plants is a challenge for many ...
P. medusina11/3/2008
  Q: I just ordered a P. medusina from you and I noticed that it looks remarkably like a P. gypsicola. I ...
  A: P. medusina is a distinct species that's unrelated to P. gypsicola. P. medusina is native to Oxaca, ...
Plants for south room with no heat or ac11/3/2008
  Q: I live in Portland, OR. I have a room with bright southern and eastern light that has no direct ...
  A: Be very careful about taking the cool nights concept too far. While mountainous plants will ...
nepenthes11/3/2008
  Q: I live in Billings Montana and i am having a hard time growing nepenthes inside.I have a greenhouse ...
  A: Are the lights 75 watts in actual output or equivalent output. If you're using compact fluorescent ...
darlingtonia and ping.11/2/2008
  Q: I just picked up a Darlingtonia and a Pinguicula from the local "Home Improvement Warehouse". Is ...
  A: You can read up on the differences on our care sheet: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets In ...
terrarium lighting11/2/2008
  Q: I am looking to build a 4 foot terrarium that is about 20 inches tall. I am thinking of lighting it ...
  A: I haven't used T8 or T5 tubes, so I can't really can't comment on whether or not your plants will ...
nepenthes11/2/2008
  Q: I live in Billings Montana and i am having a hard time growing nepenthes inside.I have a greenhouse ...
  A: Based on your description, I can come up with two possibilities: 1) low lighting and 2) excessively ...
Drosera Intermedia11/1/2008
  Q: I bought and sprouted a few Droseras which I was told were spatulata. I now know for sure that these ...
  A: With any of the temperate sundews, I recommend overwintering them outdoors. We used to overwinter ...
Vermiculite11/1/2008
  Q: In your "Secrets 1.2" book, you recommend vermiculite in your Premium Mix for Asian Pitcher Plants. ...
  A: Asian pitcher plants will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions, from acidic to basic. We've ...
darlingtonia and ping.11/1/2008
  Q: I just picked up a Darlingtonia and a Pinguicula from the local "Home Improvement Warehouse". Is ...
  A: It's a bit difficult to tell the difference between the mountain variety and the coastal variety, ...
disapointed11/1/2008
  Q: I've had and interest in carnivorous plants for a long time and have really enjoyed growing them. I ...
  A: I'm a bit confused because I didn't mention about growing this species outdoors. Drosera regia is a ...
n. ventricosa and ampullaria11/1/2008
  Q: I have two n. ventricosa and one n. ampullaria that I have been grow in my garage under fluorescents ...
  A: Whenever pitchers turn black, I always check the lighting. So your might not be adequate for N. ...
winter in Augusta GA10/31/2008
  Q: Last year (2007) I purchased one Venus flytrap, one white top pitcher, two of the Daina delights, ...
  A: The weather pattern you've described is a problem for a lot of gardeners and farmers. Warm days and ...
Rhizome Rot?10/31/2008
  Q: I have two venus fly traps that have died down to no traps. I took them out of their pots ...
  A: However, there are a few details missing, such as the method in which you were using to grow your ...
Wintering Carnivorous Plants10/31/2008
  Q: I had my plants in a screened in porch (south sun) all summer and fall until a few days ago. I ...
  A: Yes, definitely use the shop lights from the hardware store. Use a couple 40-watt tubes, and keep ...
Sunlight and Carnivorous PLants10/31/2008
  Q: I have a butterwort and a cape sundew. I am not sure what type of butterwort it is. It came in a ...
  A: It could be from the lower light levels. The Cape sundew likes it fairly bright, yet cool. But ...
disapointed10/31/2008
  Q: I've had and interest in carnivorous plants for a long time and have really enjoyed growing them. I ...
  A: I'm sorry to disappoint you! The king sundew (Droser regia) is a mountainous plant from South ...
dormancy: flytraps10/30/2008
  Q: My Venus flytraps have just opened their flowers and I am wondering if show start inducing dormancy. ...
  A: You might like what I have to say, but we're actually staunch advocates of growing flytraps outdoors ...
Michigan Venus Flytraps10/30/2008
  Q: Last winter 2007-08 my husband bought me a couple of venus flytraps from a local hardware store ...
  A: We actually have customers in your area and in similar USDA zone climates who have successfully ...
Nep reproduction10/30/2008
  Q: I have N. x efflugent koto. over 3' tall. I'd like to propagate it. May I whack it off, dip in ...
  A: The process of stem cuttings is fairly straight forward. I'll give you a quick outline. Keep in ...
Lighting for N. Sanguina10/30/2008
  Q: You guys just answered my question about keeping the Orange pitcher plant inside, and it was ...
  A: The best type of lighting is natural sunlight. Nepenthes sanguinea will grow well in a very sunny ...
Purchasing a Fly Trap10/29/2008
  Q: Our daughter is searching for a Venus Fly Trap and local nurseries don't seem to carry them. We have ...
  A: I commend you for researching for appropriate nurseries before purchasing your plants. While there ...
N. Sanguinea10/29/2008
  Q: I decided to purchase one of these N. Sanguinea (Orange Pitcher) for the sole reason of my boredom. ...
  A: Your set up is fine as long as you follow our recommendations for lighting. Lighting seems to be ...
carnivorous plant frost10/29/2008
  Q: Do sarracenia rubra and purpurea need frost or frost protection. What are the winter requirements ...
  A: Sarracenia and flytraps are native to North America, so they can certainly tolerate frost. However, ...
hi10/28/2008
  Q: its almost halloween and i have alot of sarracenia and i normally grow them outside but it`s really ...
  A: Sarracenia are native to North America, so they're temperate plants. These types of plants need to ...
Replanting10/28/2008
  Q: I received a pot of fly traps from a lady my husband knows, He actually went to fix her air and heat ...
  A: This information is very useful. You can grow all flytraps in the same pot. However, since your ...
Summer dormant D. Muscipula10/28/2008
  Q: In August I received a D. Muscipula from California Carnivores and there was a note in the package ...
  A: You may need to contact California Carnivores directly regarding your flytrap. August is peak ...
Replanting10/27/2008
  Q: I received a pot of fly traps from a lady my husband knows, He actually went to fix her air and heat ...
  A: You bring up several issues here, and I'm not sure if actually addressing them would be ...
Sundews10/27/2008
  Q: I have taken a few photos of sundews at Silvermine, Cape Town RSA. I would like to know the ...
  A: I'm not familiar with the details of this species, so I can't offer a specific identification. The ...
green moss10/27/2008
  Q: there is a green moss growing on my carnivorous plant`s soil and is spreading fast.is this bade ...
  A: It could likely be club moss, which commonly occurs on carnivorous plant soil. You didn't mention ...
2 questions10/25/2008
  Q: I have recently acquired a water testing kit to test my tap water. It tests for pH, total ...
  A: The main thing to look at is total hardness. That's the only one that matters for now. It should ...
nepenthes ventricosa10/25/2008
  Q: I have a Nepenthes ventricosa that I want to grow in a large terrrarium. I've heard that they can ...
  A: N. ventricosa is a good terrarium candidate since it doesn't get super large. You can grow them ...
drosophyllum seeds10/25/2008
  Q: i am sowing drosophyllum seeds in little peat pots filled with mostly sand/pumice/vermiculite and i ...
  A: Don't leave the pots sitting in water for a couple of reasons. First is that your peat pots will ...
Sunlight and Carnivorous PLants10/24/2008
  Q: I have a butterwort and a cape sundew. I am not sure what type of butterwort it is. It came ...
  A: You can peruse our Mexican butterwort care sheet to make sure your butterwort is indeed a Mexican ...
Wintering Carnivorous Plants10/24/2008
  Q: I had my plants in a screened in porch (south sun) all summer and fall until a few days ago. I ...
  A: I commend you in taking this venture seriously. Many first-time growers have made the same mistakes ...
Nepenthes fertilization10/24/2008
  Q: I have been growing the seedling villosa on the right for about 1 year indoors under lights and have ...
  A: This might seem a bit blunt, but is your sphagnum moss dead yet? After a year of following your ...
Venus Fly Traps10/24/2008
  Q: I had a previous question on my venus fly trap and answer I received was > very helpful. My venus ...
  A: As long as your sundew is a North American sundew, all plants in your collection will require winter ...
Carnivorous Plant Roots10/23/2008
  Q: Yesterday, I replanted my purple pitcher plant and venus into bigger pots. The pitcher plant in ...
  A: Healthy roots should be white and supple. Unhealthy roots will be brown and brittle. If the roots ...
to mulch or not to mulch10/23/2008
  Q: Even though daytime temps are still reaching into the low sixties (with exceptions), frost has come ...
  A: Mulch your plants when you've experienced a series of over night frost and the day temperatures are ...
nepenthes10/23/2008
  Q: This is just an update about my Nep. Miranda that fell off the shelf around the first of the month. ...
  A: Yes, Nepenthes are very resilient and bounce back quickly from this sort of set back. As for ...
N. Gentle10/23/2008
  Q: Bought this plant without a name. Was told it is Gentle. Upper pitchers all have dimples. Please ...
  A: Unfortunately, I don't have access to your previous photograph. Once you upload a new photograph, ...
N. Gentle10/22/2008
  Q: Bought this plant without a name. Was told it is Gentle. Upper pitchers all have dimples. Please ...
  A: The plant you have is actually Miranda and not Gentle. Gentle (also known as Velvet or Velvet ...
Nepenthes Rajah Conditions10/22/2008
  Q: I'm planning to eventually get a Rajah. I am using a 5 gallon terrarium with two 23 watt compact ...
  A: Use an African violet pot. It has a large water reservoir and releases only enough water to keep ...
Venus Fly Traps10/22/2008
  Q: I have one question on venus fly traps. I was wondering if your could use fertilizers like miracle ...
  A: No, don't use any fertilizer with your flytraps. Keep in mind that carnivorous plants get their ...
dividing my temparate plants10/22/2008
  Q: Since dormancy is coming fast and i am about to divide many of my sarracenia and dionaea, i was ...
  A: Hold off on dividing your plants. This is the wrong time of the year to do so. You should do your ...
cold hardiness10/21/2008
  Q: I'm wondering before buying: if ANY of your carnivorous plants offered would be hardy in zone 4a ...
  A: Almost any of the North American plants will over winter in zone 4 provided that they are properly ...
setting up a lg bog10/21/2008
  Q: i have a large underground pond that i would like to turn into a bog so i could plant north American ...
  A: As long as your bog receives full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight) during the summer months, ...
S. rubra flowering wrong season10/21/2008
  Q: Greetings Sarracenia Northwest, I have been raising the S. rubra you sent me as a gift plant over a ...
  A: What you're witnessing is something common to windowsill growing. On a south window, plants will ...
Sundews10/20/2008
  Q: I have taken a few photos of sundews at Silvermine, Cape Town RSA. I would like to know the ...
  A: To clarify your question, are you wanting identification for your photos? Also, are you wanting to ...
the tips of my sarracenia puperea(I know this is spelt wrong) traps are turning brown10/20/2008
  Q: The tips of my sarracenia puperea traps are turning brown. Also my plant is in full sun so what is ...
  A: In this case, it would have been helpful to know if you're growing your plant indoors or outdoors, ...
Small nepenthes for apartment.10/19/2008
  Q: I have a bright southern window in a bathroom that I'd like to hang a small Nepentes in. Small ...
  A: Since you live in Oregon, I'd advice against growing plants in an east window, especially during the ...
Wintering Carnivorous Plants, Diseases, and Info on Doodle Bug10/19/2008
  Q: I have several questions to ask you. I thought it would be best to type them all in here, rather ...
  A: You may not want to hear this, but this is a situation in which you may be over babying your plants. ...
Re Potting10/19/2008
  Q: I have grown carnivorous plants, pitcher, Venus fly trap and sundew for the past three years and ...
  A: We generally recommend to repot your plants in early spring. However, you can do so at anytime of ...
Overwintering and fungicides10/18/2008
  Q: I have two questions. First, after much searching i have finally found a supply of pine needles for ...
  A: Given your location, use about 6-10 inches of mulch. That layer needs to be from the soil line and ...
Small nepenthes for apartment.10/18/2008
  Q: I have a bright southern window in a bathroom that I'd like to hang a small Nepentes in. Small ...
  A: Keep in mind that Nepenthes are technically vines. So most will grow into large plants. Even a ...
Wintering Carnivorous Plants, Diseases, and Info on Doodle Bug10/18/2008
  Q: I have several questions to ask you. I thought it would be best to type them all in here, rather ...
  A: I still recommend putting the plants outside of the porch area. Again the general rule of thumb is ...
Wintering Carnivorous Plants, Diseases, and Info on Doodle Bug10/15/2008
  Q: I have several questions to ask you. I thought it would be best to type them all in here, rather ...
  A: 1) All North American carnivorous plants can tolerate temperatures as low as 20°F if growing them in ...
Sprouting seeds10/15/2008
  Q: I have received some seeds from a Hirt's Garden and I was wondering how to sprout each different ...
  A: It's a bit difficult to say why there was a sudden drop in leaves. It could be coincidental with ...
sundew not doing so well10/15/2008
  Q: I got this stag horn sundew on friday. There was some brown coloration on the tips when it arrived, ...
  A: While it may be distressing to see a plant do this, keep in mind that it may also be going dormant ...
nepenthes soil....10/15/2008
  Q: I have been growing nepenthes for about a year now. My question here is regarding the soil mixture ...
  A: I want to commend you for thinking this through. As you've noticed, your watering schedule depends ...
Nepnthes & Sarracenia - repoting10/14/2008
  Q: Recently received a Nepenthes (alata x ventrata) in 4" pot. Am a little confused as to when I should ...
  A: You can repot your Nepenthes any time of the year and at any stage of growth. In general, repot the ...
Sprouting seeds10/14/2008
  Q: I have received some seeds from a Hirt's Garden and I was wondering how to sprout each different ...
  A: First, I'm going to refer you to our care sheet section on our main website. You'll find our ...
sundew not doing so well10/14/2008
  Q: I got this stag horn sundew on friday. There was some brown coloration on the tips when it arrived, ...
  A: It could either be a transition issue or a dormancy issue. While this plant doesn't require winter ...
spots on miranda leaf10/13/2008
  Q: I'm a little concerned about these spots on one of my miranda's leaves. ...
  A: Humidifiers are OK, but they generally don't increase the humidity to any significant degree unless ...
Fly Traps and Pitchers10/13/2008
  Q: Jacob, i guess i had responded too many times. anyway, here are the answers to your questions: 1. ...
  A: Marc! Now I have a clear picture of what's going on. Your flytraps are actually declining not ...
Fly Traps and Pitchers10/13/2008
  Q: i noticed that my flytraps are loosing there leaves now that temperatures are cooling down. my ...
  A: Forgive me, but I'm a bit confused as to the specifics of your original question. Are you seeing a ...
RE: Heliamphoras10/13/2008
  Q: Question I was wondering if i could grow a Heliamphora (or cephalotus) on my window sill. I get ...
  A: If you're new to growing carnivorous plants, I wouldn't recommend this plant at all. It doesn't ...
Fly Traps and Pitchers10/12/2008
  Q: i noticed that my flytraps are loosing there leaves now that temperatures are cooling down. my ...
  A: Provided that you've been growing your in the recommended sunlight, soil and water, yes it's normal ...
Light10/12/2008
  Q: I use a compact fluorescent light(20 watts=100 watts incandescent)lumen 1000 warm light spiral form ...
  A: If you have only one compact fluorescent bulb, you'll need to get another, possibly a total of ...
spots on miranda leaf10/11/2008
  Q: I'm a little concerned about these spots on one of my miranda's leaves. ...
  A: That's very normal. When we received our current batch of plants, we could tell that the plants ...
Nepenthes Question10/11/2008
  Q: About a month ago I noticed that some of my Nepenthes were producing so much sticky stuff that it ...
  A: That sticky stuff is nectar secretion, and it's very normal. Some species, such as Nepenthes ...
SARRACENIA PURPUREA10/11/2008
  Q: I bought a small Sarracenia purpurea from a local store this past summer and planted it with my ...
  A: Yes, you can certainly leave your plants outdoors in your area. You live in what we technically ...
Heliamphora10/11/2008
  Q: I was wondering if i could grow a Heliamphora (or cephalotus) on my window sill. I get about 2 hours ...
  A: Well, this entirely depends on where you live. If you happen to live in an area that has a similar ...
Fly Traps and Pitchers10/11/2008
  Q: i noticed that my flytraps are loosing there leaves now that temperatures are cooling down. my ...
  A: It's not necessary to place your plants in the refrigerator. Los Angeles is technically rated USDA ...
Venus fly traps, sundew, and pitcher plants in texas10/10/2008
  Q: can I keep any of these in winter outdoors? ...
  A: Yes, you can certainly keep any of the North American carnivorous plants outdoors in Texas. Of ...
b1 superthrive10/10/2008
  Q: I have a few drosophyllum seeds and i have heard that if you soak them in b1 superthrive, it will ...
  A: I haven't heard about soaking seeds in SuperThrive®. It's not something I've experimented with, so ...
"Carnivorous Creations" set by DuneCraft10/10/2008
  Q: I live in Rockford, IL. Last November a friend gave me the Carnivorous Creations kit by DuneCraft as ...
  A: Congratulations on your research on how to care for these plants! Yes, terrariums are not ...
sundew dormancy10/10/2008
  Q: And will I need to protect it during dormancy. And how wet should I keep the soil.
  A: Your plant will most likely go dormant by mid November after a series of frost. If you live in ...
cape sundew question10/9/2008
  Q: so my cape sundews have flowered for the second time this summer, all seemed normal, but one of the ...
  A: With Cape sundews and temperature, if you're comfortable, your plants are comfortable. Even at our ...
help idenfy my napenthes10/8/2008
  Q: I have had the little guy for about 1 year. I saved it form a lowes' store. it was half dead, and ...
  A: Based on your photograph , I'd say your plant is N. rafflesiana. I know that wasn't part of your ...
cape sundew question10/8/2008
  Q: so my cape sundews have flowered for the second time this summer, all seemed normal, but one of the ...
  A: I haven't seen this on a Cape sundew, but I've seen something very similar on Venus flytrap flowers. ...
Sarracenia culture for winter10/8/2008
  Q: Recently bought 3 sarracenia, Scarlet Belle, Dana's Delight Hybrid & Yellow Trumpet at Portland ...
  A: Based on what you've mentioned about your low temperatures, I assume you're not in the Portland ...
i think my plants have died10/7/2008
  Q: i am supposed to be looking after some plants for a friend, all i could tell you is that one is a ...
  A: The plants might survive depending whether the dehydration was severe or not. For now, set the ...
Caesar Update10/7/2008
  Q: Jeff Dallas or Jacob Farin, Just wanted to let you know how pleased I’m with the plants you sell. ...
  A: Your plant appears to like your set up and is producing very nice leaves and pitchers. In all ...
Vemus Flytraps - black traps10/6/2008
  Q: Like many who get started in this hobby I've gotten a couple of Venus flytraps. In this case from a ...
  A: Yes, trim off any leaves that have blackened, and trim off the flower stalk. For now, grow your ...
Help!10/6/2008
  Q: Help, my plants have fungus or mold on them can I use any fungicide, is there a natural way to kill ...
  A: To treat fungus, use either a sulfur-based fungicide or Neem oil. Safer® makes prepared solutions ...
Dying Sundew10/6/2008
  Q: I have a pigmy sundew as a science project in Massachusetts. It is potted in cactus soil I believe ...
  A: First off, the plant you have is a spoon leaf sundew, Drosera spatualata, and not pygmy sundew. ...
Question about Sphagnum10/5/2008
  Q: I ordered your Live Sphagnum capillifolium and I'm wondering will there be care instructions for ...
  A: No need to mulch them. They are extremely frost hardy and will withstand extremely cold ...
D. filliformus ssp filliformus~tropical or temperate10/5/2008
  Q: im going to get some D. filliformus ssp filliformus seeds and from what the person said there ...
  A: These seeds require stratification. Once the plants are fully grown, you should also grow them like ...
Safe fungicide for ceph's?10/5/2008
  Q: I am receiving ceph seeds and I'd like to know if Spectracide Immunox would be safe to use. I've ...
  A: I don't have any experience with Immunox on carnivorous plants, so I can't give you a recommendation ...
N. burkei and ramispina as lowlanders.10/4/2008
  Q: I noted that you list N. bukei and ramispina as not requiring cool nights. In particular, do you ...
  A: The terms highland and lowland are really arbitrary and do not account for individual growth habits. ...
Dew threads10/4/2008
  Q: How can you tell the difference between the Giant Dewthread and the common dewthread? I've read ...
  A: If you have both known varieties, but lost the tags, then it'll be easier to help you tell them ...
Nepenthes10/4/2008
  Q: I just had a question as to whether there was such a thing as "Dwarf" Nepenthes. I have seen a ...
  A: Dwarf Nepenthes is quite relative. In the orchid world, there are dwarf or miniature orchids, but ...
alata stem getting big and splitting10/4/2008
  Q: Someone gave me a giant n.alata ( I think its one of the deroose ones you've mentioned). There are ...
  A: Yes, it's likely that what you have is the Deroose Alata. This particular hybrid is extremely easy ...
broken miranda pitcher bud10/4/2008
  Q: My miranda was starting to grow its second pitcher, and someone in my house shut the window on the ...
  A: Sorry to say this, but once a damage occurs, it's permanent. Fortunately, this particular hybrid ...
Question about Sphagnum10/3/2008
  Q: I ordered your Live Sphagnum capillifolium and I'm wondering will there be care instructions for ...
  A: Caring for sphagnum moss is very straight forward. As long as you keep it damp at all times, it'll ...
gibberelic acid10/3/2008
  Q: I ordered some D madagascariensis and d paradoxa seeds, these seeds have probably been stored for a ...
  A: With your seeds, you won't need to use GA3 (gibberilic acid) at all. It's useful with temperate ...
sulfur fungicide for sarracenia and dormancy10/3/2008
  Q: I am getting prepared to put my plants in dormancy by using the cooler method and packaging peanuts. ...
  A: I'm not familiar with this particular brand, but the percentage isn't much of an issue. Just make ...
Darlingtonia10/3/2008
  Q: I rescued this spring a Darlingtonia from certain death. After a few weeks new growth began to come ...
  A: One unusual feature about Darlingtonia is that it's first pitcher of the growing season will often ...
two Sarracenia questions10/2/2008
  Q: Well, maybe more than two! First, I have three sarracenia growing together in a porcelain pan, which ...
  A: Yes, wait until early spring to separate and repot your Sarracenia. If you break up the rhizome ...
identification problems10/2/2008
  Q: Hey, I recently bought three Nepenthes a while ago and I don't know what are species they are. One ...
  A: Based on your photograph, I'd say that this plant is Nepenthes alata x (alata x ventricosa). You ...
Dormacy.10/2/2008
  Q: I live in Canada, and I have a Venus Flytrap. The weather here is becoming colder and colder, and ...
  A: In this case I'll need to know where in Canada you live. You see the weather in Vancouver is much ...
Sick Sarracenia10/1/2008
  Q: It is fall and for the most part, my Sarracenia are putting up their best pitchers, except for my S. ...
  A: It looks like your plants got a serious case of aphids or thrips. They usually attack young, supple ...
identification problems9/30/2008
  Q: Hey, I recently bought three Nepenthes a while ago and I don't know what are species they are. One ...
  A: Based on both photos, I'd say that you have N. x 'Velvet,' also known as N. maxima x fusca. This is ...
Sarracenias in fall?9/30/2008
  Q: I was recently considering purchasing a Sarracenia plant from you at Sarracenia NW, but I was ...
  A: We grow our Sarracenia strictly outdoors, so they are already acclimated to outdoor growing, ...
N. ampullaria lighting9/30/2008
  Q: special grow light. I was also wondering if I could grow Heliamphoras with N. ampullarias
  A: Yes, you can use fluorescent lights with your Nepenthes. For this information, I'm going to refer ...
identification problems9/29/2008
  Q: Hey, I recently bought three Nepenthes a while ago and I don't know what are species they are. One ...
  A: It's difficult to positively identify the plant based on the photograph. However, it does resemble ...
Seed help.9/29/2008
  Q: My sarracenia alata had produced some seedlings and i started to statify them about 2 weeks ago and ...
  A: The green substance might be algae or slime mold. This would be consistent with the fact that they ...
Drosera flowers9/26/2008
  Q: Jeff Dallas or Jacob Farin, All my Drosera spatulata, paradoxa, nidiformia, venusta, capillaries ...
  A: Your set up seems very reasonable. From your description, I assume you're using four tubes of ...
Nepenthes Hamata on a windowsill?9/26/2008
  Q: you have always been a great help in the past, and started me on carnivorous plants, so I take your ...
  A: Nepenthes hamata has a reputation of being a finicky grower mostly because it grows very slowly ...
N. ampullaria9/26/2008
  Q: I have a N. ampullaria that I want to put in a terrarium. I was wondering if there are any other ...
  A: Yes, there are many other types of carnivorous plants that will grow well alongside N. ampullaria. ...
Nepenthes Hamata9/25/2008
  Q: I was wondering about a nepenthes Hamata I got about a month ago and it looks like it is suffuring ...
  A: In this case, it would be helpful to know what type of soil you used with your plant. Some soil ...
Question about lighting and my plants9/25/2008
  Q: I have flytrap, cobra, pitcher, trumpet and temperate sundew seeds that I bought in June. I ...
  A: Since you're just starting to germinate your seeds, you'll need to protect your seedlings from any ...
Native Plants9/25/2008
  Q: We are installing an artificial bog into our back yard in order to grow some carnivorous plants, ...
  A: Carnivorous plants native to Oregon include: * Daringtonia california * Pinguicula macroceras * ...
American Pitcher plants9/24/2008
  Q: I have a large be of american pitcher plants that grew will this last summer. Now I have the ...
  A: This entirely depends on where you live and how you're growing your plants. My recommendations ...
plant drooping9/24/2008
  Q: Last year when i lived in Long Island and had my plants in the sun they were growing real nice my ...
  A: You actually answered your own question. Sarracenia pitcher plants require full sun. When the ...
Aqua Globes9/23/2008
  Q: It seems like a good idea because it would keep the soil moist but I just wanted to make sure that ...
  A: I haven't experimented with those devices, self-watering reservoirs. My only concern is that it may ...
sarracenia seeds9/23/2008
  Q: I have seen some sarracenia seeds for sale online and i know that fresh seeds aren't quite ready ...
  A: If you're purchasing rare species or hybrids, then it would be worthwhile to purchase them as you ...
CP in cold northern area9/21/2008
  Q: I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in an extreme northern climate. We get almost a full 6 ...
  A: First, always make sure that you're growing your Sarracenia and flytraps in optimal growing ...
Miracle GRO Sphagnum Peat Moss and Perlite9/21/2008
  Q: Ok well I have a D. adelae that has about 5 other little ones growing in the pot. I have Miracle Gro ...
  A: Avoid using any sort of peat moss and perlite that is enriched with fertilizer. Fertilizer in the ...
Sarracenia & Dionaea9/21/2008
  Q: I live in San Diego, CA. Beginning about half way through this grow season I started noticing a ...
  A: Yes, what you're seeing is sooty mold. Some forms of Sarracenia are prone to it, particularly the ...
Nepenthes ventricosa traps dying back9/20/2008
  Q: I bought a N. ventricosa from you two years ago along with a N. sanguinea. I put both in a SW ...
  A: Your plant actually seems to be growing just fine. The pitchers don't last as long as N. sanguinea, ...
Sundew9/20/2008
  Q: I rescued a sun dew from a local nursery, poor plant was doing poorly. I transplanted the plant ...
  A: This is a case in which I need more information to properly diagnose the situation. Since you've ...
Burbidgea Not Growing9/19/2008
  Q: I got a Burbidgea this June that was 8" in diameter. When I received it, it had small red dots on ...
  A: With this particular species, you'll need to have patience, and lots of it. It grows painfully ...
D. Filiformis9/19/2008
  Q: I have propagated some D. filiformis through leaf cutting recently. Currently they are basically ...
  A: If the plants are over 1 inch tall, you can probably let them go dormant. Since they are so small, ...
Nepenthes Ampullaria9/18/2008
  Q: I am a 12 year old carnivorous plant collector and I have a S. puporia, VFT, N. ventricosa, S. ...
  A: Nepenthes ampullaria is one of the Nepenthes that fits the stereotypes. It likes it warm and humid. ...
Winterization9/18/2008
  Q: I have a N. sanguinea and a N. Miranda. I live in a Hardy Zone 4. I currently have them growing in ...
  A: You really don't need to do anything significant. Just open up exposure more if possible to ...
Nepenthes9/17/2008
  Q: should I put artificial light trough midnight time?Wich nepenthes is biggest and most beautiful ...
  A: I don't really understand your first question. Basically, if you are using artificial light, the ...
Transplanting a ceph9/17/2008
  Q: I was wondering which technique is best for transplanting a ceph into my African Violet pot without ...
  A: If you're going to transplant, then you want to use fresh soil. To minimize shock, try to keep a ...
n.ventricosa leaves and water question9/17/2008
  Q: I currently own a pair of n.ventricosa who are currently about three months old and growing lots of ...
  A: The appearance of your N. ventricosa is very normal. The older leaves will die like that leaving a ...
Highland Nepenthes9/16/2008
  Q: I bought an unidentified nepenthes probably about seven months ago and I have been giving it ...
  A: I think you'll be fine to leave your Nepenthes outside. You just need to bring it in if there is ...
sand for bogs9/16/2008
  Q: As you know, I have plans to build a bog. Does it really matter what type of sand I use. I was ...
  A: The safest sand to use is children's play sand found at most hardware and big box stores. This is ...
Overwintering cp's9/15/2008
  Q: I'm very interested in growing some of these fantastic pitcher plants. My problem is I live in ...
  A: Go to our videos page at http://www.cobraplant.com/videos Watch the video slideshow Seasons. There ...
best plants for terrarium9/15/2008
  Q: I am putting together a terrarium in a 175 gallon aquarium. I would like to have all, or as many ...
  A: Because the vast majority of carnivorous plants are full-partial sun plants, I'm afraid the list for ...
N. ventricosa Vine9/15/2008
  Q: I have had my N. ventricosa for about 2 years and i am wondering if the vine is supposed to turn ...
  A: That is very common and normal with N. ventricosa. Many Nepenthes as they age will form long, ...
Overwintering cp's9/14/2008
  Q: I'm very interested in growing some of these fantastic pitcher plants. My problem is I live in ...
  A: You can definitely overwinter them in your area. We have a good customer near Syracuse that has a ...
pitcher plant winter9/14/2008
  Q: and i would just like to know how to take care of it during the winter as there won't be so much, ...
  A: Nepenthes can be fertilized if they are not catching bugs for long periods of time. Just use 1/4 ...
VFT9/13/2008
  Q: Would 15 hours in the hold of an airliner (very cold) kill a none-dormant, small venus fly trap? If ...
  A: Since we ship plants all them time, and they arrive in good shape, they will survive an airline ride ...
Light, Nepentes9/13/2008
  Q: which light is better for Drosera aliciae artificial or natural ?.Should i put water into Nepenthes ...
  A: Natural light is always better. Sometimes, however, there just isn't enough from what you have in ...
butterwort lighting9/13/2008
  Q: And will they grow well in peat moss? Also should I grow them in a water tray,and can you also ...
  A: These are most likely Pinguicula primuliflora. They grow just fine in standard peat/perlite mix. ...
Nepenthes male,female9/13/2008
  Q: how can i now which nepenthes is female and which is male for flowers :D .I have a Nepenthes ...
  A: Before you can determine the gender of the Nepenthes you need to have a flower on the plant. My ...
Flytraps' Dormancy?9/13/2008
  Q: I was wondering if you could help shed some light on a quick question I have. I've read tons of ...
  A: To shed some light on this subject it helps to understand what it is carnivorous plants are doing ...
fly trap9/12/2008
  Q: I have a bufo bufo toad and will be keeping it in a terrarium enviroment. I am looking into natural ...
  A: Sundews are not toxic; unlike the toad. :) Since toads are carnivores anyway, it probably would be ...
nepenthes ID9/12/2008
  Q: I live in Portland, OR. I have a lot Sarracenia NW plants, but I have one nepenthes that I purchased ...
  A: You are correct. This is Nepenthes x ventrata, but more specifically, it is known as deRoose's ...
Light9/11/2008
  Q: Is it possibble to grow carnivorous plants with artifficial light but with no terrarium?
  A: Absolutely. If you set up a shelf with a twin-tube shoplight fixture with 40 watt cool white tubes, ...
Dormancy for newly propogated VTF's9/11/2008
  Q: I think I am going take your advice and leave them outside for the winter. However, I have a new ...
  A: This is the point in the year where temperate plants begin preparing themselves for dormancy by ...
Sarracenia Help9/10/2008
  Q: I just purchased some sarracenia's couple of weeks ago. They look great! However, I know winter is ...
  A: Dormancy is brought on by two things. The first is a decrease in photoperiod or day length. You ...
Nepenthes indentification9/9/2008
  Q: i buyed a nepenthes plant for a nursery but i cant identify her(specie,lowlander highlander ...
  A: This plant is Nepenthes x "deRooses alata". Its parentage is Nepenthes (alata x ventricosa)x alata. ...
N. 'Miranda'9/9/2008
  Q: I purchased an N. 'Miranda' from you guys which is doing quite nicely. I am wondering, how long can ...
  A: You can leave it in the original pot for a few more months still. They actually don't mind being a ...
lighting9/8/2008
  Q: I want to grow Drosophyllum indoors, but I don't have the space for a metal halide, so what wattage ...
  A: Drosophyllum really needs intense light levels. Most normal fluorescent lights, like might be used ...
N. Glabrata leaves getting smaller9/8/2008
  Q: Glabrata for about 7 weeks now and since then its made about 5 leaves but no pitchers yet. The ...
  A: It's likely that the shorter leaves are in response to the increase in light intensity. If you look ...
Dionaea9/8/2008
  Q: I had a few questions concerning dionaea and sarracenia regarding winter dormancy. I know you prefer ...
  A: Yes, you're certainly right that there are many different opinions about growing carnivorous plants. ...
nepenthes ventrata9/8/2008
  Q: I have a nepenthe Ventrara plant that is growing indoors.It got it about 8 months ago. It is getting ...
  A: The ventrata hybrid is one of the easiest Nepenthes to grow. If it's not producing pitchers, then ...
winterizing bog gardens and avoiding transplant shock9/7/2008
  Q: I have two questions for you regarding darlingtonia and the sarracenia family in general. I live in ...
  A: Sorry for taking a bit to get back to you. You'll have no trouble whatsoever. Considering ...
Nepenthes9/7/2008
  Q: Have two tropical Nepenthes no longer producing pitchers, but have new growth. Had been inside. 1 ...
  A: It takes time for Nepenthes to acclimate to their new surroundings. Unfortunately, it will need to ...
Sarracenia Minor Dormancy9/7/2008
  Q: I got a Sarracenia Minor as a gift a few years back, which had been purchased from your company. I ...
  A: What you're witnessing is simply the nature of the species. Sarracenia minor grows fairly slowly, ...
N. Glabrata leaves getting smaller9/6/2008
  Q: Glabrata for about 7 weeks now and since then its made about 5 leaves but no pitchers yet. The ...
  A: With highland Nepenthes in general, you'll need a certain degree of patience. Nepenthes glabrata ...
squirrel damage9/6/2008
  Q: I am having a tough time with squirrels eating my flytraps and pitcher plants. I don't like caging ...
  A: Yes, squirrels can certainly wreck havoc on your outdoor plant collection. There's no surefire ...
Nepenthes identity9/6/2008
  Q: Can you help me to identify this species of nepenthes? Is this a variety of N. ventricosa or ...
  A: It's a young plant, and it's usually a lot easier to identify a Nepenthes from its adult pitchers. ...
tropicals under the sun9/6/2008
  Q: I have just purchased a D. capensis, D. scorpiodes, and N. sanguinea from you and rescued a D. ...
  A: Grow these plants in your southwest window. This window will provide ample lighting to keep your ...
Sarracenia leucophylla9/5/2008
  Q: so I just bought a pretty nice Sarracenia leucophylla, (well I think its nice at least lol) from a ...
  A: That always helps. Just cut off any dead pitchers. Most of these are older leaves, and cutting ...
venus fly traps9/4/2008
  Q: i recently puchased four venus fly traps to set up in a terrarium setting. since they will not be ...
  A: Before I answer your question I want you to look at a couple of things. First, go to our website ...
hurricane9/4/2008
  Q: I don’t know if you heard but there is a tropical storm heading for NC that might become a hurricane ...
  A: If you only have a few plants just bring them into a garage or similar shelter until the bulk of the ...
leaves9/4/2008
  Q: A few of the leaves on my Nepenthes and my Marina are starting to curl up.does that mean I am not ...
  A: I'm assuming you meant Nepenthes "Miranda". I don't have a good idea of what is really happening ...
winterizing bog gardens and avoiding transplant shock9/4/2008
  Q: I have two questions for you regarding darlingtonia and the sarracenia family in general. I live in ...
  A: Ordering the plants potted is a good idea. Sarracenia don't go through much shock when being ...
Purple Pitcher Flower9/3/2008
  Q: I have noticed my purple pitcher starting to send up a flower stalk. As far as i know this is the ...
  A: Many Sarracenia send up an occasional late season flower. Since these almost never have a chance to ...
Butterwort conditions9/3/2008
  Q: Just ordered a P. Titan from you. Does a windowsill that has those shades work? It turns and ...
  A: That really helps me. If the blinds are closed, it's not enough light. If you keep them partially ...
Lumen Output Query9/3/2008
  Q: Maybe you help me out, because I've been to SO many other sources and have gotten nowhere fast. ...
  A: Usually the lumen output is on the sleeve on the tube. It sounds like your tubes are for reptile ...
plant triaining9/3/2008
  Q: ok so my friend bought me a carnivorous plant dome and it includes (got this list off their website) ...
  A: It's fine to leave them in the window for the winter when they are small. Keep them moist, in a ...
My Judith Hindle Update9/2/2008
  Q: I wanted to update you on my JH it's really going along very well! So I thought I'd ask can I divide ...
  A: That's great to hear. You only want to preform division on a Sarracenia in the early spring, ...
Pitcher Plants > Tarnok, Judith Hindle8/28/2008
  Q: Jacob, What do I feed these guys? How often? Less or none when they're dormant in winter? (Your ...
  A: Contrary to popular belief about carnivorous plants, feeding them is the least important part of ...
N. Ampullaria...8/28/2008
  Q: how are you doing? I hope everything is going great there, I have just a small question about my ...
  A: This is very common. If you look at pictures of N. ampullaria in the wild, they form clumps. They ...
Sarracenia8/28/2008
  Q: Hey, Sorry about the last pic. Hopefully this one will work. If not maybe you have an e-mail ...
  A: This plant also looks just fine. I see lots of healthy new growth. In the photo the browning ...
Carnivorous Miranda8/27/2008
  Q: I purchased the Miranda in Fl.I came home an had it transplanted at a local nursery ..I don't think ...
  A: You can visit our website or most other carnivorous plant specialty nursery for Nepenthes mix. In ...
darlingtonia8/27/2008
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove, NC zone 7. I have two questions. First of all how come no crossbreeds between ...
  A: Darlingtonia and Sarracenia are relatives, but have developed down very different paths. They ...
sand8/27/2008
  Q: I don't know if you have any experience in Drosophyllum, but i have heard it needs sand in its soil ...
  A: I've successfully grown several Drosophyllum over the last two years. Washed play sand is fine. ...
Nepenthes Ventricosa8/27/2008
  Q: on one of the pitchers it started to turn black around the lip an speading downward,the plant is on ...
  A: That simply sounds like a pitcher that is at the end of it's life. Remember that a pitcher on a ...
Sarracenia8/26/2008
  Q: Hey, Sorry about the last pic. Hopefully this one will work. If not maybe you have an e-mail ...
  A: That plant looks fantastic. Many folks would be jealous to have an S. rubra alabamensis that looks ...
sundews and aphids8/26/2008
  Q: my spoon leaf sundews have looked great all summer. i noticed one showing a bit of apparent ...
  A: Definitely spread the seeds out. I usually roll the seedpod between my fingers over a piece of ...
sundews and aphids8/26/2008
  Q: my spoon leaf sundews have looked great all summer. i noticed one showing a bit of apparent ...
  A: That's a pretty good treatment. You may just need to do a repeat spraying a week later depending ...
Propagating Sundews8/26/2008
  Q: I'm propagating some tropical sundews from leaf cuttings. Could you tell me, what watering method I ...
  A: You can either use the tray method, or a full enclosure that won't require much water. Just keep ...
Replanting bogs8/25/2008
  Q: I have come to the conclusion that the drainage holes in my outdoor bogs are too low and that unless ...
  A: When to redo your bog may just depend on your weather. I would lean towards the spring replanting ...
Butterwort died while everything else is thriving...8/25/2008
  Q: I am in Utah and have had all of my plants for a year or so now (primrose butterwort, 2 flytraps, ...
  A: I don't think you did anything wrong. Pinguicula primuliflora is notorious for just up and dying ...
Judith Hindle and cockroach8/24/2008
  Q: To months ago I bought a Judith Hindle from home depot and they have been growing well for the last ...
  A: This happens from time to time when a plant catches a really big bug or lots of bugs. Just cut off ...
Sarracenia8/24/2008
  Q: Its Justin from san diego once again. This time I have a concern regarding my sarracenia. Last ...
  A: Since all of your plants are showing similar symptoms, and the water is good, it's probably just ...
cape sundew8/24/2008
  Q: i recently received a typical cape sundew and after about a week the new leaves that appeared were ...
  A: Depending upon what the curling looks like it could be a couple different causes. If the curling is ...
Sarracenia Flava8/22/2008
  Q: My Sarracenia Flava has just now flowered. I live in Florida and the hurricane is comming so I have ...
  A: Sarracenia flava normally flowers in early spring. It will sometimes send up a flower in late ...
new lights, and purple pitcher8/22/2008
  Q: Just a few hours ago I purchased some new fluorescent lights under which to grow my carnivorous ...
  A: I hate to give you bad news. The mix you used is inappropriate for carnivorous plants. The ...
butterwort & sundew8/22/2008
  Q: i live in south carolina where venus flytraps are native. i have had a few of the same & pitcher ...
  A: They most certainly would since we grow all of our North American plants outdoors. The are fully ...
N. Truncata Hybrid growth8/22/2008
  Q: I have been keeping my Nepenthes outside during the summer months. Unfortunately, during a strong ...
  A: You need to wait until they have formed enough of a stem that you can make a cut between leaf nodes. ...
cape sundew8/22/2008
  Q: I have had 2 cape sundews for at least 4 years. The both live in the house situated in a sunny ...
  A: Cape sundews definitely can be outdoors during the summer, but they are a tropical plant. Having ...
N. spectabilis8/21/2008
  Q: Does Nepenthes spectabilis grow well in western Oregon? Will you have any for sale sometime?
  A: They can grow ok, but are definitely a bit more challenging than many other Nepenthes species. They ...
Pyrethrum8/21/2008
  Q: I just got a bottle of a product called "Don't Bug Me" which contains Pyrethrum. Will my plants be ...
  A: Don't kill those little worms inside the N. ventricosa pitchers unless they seem to be harming the ...
Kind of cps are they?8/21/2008
  Q: about 4 days ago I bought 2 cps. Can't know what kind they are. One is a drosera...very small and ...
  A: The first plants look like seedlings of Darlingtonia californica, the Cobra plant. I hate to be the ...
Sarracenia8/20/2008
  Q: Its Justin from san diego once again. This time I have a concern regarding my sarracenia. Last ...
  A: Excessively dry conditions combined with wind can do this. Also, I found that hard water will do ...
Sarracenia8/20/2008
  Q: Its Justin from san diego once again. This time I have a concern regarding my sarracenia. Last ...
  A: This happens periodically and is normal. I understand it happens in the wild also. We often see a ...
brown spots on pitchers8/20/2008
  Q: I read your care sheets on Sarracenia. And this is the first time I ever Successfully grown a ...
  A: As pitchers age this isn't unusual. The most common cause of this is the plant catching lots of ...
kind of carniv. plant is it?8/19/2008
  Q: about 3 days ago I bought 2 cps. Can't know what kind they are. One is a drosera ??? but the ...
  A: For some reason the picture didn't come through. Try resubmitting the question and photo. Make ...
Pyrethrum8/19/2008
  Q: I just got a bottle of a product called "Don't Bug Me" which contains Pyrethrum. Will my plants be ...
  A: This insecticide should be just fine. Pyrethrins breaks down on exposure to UV light. It has a ...
new lights, and purple pitcher8/19/2008
  Q: Just a few hours ago I purchased some new fluorescent lights under which to grow my carnivorous ...
  A: This is one of the reasons, high price being the other, that we don't recommend the plant spectrum ...
lance leaf rescue from lowes8/18/2008
  Q: this weekend i found a large lance leaf suffering in lowes, i rescued it. it was taller than normal, ...
  A: If the Spoon-leaf sundew looks really good, it could be that the sun in that window is exceptionally ...
lance leaf rescue from lowes8/18/2008
  Q: this weekend i found a large lance leaf suffering in lowes, i rescued it. it was taller than normal, ...
  A: Definitely cut the plant all the way back to the soil. They are often so weak after coming out of ...
Well Water & Green House in Winter8/18/2008
  Q: Newbie here, bought your e-book & a whole lotta plants, I'm shocked at the video with plants outside ...
  A: That type of greenhouse would be a simple cold frame. It is fine for Sarracenia and flytraps when ...
P. primuliflora in full sun or not8/18/2008
  Q: primuliflora in full direct sunlight for 4 to 6 hours with out shade. Will this harm or affect the ...
  A: Pinguicula primuliflora does best with partial shade. I like to place some other plants around them ...
Sarracenia Question8/17/2008
  Q: One of my Sarracenias is doing so well, that its pitcher is turning brown on the sides from having ...
  A: This is a very common occurrence. Just cut off the top of the pitcher, but leave the lower portion ...
change water?/open house date?8/16/2008
  Q: I have had your "Tropical mix" for about 2 months now, and all the sundews are doing great. But how ...
  A: There's no hard fast rule for this. It's really more of an aesthetic thing than problem for the ...
red dragon8/16/2008
  Q: I just got my red dragon fly trap and it is kind of wilted. All its traps and leaves are resting on ...
  A: Just find a sunny spot for your flytrap outside and make sure you're keeping it wet. Use rainwater ...
Dionaea- inside or outside?8/15/2008
  Q: Hey, just a quick question concerning VFT care. I recently received a South West Giant cultivar. ...
  A: Your summers are fairly cool, but overall I would recommend having your plant outside. Photoperiod ...
N. Ventrata8/15/2008
  Q: My name is Justin. I live in San Diego CA, and I have a couple questions. My first is about a week ...
  A: The varieties you have should do just fine outside in your area. You just need to transition them ...
Nepenthes pot partner?8/14/2008
  Q: First of all, I would like to thank you (and all the guys at AllExperts/Sarracenia NW) for your ...
  A: We always enjoy hearing that our efforts are found useful. Ahh, I know that plant well. It is le ...
red dragon8/14/2008
  Q: I just got my red dragon fly trap and it is kind of wilted. All its traps and leaves are resting on ...
  A: Plants always go through a transition when they are shipped to a new environment. Your Red Dragon ...
lava rock for use with cobra plants8/14/2008
  Q: I'm planning on eventually growing Darlingtonia in an outdoor bog garden. I live in Walnut Cove, NC ...
  A: Use lava rock (scoria) that is 1 inch minus. It is often sold for landscaping. Just look for the ...
cape sundew seedlings8/13/2008
  Q: about 2 weeks ago i spread my fresh cape sundew seeds in some 3 inch pots, and put them under 40 ...
  A: Wait until your capensis seedlings are at least an inch tall. They need to be big enough to handle ...
Nepenthes Hamata8/13/2008
  Q: Hey Jeff & Jacob :) I had some questions regarding the Nepenthes Hamata I recently purchased from ...
  A: N. hamata is fairly slow growing. That really nice specimen you may have seen is at least 5 years ...
Fly Traps Won't Eat8/13/2008
  Q: I have had these fly traps for about 3 months now. I have one of each type of fly traps; Dante, ...
  A: That makes more sense now. The reason the traps reopen so soon is because the flies are dead. ...
dormancy8/13/2008
  Q: this is my secound year with temperates and just had another question about there dormancy. Ok this ...
  A: The greenhouse will make it easier. You can probably monitor that way, and if the temperature is ...
My Pitcher Plant8/13/2008
  Q: I bought a pitcher plant recently and I live in the Portland area. Anyway my plant has begun to turn ...
  A: This sounds very much like part of the seasonal cycle. Depending upon the species, the plant may be ...
Drosera prolifera8/13/2008
  Q: I purchased one of these plants from you a few months back but just can't seem to get it looking in ...
  A: Try increasing the humidity some. You can do this with a clear plastic cup. The don't need to be ...
repot8/13/2008
  Q: hey guys I my sanguinea is getting a bit big for the three inch pot so I was wondering if I could ...
  A: So far we haven't. I've seen other plants do strange things. We've had Venus flytraps develop ...
Fly Traps Won't Eat8/13/2008
  Q: I have had these fly traps for about 3 months now. I have one of each type of fly traps; Dante, ...
  A: Any chance you could send me pictures of your plants? I'm trying to access the overall health of ...
Artifical Lights8/13/2008
  Q: I am growing Nepethes Miranda and your Alta hybrid and wanted to confirm exactly how long I should ...
  A: A 14 hour day is fine. Basically you're wanting to simulate a typical day for the photoperiod. ...
Venus Fly Trap8/12/2008
  Q: I recently bought a Venus Fly Trap and am looking to repot it. I bought one bag (Miracle Grow ...
  A: Best save those ingredients for some potting mix to be used on regular plants. That brand contains ...
D. Prolifera propagation8/11/2008
  Q: I have a Queensland Sundew (D. Prolifera) that is doing great and has several flower stalks. 3 of ...
  A: In your situation the easiest thing to do would be to make it so the flowers could come in contact ...
Nepenthes Mikei suddenly dying.8/11/2008
  Q: I have had my N Mikei for six or seven months now and in the last two weeks all of the leaves have ...
  A: It sounds like the plant may be too wet. The symptoms sound very much like the roots are rotting ...
repot8/11/2008
  Q: hey guys I my sanguinea is getting a bit big for the three inch pot so I was wondering if I could ...
  A: This can work if you set it up correctly. You need to use a mix that holds more moisture than just ...
Medical Attention8/11/2008
  Q: Recently my aunt gave me a white top pitcher for my birthday, you can definetly tell it has been ...
  A: Yes, repot it. Hard to say what the soil mix is. Use a 50/50 mix of peat moss to perlite. Repot ...
N. Miranda8/10/2008
  Q: Miranda under artificial lights. And are 40watt cool white plus lights from Philips ok they have a ...
  A: Those are the exact same tubes we use in our lights here at the nursery. They are great. N. ...
Pitcher Plant Identification Please8/9/2008
  Q: I bought this pitcher plant ( see picture ) from "Target" and it was misidentified as a cobra lily. ...
  A: Your plant is a Dana's Delight hybrid. It's a common Sarracenia hybrid and a good plant for ...
cobra plant8/9/2008
  Q: And I have dicided to get one. I even read your care sheet on how to grow one. But the care sheet ...
  A: I don't have much experience growing Darlingtonia in your type of climate. In general, I recommend ...
Can I make up for distance with more lights?8/9/2008
  Q: Hey Guys, Until just a few moments ago, I was using two 150W CFLs along with a 15W and 20W tube for ...
  A: First, if you've managed to find a 150W compact fluorescent bulb, you could possibly use that ...
cross pollination8/2/2008
  Q: For example venus flytrap and sarracenias, and can you crossbreed to totally different species. How ...
  A: Because of genetic barriers that exist, you can only cross pollinate plants that are in the same ...
brown s.flava8/2/2008
  Q: flava and sundew. I have orderd a medium s.flava for my birthday a month ago and when I first got it ...
  A: Sarracenia flava is one of the Sarracenia that is an early season grower. It's a normal part of ...
Nepenthes Madagascar8/2/2008
  Q: I have purchased a fairly new plant...just arrived. Should I take it to a local flower shop to have ...
  A: A plant store may or may not know the proper soil media for Nepenthes. The good news is that they ...
Nepenthes8/1/2008
  Q: Hey, Its Justin again. I just had another question regarding nepenthes. I have a friend that is the ...
  A: Many of the highlanders would be good candidates. As long as they never experience frost many are ...
Seed help8/1/2008
  Q: Species: common purple pitcher plant. lighting: Full Sun 8+ hours Location Knoxville tennessee. ...
  A: Seed production is a pollination issue. When the plant(s) are in bloom you can increase seed ...
Sarracenia/sphagnum moss and dormancy7/31/2008
  Q: i just had a few questions about these. First, my S. Alata "texas form" hasn't produced any tall ...
  A: Depending upon how old your S. alata is, cutting off the small pitchers may or may not help. I find ...
science experiment7/31/2008
  Q: The science experiment is about if a plant can survive in milk or soda for example or other liquids ...
  A: I wouldn't use carnivorous plants for an experiment like this since they are fairly atypical in ...
asian pitcher plant7/31/2008
  Q: How many hours of window sunlight is necessary for my Asian Pitcher plant? And I think my plant is ...
  A: Depending upon the plant, I like to choose window that gets at least 3 hours sun. In general, ...
Cape Sundew turning brown7/31/2008
  Q: Hey: The cape sundew is sending up a lot of new shoots, but before they get to any size, they turn ...
  A: Top watering always helps, and it helps to oxygenate the soil too. Also, it's quite possible that ...
Mini-bog7/31/2008
  Q: I had a cat litter pan that I kept a bunch of small 3" pots with VFT's and Sarracenias sitting in ...
  A: Your container sounds like it will make a nice mini-bog. Poke holes about 1/2" from the bottom of ...
Venus Flytrap ques.7/31/2008
  Q: I'm Tae, from Thailand. I recently ordered a red piranha fly trap from a local nursery(the plant was ...
  A: Did the plants have roots when you planted them? What your are doing is fine short term. As they ...
Nepenthes7/30/2008
  Q: I live in San Diego and I had a question regarding my soil mix for my nepenthes. I would like to use ...
  A: This moss is just fine. It is probably either Chiliean sphagnum or New Zealand sphagnum moss, both ...
Cape Sundew turning brown7/30/2008
  Q: Hey: The cape sundew is sending up a lot of new shoots, but before they get to any size, they turn ...
  A: Two issues here. First is water. What kind of filtration do you have? If your house has a water ...
Miranda Carnivorous7/30/2008
  Q: I recently purchased the Miranda in Fl. Right now it has many shoots on it but the ends seem to be ...
  A: Once a tendril has dried it's done. That leaf won't produce a pitcher. Pitchers will develop on ...
Ventricosa, Cape Sundew7/29/2008
  Q: I have a couple questions on my two plants. First my Ventricosa is growing like a weed! It just ...
  A: Sorry about that. I was so focused on your set-up I missed the end. The slight decrease in ...
My nepenthes pitchers are only a centimeter in length7/29/2008
  Q: this is matt again, back in november, I bought a nepenthes pitcher plant. I keep it by a window, ...
  A: Low light is definitely the problem. It looks like your plant is a Nepenthes sanguinea, but it hard ...
Cape Sundew turning brown7/29/2008
  Q: Hey: The cape sundew is sending up a lot of new shoots, but before they get to any size, they turn ...
  A: As Cape Sundews age they often get long stems on them and the top of the plant will start to ...
Water7/29/2008
  Q: I have a reverse osmosis filter. Should we use that water exclusively? Your brochure said to ...
  A: Yes. I recently checked with your water bureau and all of Vancouver's water comes from wells. It ...
Venus flytrap probloms7/29/2008
  Q: I orderd a large flytrap from you guys but several days after some of its traps started to die and ...
  A: Is the plant blooming? That can definitely cause a decrease in trap production. Also, your water ...
Lowland Nepenthes questions7/29/2008
  Q: I got the N.Bicalcarata and N.Ampularia that I ordered from you a couple days ago things are going ...
  A: N. bicalcurata is definitely more bog-like than most Nepenthes, so this mix is fine. I've used ...
watering my adelae and asian pitcher7/28/2008
  Q: I have many adelae plants and 2 medium size asian pitcher plants. I've have them for a while and ...
  A: One way you can cut down on purified water use is to water your Nepenthes with tapwater ...
dewless sundew7/28/2008
  Q: about 3 or 4 months ago, i split my brothers lance leaf sundew into many plants, i took a clump of 3 ...
  A: Vermiculite can be a little alkaline, but I doubt that is what is going on. It's very common for D. ...
Lowland Nepenthes questions7/28/2008
  Q: I got the N.Bicalcarata and N.Ampularia that I ordered from you a couple days ago things are going ...
  A: Everything sounds good. You may need to just do an internet search if you don't have any garden ...
butterwort7/27/2008
  Q: I live in Lexington, KY and have recently purchased a primrose Butterwort. I read that it is in a ...
  A: Pinguicula primuliflora can be a bit prone to rot in the winter, but can tolerate much more cold ...
Sarracenia pitcher lids browning7/27/2008
  Q: A few of my Sarracenia's are starting to brown around the lids of the pitchers, and in some cases, ...
  A: Inconsistent watering could easily cause this. If a pot gets a bit too dry the first sign will be ...
Growing Drosera outdoors7/27/2008
  Q: I live in Zone 7 Tulsa, Ok. With high temps typically in the mid 80's to mid-high 90's ...
  A: You could move your plants outdoors, but your sundews might be better off indoors. While sundews ...
Nepenthes Alata/?seeds?7/26/2008
  Q: My Nepenthes put out 2 long (each about 12 inches long)'sprouts', the end of which resemble a stalk ...
  A: From your description, I'm not certain if they are actually seed pods. In order to get seeds, you ...
Nepenthes Glabrata7/26/2008
  Q: Also about 6 leaves on the bottom have started to turn black. The ones on top are still green and ...
  A: Yes, what you're witnessing is part of the acclimation process. While your conditions seem to be ...
nepenthes care ideas7/26/2008
  Q: NC and I have several questions to ask. I dont have a window to grow an nepenthes and I was thinking ...
  A: I certainly commend you in wanting to think this through a bit more before acquiring your plant, ...
Nepenthes7/26/2008
  Q: I live in San Diego and I had a question regarding my soil mix for my nepenthes. I would like to use ...
  A: While it is possible to use 100% dried sphagnum moss for Nepenthes, we generally recommend adding ...
Question7/26/2008
  Q: I want to know what tropical plants I could get if I grow them in a south facing window well.
  A: I'm assuming that you live in the northern hemisphere. If you live in the southern hemisphere, ...
Planting season7/25/2008
  Q: What is the latest in the growing season for my Zone 8, NC to plant new CP's to let them get ...
  A: You can get your Sarracenia and flytraps anytime of the year as long as you get them from a grower ...
Lowland Nepenthes and Darlington questions7/25/2008
  Q: I just recieved a lowland bicalcarata and I was wondering if you had any species specific tips for ...
  A: Your humidity is probably going to be fine. You're much more humid than we are here in western ...
Lowland Nepenthes and Darlington questions7/25/2008
  Q: I just recieved a lowland bicalcarata and I was wondering if you had any species specific tips for ...
  A: Nepenthes bicalcurata likes it hot and humid. Full sun will be too intense since this plant is a ...
water hardness7/24/2008
  Q: I live in Los Angeles, california. After finding results to the water hardness in the place where I ...
  A: Short term it would be ok, but I would supplement with distilled, R.O. or rainwater. We recommend ...
Watering Asian Pitcher Plant7/23/2008
  Q: I read the question and answer regarding using purified, distilled or RO water. We have a Culligan ...
  A: Yes! Water softened in a softener such as Culligan is actually worse than watering with hard water. ...
no dew7/23/2008
  Q: Greetings from Roseburg. I purchased a drosera adelae from you several months ago and it did ...
  A: Any chance you could send a picture? Sometimes when Lance-leaf sundews get older they get such as ...
Venus Flytrap help7/23/2008
  Q: My name is David and I am jointly affiliated with the Biology and Ecology/ Evolution department at ...
  A: We're flattered to hear that many of your faculty use our website. That's quite a compliment. Now, ...
Venus Fly Traps reopening after a meal7/23/2008
  Q: How do VFT's "know" when to reopen after catching and digesting an insect? The traps stay closed ...
  A: Everything that happens in plants is biochemical. Even though I've never read any specific research ...
Nepenthes7/22/2008
  Q: i just had a few questions reguarding my nepenthes. First off thanks for the healthy plants, and ...
  A: If a leaf is dead you can cut it off. Usually it's just good hygiene. The repotting is fine. The ...
tipped the pitchers7/22/2008
  Q: I have a highland nepenthes plant that I recently moved into a new pot with new soil. The problem ...
  A: Liquid spilling out of the pitchers is very common when transplanting. Go ahead and put a little ...
couple of ?'s7/21/2008
  Q: I recently harvested about 25-30 spoonleaf sundews from my main plant and transplanted them into a ...
  A: Sometimes it is, especially if the air has been very dry. Adding a little water is fine. We find ...
couple of ?'s7/21/2008
  Q: I recently harvested about 25-30 spoonleaf sundews from my main plant and transplanted them into a ...
  A: Some fungicides can be harsher than others. A sulfur based fungicide shouldn't hurt your sundews. ...
how much for sale Venus Fly Traps7/21/2008
  Q: I dont see picture nor sale price for Venus fly trap. Please e mail what they cost and size they ...
  A: Go to this link: http://www.cobraplant.com Go to the links on the side and hit "Garden Plants". ...
Stuffed Pitchers et al7/21/2008
  Q: I have a couple of questions, the first is more out of curiosity than anything else The other ...
  A: It's very possible that water is evaporating more quickly. Moving the holes up would help. For now ...
lights7/21/2008
  Q: currently, i am using 4 instead of 2 lights, so i am wondering if i should still put my nepenthes ...
  A: Not at all. N. sanguinea likes it bright. I've gotten my prettiest plants in windows when they ...
N. bellii7/10/2008
  Q: Hey guys, I am currently growing 6 Nepenthes in a 20 gallon long tank under 3 compact florescent ...
  A: Generally when a pitcher dies I just cut off the tendril at the end of the leaf. If the plant is ...
N. bellii7/10/2008
  Q: Hey guys, I am currently growing 6 Nepenthes in a 20 gallon long tank under 3 compact florescent ...
  A: Everything you're describing sounds like the root system wasn't developed enough for the plant to be ...
CARE OF DROSERA SCORPIODES7/10/2008
  Q: I have two scorpiodes which I have had for two months now and for the first month and a half they ...
  A: Your plant is just fine. As D. scorpiodes ages they always look like this. We have found however, ...
My nepenthes pitchers are only a centimeter in length7/10/2008
  Q: this is matt again, back in november, I bought a nepenthes pitcher plant. I keep it by a window, ...
  A: The first thing I would mentioned is more of a general piece of advice. Nepenthes are not plants ...
Should i take them outside?7/9/2008
  Q: i just had another question about my nepenthes sorry i didn't combined them, wasn't thinking. All ...
  A: They should do great in your greenhouse. The new plants will enjoy those temperatures also. ...
Down In the Desert7/9/2008
  Q: We are thinking about putting some of our plants in a pot outside but we live in the Desert. I keep ...
  A: Your Lance-leaf sundew is a tropical, so it will be happy in the terrarium. The dew loss if from ...
What to do with my Water Sundew7/9/2008
  Q: I recently bought one of the water sundews from Sarracenia Northwest earlier this year. I live in ...
  A: You can definitely cut the bad leaves off. Check closely to see if your plant has aphids. If you ...
Stuffed Pitchers et al7/9/2008
  Q: I have a couple of questions, the first is more out of curiosity than anything else The other ...
  A: It sounds like your Sarracenia had and Eryx moth trying to set up a cocoon in the pitcher. This is ...
vft growth7/9/2008
  Q: i have a vft that i was almost certain was dead during the last few months. i had to skip its ...
  A: This is a very common occurrence. What has happened is that growing tip has rotted out and the ...
Getting plants out of plastic boxes7/9/2008
  Q: I bought a very small Ping at Lowes. It is encased in a plastic box. I am attempting to aclimate ...
  A: Very likely this plant is Pinguicula primuliflora. Because of the weakening effect the cube has on ...
cephalotus7/9/2008
  Q: I recently transplanted a cephalotus into an african violet pot and now its losing all its pitchers. ...
  A: Cephalotus can be a bit touchy after transplanting. Give it some time. Try putting a partial cover ...
My nepenthes pitchers are only a centimeter in length7/9/2008
  Q: this is matt again, back in november, I bought a nepenthes pitcher plant. I keep it by a window, ...
  A: Most Nepenthes need some direct sun in order to produce pitchers. That isn't easy to do in a ...
Down In the Desert7/8/2008
  Q: We are thinking about putting some of our plants in a pot outside but we live in the Desert. I keep ...
  A: In the desert southwest we usually recommend folks "switch the seasons". Grow your U.S. native ...
red dragon flytrap doesn't look healthy7/8/2008
  Q: I have a small red dragon flytrap that I bought last year in a 3" pot. It's outdoors in a location ...
  A: Your symptoms sound very much like hard water damage. Red Dragons will show problems long before ...
Flytraps7/8/2008
  Q: I live in Arcata, CA. I have had the worst luck of growing flytraps indoors (windowsill) and ...
  A: I'll start with the obvious problems then work to the more subtle. Your climate is not only good, ...
Nepenthes7/8/2008
  Q: i just had a quick question reguarding nepenthes. Do all nepenthes produce basal shoots? Thanks.
  A: All that I've seen do. Essentially a basal shoot is just a dormant node at soil level. When a ...
flytrap?7/8/2008
  Q: S. ARMY I want to get back into the flytraps but there is almost 0 humidity here! Would it be ...
  A: It's definitely possible. The overall humidity will be less of an issue than the daytime high ...
Cephalotus7/8/2008
  Q: well, after about 2 weeks and half my ceph is barely growing. also, about a week ago some pitchers ...
  A: When talking about Cephalotus and growth we need to talk in terms of months and not weeks. They are ...
nepenthes tendrils7/7/2008
  Q: Please refresh my memory-what is lacking when a nepenthes forms nice leaves, but the tendril only ...
  A: Often no pitcher production is a product of low light, or low humidity with lowland Nepenthes. But ...
mixture for dewy pine7/7/2008
  Q: I have some dewy pine seeds in my fridge that I forgot to start this year and now I cannot remember ...
  A: The soil mix is equal parts sand, perlite and vermiculite. Use a large terracotta pot. Whether you ...
Pichter Plant has bugs7/3/2008
  Q: Non edible I believe. I'm new to carnivorouse plants, but it dosnt seem like bug spray would be ...
  A: The bugs could be a pest of sorts, but it's difficult to identify them based on your description. ...
Lighting7/3/2008
  Q: I recently bought a Exo-Terra Terrarium and also purchased a Neodymium ...
  A: Unfortunately, the bulb you have is not at all sufficient for growing plants, despite the ...
Starting from scratch.7/2/2008
  Q: I've decided to start again with my Venus fly trap seeds. If possible, could you tell me what soil, ...
  A: You can read the full instructions on germinating flytrap seeds at: ...
Pitcher plants7/2/2008
  Q: I bought two Pitcher plants at Lowes. They were marked Red pitcher and Purple pitcher. They appear ...
  A: If they were labeled accurately the Red pitcher is probably Sarracenia rubra, a Sweet pitcher ...
yellow leaves on my new pitcher plant7/2/2008
  Q: I just received my ventricosa on friday and i've had it placed in the window getting filtered sun ( ...
  A: Those are definitely just old leaves. Just cut those off. As your plant ages it will get a longer ...
Cooling the terrarium7/2/2008
  Q: For species such as cephalotus and heliamphora I can't possibly cool the terrarium because my room ...
  A: Use one of these: http://www.exo-terra.com/en/products/compact_top.php When I recommended not ...
Venus Flytrap turning black7/1/2008
  Q: I have a Dente Venus Flytrap and have been following your recommendations for growing; outdoors, ...
  A: Is the location of your plant in a hot dry breezy area? If it's in an exceptionally dry area it ...
when to plant?7/1/2008
  Q: I just discovered these awesome plants on your site and will be ordering some upon completion of a ...
  A: March is the most ideal time to plant, but you could easily do it this time of year. Just leave a ...
new sundew—help!7/1/2008
  Q: my name is jasen. I just bought a Sundew at Lowes today, and im pretty sure it's going to die if i ...
  A: If you are going to transplant soon you wouldn't need to do the holes. Be sure to use just ...
yellow leaves on my new pitcher plant7/1/2008
  Q: I just received my ventricosa on friday and i've had it placed in the window getting filtered sun ( ...
  A: What you're describing just sounds like the older leaves that are on their way out. Just like all ...
new sundew—help!6/30/2008
  Q: my name is jasen. I just bought a Sundew at Lowes today, and im pretty sure it's going to die if i ...
  A: Still cut off the leaves. See if the cube has holes in the bottom. If it doesn't, drill a couple. ...
new sundew—help!6/30/2008
  Q: my name is jasen. I just bought a Sundew at Lowes today, and im pretty sure it's going to die if i ...
  A: This sundew is Drosera adelae var. "Deathcubensis". They are commonly found growing in the most ...
sundew repro6/29/2008
  Q: my spoonleaf sundew is close to the size of a baseball, with LOTS of little little plantlets, i'm ...
  A: In transplanting the D. spatulata, just be careful as you try to separate them. The mass they form ...
Strange neighbor with my new Nepenthes6/29/2008
  Q: I've just purchased a Nepenthes from my local nursery (the 2nd one i've purchased from them)and I ...
  A: The neighbor plant looks a bit like Fireweed. It's not a serious plant pest, but remove it if it ...
Darlingtonia set up6/29/2008
  Q: I was considering buying a darlingtonia ( not from you guys another source thats cheaper because my ...
  A: Keep in mind that while the mountain variety is more tolerant of warm temperatures during the day, ...
Where to keep venus fly trap6/29/2008
  Q: I'm attempting the task of growing Venus Fly traps from seeds. They are in their silica sand and ...
  A: As in my previous answer, since your seeds are a year old and wasn't refrigerated, only time will ...
Osteospermum ecklonis Nepenthus coccinea6/29/2008
  Q: I have put the name above but we live in france so i dont know if the name above is French or ...
  A: Official botanical names are in Latin, so the names you listed are universal. Of the two, only ...
Germinating venus fly trap seeds6/28/2008
  Q: Now I've decided to start growing them. They came with silica sand and compost. Will it be too late ...
  A: Since you've already sown the seeds, only time will tell whether they will germinate or not. ...
Darlingtonia set up6/28/2008
  Q: I was considering buying a darlingtonia ( not from you guys another source thats cheaper because my ...
  A: Your climate would be the biggest factor in your success in growing Darlingtonia, as well as whether ...
Some Questions6/28/2008
  Q: I have a few more questions. First of all, I have two easy Nepenthes (Ventrata and Alata) who I ...
  A: With your Nepenthes, both improper lighting and fertilizer are certainly contributing factors for ...
Starting up6/28/2008
  Q: I learned of you guys through a friend of mine. He says you are always very nice and I should ...
  A: If you want to be successful in growing carnivorous plants, the trick is to select those plants that ...
Cephalotus Unpacked; question6/28/2008
  Q: I was unpacking a ceph that I have recieved from you. I've gently removed the dome, but it also ...
  A: Your plant will be just fine, even with a mild root disturbance such as what it experienced. You ...
rainy conditions6/27/2008
  Q: It has been raining here in the midwest(michigan) on and off for the last two weeks. I ordered venus ...
  A: Flytraps are native to North Carolina, so keep in mind that region can sometimes experience lots of ...
Seeds and Seedlings6/27/2008
  Q: I have a few questions about seeds and seedlings I have a D. filiformis x intermedia and I seem to ...
  A: Yes, filiformis x intermedia is sterile and doesn't produce any seeds. This seems to be true with ...
cephalotus6/27/2008
  Q: I'm going to go on a trip soon and was wondering how to keep my cephalotus watered without rotting ...
  A: Because of its construction, African violet pots doesn't lose moisture except through the soil. The ...
Sarracenia Dormancy6/27/2008
  Q: I just received a Sarracenia, white top pitcher plant. I read that they need a period of dormancy. ...
  A: Yes, that's fine, especially if it's growing well after its dormancy. Otherwise you can just leave ...
Whats wrong?6/27/2008
  Q: i had a few questions reguarding my cape sundew seedlings. About a month ago i put them outside and ...
  A: It's pretty normal for leaves on a Cape sundew to darken when put outside. They always go through a ...
Flytraps tall or shallow pots?6/27/2008
  Q: Hey experts, A while back I emailed to ask about what to do with my flytraps growing pretty badly ...
  A: I really had to think about this one a bit. In the nursery our flytraps are in standard nursery ...
Can you help me identify this Nepenthes?6/27/2008
  Q: I bought this Nepenthes from a local nursery 2 days ago. I have left it on a table by a shaded ...
  A: Based on the waxy appearance, and the slight red trying to develop I would say this is Nepenthes ...
cephalotus6/27/2008
  Q: I'm going to go on a trip soon and was wondering how to keep my cephalotus watered without rotting ...
  A: The easiest way to solve this problem is to plant your Cephalotus in a self-watering African violet ...
Nepenthes and Darlingtonia question6/26/2008
  Q: I noticed that the Nepenthes have two rows of hairs with a smooth spot between them. Is that a path ...
  A: Since Nepenthes seem to catch mostly crawling insects, that has been the speculation among ...
pitcher plant6/26/2008
  Q: i recently purchased a judith hindle hybrid and I guess my cat loves eating plants. well she got a ...
  A: This may actually be a blessing in disguise. If the plant was in one of those big box store "death ...
Sarracenia Dormancy6/26/2008
  Q: I just received a Sarracenia, white top pitcher plant. I read that they need a period of dormancy. ...
  A: Sounds like you live in South Florida. Sarracenia leucophylla will do just fine with the short ...
Watering a venus flytrap6/26/2008
  Q: Greetings, I've recently begun the difficult task of attempting to grow Venus flytraps from seeds. ...
  A: Just to keep the water fresh, empty it about once a week. Definitely top water the pots. This ...
Venus Flytrap's Leaves6/26/2008
  Q: I have a question concerning my Venus Flytrap. When I first bought it, it was looking pretty ...
  A: On the whole your plant looks pretty good. One of the things I look for is trap formation and new ...
Venus Flytrap's Leaves6/26/2008
  Q: I have a question concerning my Venus Flytrap. When I first bought it, it was looking pretty ...
  A: Much of what you are describing just sounds like the flytrap is producing summer leaves. Midsummer ...
Too much light?6/24/2008
  Q: I have a nepenthe alata and I live in Canada, Toronto. My plant was doing fine until yesterday, I ...
  A: Venus flytraps go through various stages during the growing season. Since you don't know what the ...
Too much light?6/24/2008
  Q: I have a nepenthe alata and I live in Canada, Toronto. My plant was doing fine until yesterday, I ...
  A: If a Nepenthes has been in the house, then is put out into full sun, they often burn. If you want to ...
so-called "distilled" water6/24/2008
  Q: Greetings Again! I'm trying to decide which bottled water to buy for CPs. Drinking water, distilled ...
  A: Go for either distilled, or the water purified by reverse osmosis. Stuff labeled as drinking water ...
No pitchers6/24/2008
  Q: Spectabilis from you 2 years ago. It had a couple 2" pitchers on it when i got it then it quickly ...
  A: Nepenthes spectablis is very much a fussy customer. As a true highland species they tend to like it ...
Mites!!6/24/2008
  Q: I'm from Wellington, New Zealand and am currently into my 5th year growing my Sarracenia Purpurea ...
  A: Spider mites are a very tough customer. You will need to spray. Here in the U.S. Confidor is ...
Pesky Moss6/24/2008
  Q: I have pesky, thick, gelatinous algae in my water pots. It stinks and is impossible to get rid of. ...
  A: As Jacob mentioned, the Consan 20 is good for controlling the algae on the soil surface. I don't ...
Looking to start an indoor garden...6/23/2008
  Q: I'd like to get a mix of at least 3 types of plant (preferably a sundew variety, a pitcher variety ...
  A: Three plants I could recommend right off would be, Nepenthes sanguinea (Asian pitcher plant), ...
keeping cephalotus alive on a trip6/23/2008
  Q: I was wondering how I could keep a cephalotus moist enough while I'm gone on week to 2 week long ...
  A: The easiest way to solve this problem is to plant your Cephalotus in a self-watering African violet ...
Australian pitcher plant6/22/2008
  Q: I want to propogate a cepphalotus by seed supplied fron you this year. I live in England and want to ...
  A: Just sow the seeds on small pots with a peat/perlite mix. Barely cover the seeds with a little peat ...
Live Sphagnum Moss6/22/2008
  Q: What's the ideal condition to make these thing grow? its been like 2 months since i got a cup of ...
  A: Yeah, I know what you mean. This is the sort of things we also have to deal with at our nursery too. ...
Stunted growth6/22/2008
  Q: I have a flytrap I purchased two years ago. It went into dormancy and came out, but it has never ...
  A: It sounds like the growing tip may have rotted out during dormancy, but the rhizome is still alive. ...
my sarracenia plantlets are dying6/22/2008
  Q: my sarracenia plantlets (from your seeds purpura and hybrid mix) are about an inch tall in their ...
  A: If you have any way to take a digital picture and post it here on Allexperts that would help me to ...
butterwort buds don't survive6/21/2008
  Q: I have a Pinguicula, allegedly moranensis, that I bought from another company a few years ago. It's ...
  A: There are three common reasons why buds fail to open. The first is low light. It takes energy for ...
Lighted Plant Stand6/21/2008
  Q: I have just received a lighted two-tier plant stand. I can only put in two 20 watt fluorescent ...
  A: With both of these species, you'll need to replicate full sun conditions. Full sun is 10,000 lumens ...
Mac version of e-book?6/21/2008
  Q: Is the Mac version of "Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden™ " ...
  A: We were planning to release the Mac version when we release the second edition. But writing the ...
N. spectabilis6/21/2008
  Q: I've come to trust your words because your advice yields excellent results. However, I recently ...
  A: Oh, your plant is HAPPY! That species just didn't like our growing conditions in the greenhouse. I ...
mosquitoes6/21/2008
  Q: Following your instructions I have been able to grow some very nice Sarracenia species in my back ...
  A: Use mosquito dunks. They contain a type of bacteria that attacks mosquito larva. The bacteria is ...
N.Ventrata6/21/2008
  Q: I live in San Diego CA, and I had a question regarding my N.Ventrata. I just recently bought my ...
  A: What you're witnessing is primarily an acclimation issue. I know that San Diego has been ...
Live Sphagnum Moss6/21/2008
  Q: What's the ideal condition to make these thing grow? its been like 2 months since i got a cup of ...
  A: Sphagnum moss grows best in cool temperatures. Sphagnum moss grows in bogs that is continuously fed ...
Nepenthes soil mix6/20/2008
  Q: Jacob, I have a ventricosa and I don't think the current soil it's been in has the coconut mixed in. ...
  A: Yes, we use the coconut mix with all of our Nepenthes. So far, it's provided the best results for ...
Pesky Moss6/20/2008
  Q: I have pesky, thick, gelatinous algae in my water pots. It stinks and is impossible to get rid of. ...
  A: Yes, that gelatinous algae that grows on the soil can be a nuisance. To control it, use a ...
Problems with Nepenthes & Drosera6/20/2008
  Q: First of all I'd like to congratulate you for your website. It has been a great help for me. I live ...
  A: With your Nepenthes, low humidity could definitely be a factor. While it is possible to grow it as ...
Can you tell me what Nepenthes this is?6/20/2008
  Q: Is this a N. Vetricosa?
  A: Did we forget to label your plant?! Based on the leaf shape and size, my guess is that it's indeed ...
algae and moss6/20/2008
  Q: My outdoor bog is in its third year and it is really starting to take on that natural look. The ...
  A: Seems like you got a case of slime mold. Of course, it's not really mold, but a type of algae. ...
New Mexico6/20/2008
  Q: I was talking with a friend of mine in New Mexico, and she doesn't believe that any grow there. Do ...
  A: I'm a bit confused about the nature of your question. Are you wanting to know what types of ...
singalana6/20/2008
  Q: Jacob this is the responce you gave me and I thought I had a sanguinea but it's a singalana. Could ...
  A: Nepenthes singalana occurs a bit higher up in the mountains than N. sanguinea, so it may require a ...
n. gymnamphora care6/19/2008
  Q: What are the best the best light levels, humidity, and temp. for a nepenthes gymnamphora. Thanks, ...
  A: It'll actually be easier if you describe your set up and current growing conditions. From there I ...
What is this Butterwort?6/19/2008
  Q: I cannot remember what type of butterwort my plant is and I have been on several forums and asked ...
  A: To properly identify a butterwort, I need to see both the non-dormant leaves and the flower. Your ...
new pitcher plant6/19/2008
  Q: Just unpacked my new N. alata x alata x vetricosa. I have it hanging on my front porch NW corner. It ...
  A: Yes, that type of lighting should do the job just fine. With the warmth and humidity your area is ...
vft6/19/2008
  Q: He their i was just wondering if i pott my venus fly trap in just peat moss , without no prolight or ...
  A: Avoid doing this. We've found that flytraps growing in only peat moss didn't grow as large as those ...
repotting after recieving6/19/2008
  Q: After I recieve my order from you(two potted sundews) is it ok to repot them right away into a ...
  A: Yes you can repot them right away. Just avoid disturbing their root system too much. You can do ...
Heliamphora6/18/2008
  Q: Jacob, I wanted to ask you about the Heliamphora. To remind you of my growing conditions, the ...
  A: The three bulbs would do the job and keep your plants growing well. Only two Nepenthes come to ...
About YOur Cobra Plants6/18/2008
  Q: How Old Are YOur Small Cobra Plants In General? By The Way, You Guys Are Awsome. All The Plants I ...
  A: We divided our cobra plants from the mother plants earlier this spring, so this is the first year of ...
what do feed my venus fly trap ?6/17/2008
  Q: hey their i fed my venus fly trap a neguler fly and after a few days the middle of the trap turn ...
  A: Oh, you might not like my answer! You see, you don't need to feed your flytrap. Insects don't ...
Heliamphora question6/17/2008
  Q: I have a young Heliamphora heterodoxa which I've had over the past year. It has the small upright ...
  A: Welcome to the wonderful and enigmatic world of Heliamphora! These plants grow incredibly slowly ...
garden plants6/17/2008
  Q: I live in Bingen Washington, across the river from Hood River Oregon. We are right on the Cascade ...
  A: As long as you have can grow plants in full sun, you can grow any of the North American species. ...
Red, dead leaves on Ventrata6/17/2008
  Q: Last month I took my Asian Picture plant (Ventrata) outside. The leaves turn red toward the center ...
  A: Since it's happening to the older leaves, I suspect that it's an acclimation issue. Usually the ...
Nepenthes x Miranda6/17/2008
  Q: Which Nepenthes were crossed to create the hybrid N. x Miranda. Thanks. Andrew
  A: It's N. maxima x (maxima x northiana). The hybrid was developed by a Belgium grower, the same ...
only a thank you note6/16/2008
  Q: I bought 4 last year and they survive the winter season, snow and everything I plant them in a bog ...
  A: Yes, growing carnivorous plants is a great adventure and very addictive! I'm glad to see our ...
venus fly trap6/16/2008
  Q: I'm not sure how old my flytrap is. it is starting to grow new leaves. do you know how old it is? ...
  A: There isn't a way to determine how old a flytrap is. We can only speculate its minimum age by the ...
Pygmy Sundews6/16/2008
  Q: I ordered some plants from Sarracenia Northwest. I received two free pygmy sundews with the order. ...
  A: Pygmy sundews self-propagate via gemmae, which are vegetative bodies located near the center of the ...
Sarracenia and Nepenthes question6/16/2008
  Q: I live in San Diego Ca, and Have two questions for you. First is regarding my N. Ventrata I have ...
  A: It wouldn't harm the plant if leaves were touching the window. You might notice localized leaf burn ...
vft6/16/2008
  Q: i have a venus flytrap that i bought from lowes. I have been watering it plenty and had it in the ...
  A: I don't quite have enough information to properly assist you because there are numerous factors that ...
Heliamphora6/16/2008
  Q: Jacob, I wanted to ask you about the Heliamphora. To remind you of my growing conditions, the ...
  A: The lights might not be strong enough unless you're using two of them together. You want about ...
Misting6/16/2008
  Q: Would it be okay to mist a greenhouse containing orchids, nepenthes, and other water sensitive ...
  A: Misting works really well to cool a greenhouse. However, misting generally works in areas with low ...
help with identification of butterwort6/15/2008
  Q: Sarracenia Northwest I've been growing this butterwort plant for quiet awhile, perhaps more than ...
  A: Your butterwort is indeed Pinguicula moranensis (based on leaf shape and flower). It grows very ...
Heliamphora6/15/2008
  Q: Jacob, I wanted to ask you about the Heliamphora. To remind you of my growing conditions, the ...
  A: I love details! Yes, the plant will survive in those conditions. The daytime temperature isn't ...
Nepenthes Ventricosa6/15/2008
  Q: I have a question about my Nepenthes (vine) type growth. I have the plant in a terrarium and the ...
  A: You'll find lots of useful information in there. Repot your plant in a 4-inch pot. The Nepenthes ...
About Fly Trap Cultivars6/15/2008
  Q: I have a Flytrap "Dente" and it has a flower, if i let it pollinate will the seedlings have the ...
  A: This would entirely depend whether the genes that influence the Dente teeth are recessive or ...
Bugs6/15/2008
  Q: i just had a few questions reguarding the bugs that i might feed my plants. OK, about 3-4 days ago, ...
  A: Your plants will still be OK. Remember, we sometimes recommend spraying plants with an appropriate ...
Albino Darlingtonia6/15/2008
  Q: Ok. This is going to sound really weird, and will probably be impossible to answer, but I really ...
  A: You might not like my answer on this one. In this case, since all the other seeds are normal, you ...
Nepenthes Ventricosa6/15/2008
  Q: I have a question about my Nepenthes (vine) type growth. I have the plant in a terrarium and the ...
  A: No, the stem won't snap from bending like that. We see that all the time with plants in our ...
sundews6/14/2008
  Q: SNW one of my brothers rubbed the tentacles on my cape sundew and folded the little hairs on it none ...
  A: The little tentacles are not necessarily doomed. They might stop working, but that's OK. The plant ...
ailing plants6/14/2008
  Q: I have an s.leucophylla and flava that are both producing unusual shaped phyllodia and few pitchers ...
  A: Since you live in Houston, my first impression is that your S. flava and S. leucophylla are ...
Nepenthes Ventricosa6/14/2008
  Q: I have a question about my Nepenthes (vine) type growth. I have the plant in a terrarium and the ...
  A: There are two ways to deal with this. But first, it won't harm the plant in any way. Sometimes ...
Albino Darlingtonia6/14/2008
  Q: Ok. This is going to sound really weird, and will probably be impossible to answer, but I really ...
  A: The term albino has a different meaning among horticulturists than among geneticists. When talking ...
mold on my drosera capensis6/14/2008
  Q: I noticed some grey fuzz growing on the layer of moss covering my drosera pot in my terrarium a few ...
  A: This helps me out tremendously. First, avoid using Physan 20 or any other quantaray ammonium ...
germinating seeds6/14/2008
  Q: I received a Sarracenie Hybrids, Random Mix packet of seeds as a gift which give instructions to go ...
  A: You can find the full instructions at: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets Scroll down to the ...
ailing plants6/13/2008
  Q: I have an s.leucophylla and flava that are both producing unusual shaped phyllodia and few pitchers ...
  A: In your case, I'll need more information from you. I'll need to know where in the country you live. ...
worried6/13/2008
  Q: due to a relatively cool and rainy SD spring, my north american pitchers have had a slow start. but ...
  A: The peat moss you have should be fine. As long as it's a compressed bale, you can be assured it was ...
Weird fly-like bug that keeps coming back to my plants6/13/2008
  Q: I keep seeing this same odd fly around my Sarracenias. It just sits on the soil or on the rhizome ...
  A: That bug looks like a scorpion fly or something along that line. It could also be a predatory wasp ...
worried6/13/2008
  Q: due to a relatively cool and rainy SD spring, my north american pitchers have had a slow start. but ...
  A: Don't worry about the slow start. We've also had a relatively cold, wet spring. Our plants are ...
Utricularia purpurea6/13/2008
  Q: I now that you can grow this species (until they were unexpectedly eaten!). I've recently ordered ...
  A: Yes! That would work. We have (had) our U. purpurea growing in large kiddie pools with peat on the ...
Utricularia purpurea6/12/2008
  Q: I now that you can grow this species (until they were unexpectedly eaten!). I've recently ordered ...
  A: There are many factors that influence your success in growing an aquatic bladderwort. So I'm going ...
nepenthes diatas6/12/2008
  Q: I have a N diatas that I ordered from you in November. I immediately put it at the window and let ...
  A: This species is definitely an ultra highlander, right up there with N. rajah, N. talangensis and N. ...
Mold.6/11/2008
  Q: How do i avoid mold for my carnivorous plants. Im not getting mold on the plants just around the rim ...
  A: Mold doesn't grow on the rims of plastic pots, so what you're seeing around the rim of the plastic ...
caterpillars6/11/2008
  Q: Hey guys, I have a bit of a problem that i'd like advice on. I have quite a few Nepenthes that are ...
  A: Since the caterpillar population is rather high, use Systemic Insect Killer by Ortho®. It comes ...
darlingtonia (mountain variety) in outdoor bogs6/10/2008
  Q: I'm planning on starting a bog in a year or so and I plan on including your variety of darlingtonia. ...
  A: The interesting thing about the mountains in southern Oregon is that the humidity is lower there ...
Cephalotus Questions6/10/2008
  Q: That window get 4-5 hours of bright morning sun then get shady light up until 7pm. Also how many ...
  A: Yes and no. It depends on how high you leave the water. I'm also assuming that you got the plant ...
Sarracenia readii pitcher going ... limp6/10/2008
  Q: So NYC is undergoing a heatwave over the past couple days(90's-100's) and I noticed that one of the ...
  A: Yes, I've heard about your heatwave. I also heard that the crowd at the baseball game jeered at the ...
Orchid mix6/10/2008
  Q: I have seen your articles talk about using orchid bark, but when I look in a store it has orchid ...
  A: It depends on what type of mix you're making. But as long as the orchid mix you have doesn't add ...
Cool shady Nepenthes6/10/2008
  Q: We have a pretty cool, fairly shady house here in western Oregon. Tropical houseplants grow well, ...
  A: Unfortunately, even the highland Nepenthes requires a bit more sunlight than what your home can ...
Cephalotus Questions6/10/2008
  Q: That window get 4-5 hours of bright morning sun then get shady light up until 7pm. Also how many ...
  A: The window you've describe would be great for your Cephalotus. It would also appreciate having the ...
red leaf spots/poor growth/mealys?6/9/2008
  Q: guys! thanks again for my wonderful sarracenias i received last month-all are doing well! a question ...
  A: The red spots on the sweet pitcher are a type of fungus called rust spots. It's nothing at all ...
CP bog garden6/9/2008
  Q: i have succeeded in the floating CP container in my pond now i want to enlarge it to a CP bog garden ...
  A: If you put the holes on the sides, you'll need a layer of sand between the garden soil and the liner ...
stimulating Mex Pings to come out of dormancy?6/9/2008
  Q: Hey guys, Subject is exactly my question. How do I stimulate my P. moranensis x 'Titan' to come ...
  A: Yes, welcome to the wonderful world of the sleeping titan! We've experienced this problem too, ...
Bog Garden Top Dressing6/9/2008
  Q: I have two outdoor bog gardens and I like to use a top dressing to keep the peat and perlite in ...
  A: Recycled tire mulch? I'm not familiar with it, so I can't really say how carnivorous plants would ...
Should I remove the flower stalk from my ailing VFT?6/8/2008
  Q: Greetings Jeff & Jacob: I have received my shipment of 3 VFT's early last week. They all looked ...
  A: It looks perfectly fine for this time of the year. Many of our Red Dragons look just like that. ...
Should I remove the flower stalk from my ailing VFT?6/8/2008
  Q: Greetings Jeff & Jacob: I have received my shipment of 3 VFT's early last week. They all looked ...
  A: The Red Dragon is a peculiar plant. It's leaves have a shorter lifespan than the Dente or typical, ...
Sarracenia problem6/8/2008
  Q: i just had a few questions regarding sarracenia. Ok, So far, all my plants have produced pitchers ...
  A: When a plant suddenly collapses, it's usually from something going wrong in the rhizome. It's very ...
pygmy sundews6/8/2008
  Q: i was wondering, since i am going on vacation for a week, can i use african violet pots? I was going ...
  A: We found that sundews of all types didn't do well in African violet pots because they liked the soil ...
testing pond water6/8/2008
  Q: I bought the ring to put around the pots that have some plants in them. Placed them in my goldfish ...
  A: Go to your local aquarium supply store and ask them for kits that will test water hardness, nitrites ...
underdeveloped traps6/8/2008
  Q: I recently purchased a Nepenthes Ventrata from you at the Portland Saturday Market. The plant is ...
  A: Don't worry about the underdeveloped pitchers. They will open up in due time in the proper light ...
CP bog garden6/7/2008
  Q: i have succeeded in the floating CP container in my pond now i want to enlarge it to a CP bog garden ...
  A: There are two ways to go about the drainage holes. You could either bore the holes on the flat ...
Rain Barrels6/7/2008
  Q: I grow many nepenthes and other sensitive plants. My rain barrels have mosquito larvae in them but ...
  A: Avoid using bleach. Instead, use mosquito dunks. They contain a bacteria that kills off the ...
Nepenthes Bicalcarata in the windowsill?6/7/2008
  Q: Hey there, I have had a Nepenthes Bicalcarata for about 3 years now. Confined in the grips of the ...
  A: Sorry, but your bicalcarata would be better off in the terrarium. Even for us, it doesn't produce ...
floating plants in fish pond6/7/2008
  Q: I bought the ring to put around the pots that have some plants in them. Placed them in my goldfish ...
  A: I'm not sure if it was me or Jeff who answered your original question. In any case, there's no ...
Sarracenia dying6/7/2008
  Q: Hey Guys, My Sarracenia are dying. The traps and leaves are turning brown from the top down. On ...
  A: I know it can be distressing to see plants die, but lets see if we can pinpoint the problem. Since ...
Peat Moss6/6/2008
  Q: I've been getting my bales of peat moss from Home Depot. I think I read that advice from your E-book ...
  A: That brand is fine. We get our peat moss from both Lowe's and Home Depot. Because they are huge ...
CP bog garden6/6/2008
  Q: i have succeeded in the floating CP container in my pond now i want to enlarge it to a CP bog garden ...
  A: Is that really a frog on your floating island? Nice! We have Pacific tree frogs that colonize ...
Plants didn't come out of dormancy6/6/2008
  Q: It's the same person with the hard water. All experts just said there were too many follow-ups and ...
  A: Yes, it sounds like all of those plants are goners. An RO unit would be a great investment if you ...
what i do with vfts6/6/2008
  Q: The plants i grow is a venus flytrap (dente,typical). the soil i use is peat and perlite with green ...
  A: No, you're not doing anything wrong. Moss spores are everywhere and will establish in very moist ...
Plants haven't emerged yet!6/6/2008
  Q: None of my plants (yellow trumpet typical, copptertop trumpet, judith hindle, venus fly traps, pale ...
  A: YIKES! That's super-duper hard water as far as carnivorous plants are concerned. The minerals will ...
nepenthes atala6/6/2008
  Q: No pitchers so far, lots of ends that could become pitchers but none yet. Have in a southern window ...
  A: Lighting is the main issue for lack of pitchers. Although it gets lots of filtered light in a south ...
Sarracenia6/5/2008
  Q: I have plant I bought last year at the grocery store, and I planted it in a boggy area in my yard ...
  A: That helps me tremendously. Yes, it's definitely a Judith Hindle. Congratulations on overwintering ...
my purple pitcher6/5/2008
  Q: Hey, I have a purple pitcher that i got from home depot and it came in a little see through ...
  A: Don't worry about cloudy days. Remember that there are lots of plants that grow outdoors, and they ...
Plants haven't emerged yet!6/5/2008
  Q: None of my plants (yellow trumpet typical, copptertop trumpet, judith hindle, venus fly traps, pale ...
  A: If you used only hose water, that might be a big factor. You'll need to check the mineral levels ...
Growing plants outdoors in Las Vegas6/5/2008
  Q: I love the Venus Fly Traps and other outdoor plants. However, it is just too hot in Las Vegas to ...
  A: Yes! Actually, you would do the opposite of what growers in Montana would do. In Montana, growers ...
Sundews.6/5/2008
  Q: I have a small sundew and it doesnt seem to be producing nectar from what i can see, it's still ...
  A: Most often the lack of dew is because of low light. The dew is actually a secretion of sugar and ...
Plants haven't emerged yet!6/5/2008
  Q: None of my plants (yellow trumpet typical, copptertop trumpet, judith hindle, venus fly traps, pale ...
  A: Oh, I'm sorry to hear this! Your plants should be emerging from dormancy by now, so something is ...
Nepenthes talangensis6/4/2008
  Q: I have another question regarding highland nepenthes. Recently I bought a pot of nepenthes ...
  A: Many growers have a difficult time getting this species to produce pitchers. What we've discovered ...
my purple pitcher6/4/2008
  Q: Hey, I have a purple pitcher that i got from home depot and it came in a little see through ...
  A: In general, those plants that you get at the hardware store are actually more difficult to grow than ...
warm temperate?6/4/2008
  Q: i got an issue. well, i got the secrets e-book and have been looking through it a lot (i think i ...
  A: The zone map was created by the United States Department of Agriculture. It's primarily a tool for ...
my vft doesny want to eat bugs6/4/2008
  Q: i have a venus fly trap i fed it a bug about 2 weeks ago and now it open its mouth i tried to feed ...
  A: That occurs when the plant is acclimating from high humidity to lower humidity. It's normal and ...
warm temperate?6/4/2008
  Q: i got an issue. well, i got the secrets e-book and have been looking through it a lot (i think i ...
  A: We're currently in the process of creating the second edition, which will contain lots more ...
distilled6/3/2008
  Q: Is distilled water distilled by the evaporation method ok. I heard that it can have minerals from ...
  A: All distilled water is made by boiling the water, capturing the steam and condensing the steam back ...
FOLLOW UP6/3/2008
  Q: JACOB, ONE LAST QUESTION. IF MY PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY FUNGUS, SHOULD I NOT USE THE POTS AND ...
  A: Just clean out the pots and trays. There's no need to spray them as long as you rinse them out very ...
my vft doesny want to eat bugs6/3/2008
  Q: i have a venus fly trap i fed it a bug about 2 weeks ago and now it open its mouth i tried to feed ...
  A: There are a couple factors that could be affecting the trap. First, traps will open and close only ...
Nepenthes Ventricosa Growing Sideways6/3/2008
  Q: I've got an N. Ventricosa. The plant has developed a sort of bent stem, apparently not via damage. ...
  A: No it doesn't hurt the plant to grow sideways. In fact, that's pretty normal in cultivation. ...
Lost Flower Buds6/3/2008
  Q: I ordered a medium (4-inch pot) S. flava towards the end of March of this year and as promised, it ...
  A: Yes, it's a real bummer when flowers don't grow. Flowers are a bit more sensitive to frost than the ...
Cephalotus6/3/2008
  Q: I have my Cephalotus in a African Violet pot. right now the tempature is about 77 degrees in the ...
  A: It's a bit clearer, but not clear or close enough to make out sufficient details. However, they look ...
Are my pitcher plants & VFT's dead?6/3/2008
  Q: This is my first early spring with CP's. They were all doing great when I put them to sleep last ...
  A: Yes, insulation is the way to go. If the temperature changes too rapidly, the soil will still be ...
Heliamphora6/3/2008
  Q: I just wondered if I could get your advice about a problem I've had with my small (~2") Heliamphora ...
  A: It's very normal for the smaller older pitchers to turn brown. Based on your description, those ...
Cephalotus6/2/2008
  Q: I have my Cephalotus in a African Violet pot. right now the tempature is about 77 degrees in the ...
  A: The photo isn't quite clear enough, but I can see that you have a nice green pitcher developing. ...
N. Sanguinea questions6/2/2008
  Q: Also I'm going to be gone for 8 days on vacation and I have no one to water the plants. Is it ...
  A: Yes, that seems very fine for Nepenthes sanguinea. I have a large Nepenthes sanguinea in my west ...
Are my pitcher plants & VFT's dead?6/2/2008
  Q: This is my first early spring with CP's. They were all doing great when I put them to sleep last ...
  A: Yes, fungus can occur in the nooks and crannies of your plant, so sometimes you might not even see ...
Nepenthes Sibuyanensis6/1/2008
  Q: Hey guys, I have a question regarding Nepenthes Sibuyanensis again. Thanks for your advice and by ...
  A: With this particular species, humidity is important for proper pitcher development. Humidity is ...
water6/1/2008
  Q: SNW I heard you can put tap water in a bucket for 24hrs and the chlorine will evaporate. is this ...
  A: YIKES! Don't use water from a water softener. While soft water is low in calcium and magnesium, not ...
Adding water to the pitchers6/1/2008
  Q: I just purchased a N x ventrata at a local garden center and am wondering if I need to add water to ...
  A: This particular Nepenthes is one of the easiest Nepenthes to grow. It adapts well to a variety of ...
soil6/1/2008
  Q: would 1 part perlite and 1 part peat moss be okay for nepenthes or could you recommend other mixes.
  A: Avoid using that mix for Nepenthes. It's too damp and will rot out the roots. If you only have ...
a followup - pitcher plant6/1/2008
  Q: i asked a question a week or two ago regarding a very bad-off pitcher plant i had just purchased. it ...
  A: Don't worry about giving your Sarracenia pitcher plant too much water. They are bog plants, and ...
Re-potting my VFT's5/31/2008
  Q: I just received the VFT trio (dent,red,VFT) from you. Arrived in fine shape. When I repot them into ...
  A: Because you'll be growing the plants outdoors, use a plastic pot. Plastic pots retain moisture ...
Venus Flytrap flowering5/31/2008
  Q: I have 2 baby Venus Flytrap plants that I bought from you that are growing outdoors in partil-full ...
  A: Before I give you my answer, I want to warn you that you may not like my answer. You see, I don't ...
Are my pitcher plants & VFT's dead?5/31/2008
  Q: This is my first early spring with CP's. They were all doing great when I put them to sleep last ...
  A: Container growing definitely has its challenges, and winter care is the most difficult challenge of ...
Cephalotus5/31/2008
  Q: I have my Cephalotus in a African Violet pot. right now the tempature is about 77 degrees in the ...
  A: You're certainly on track with trying to give your plant cool nights. That's one of the critical ...
Nepenthes Truncata5/31/2008
  Q: i just had a few questions about Nepenthes Truncatas. i know there is such thing as a highland and ...
  A: Yes, Nepenthes truncata grows in a very large region in the Philippines, and they grow from sea ...
pine needles?5/30/2008
  Q: Do you recommend mixing pine needles into a soil mixture for carnivorous plants? Will this be ...
  A: While we recommend pine needles as a mulch for your carnivorous plants during the winter months, we ...
Darlingtonia not thriving.5/30/2008
  Q: I have a Darlingtonia which I bought bare-root from a reputable and reliable dealer around ...
  A: Did you get the plant bareroot or potted? The reason why I ask that is because the standard mix is ...
Venus Flytrap flowering5/30/2008
  Q: I have 2 baby Venus Flytrap plants that I bought from you that are growing outdoors in partil-full ...
  A: Yes, those are flower stalks. As long as you grow your plants in full sun, let them flower. It's a ...
Do VFTs need to darkness at 'nightime'?5/30/2008
  Q: Greetings Jeff and Jacob: As you already know I plant to grow my VFTs outside with 6+ hrs of full ...
  A: Don't worry about cloudy days. Remember full sun plants, like roses, still grow fine on cloudy ...
Pinguicula Jaumavensis5/30/2008
  Q: I have just received a Ping Jaumavensis. I have looked at several web sights to see exactly how to ...
  A: Yes, many growers have their own opinions about how to water Mexican butterworts. Their roots are ...
Indoor lighting/ Nepenthes5/29/2008
  Q: Is it possible to give too much fluorescent light for typical Asian pitcher plants? I recently ...
  A: Yes and no. With small plants, if the lighting is too intense, you'll end up with smaller, yellow ...
growing cephalotus in outdoor bogs5/29/2008
  Q: I live in Walnut Cove, NC in Stokes county. My climate zone is 7. I want to know if it's at all ...
  A: Cephalotus is technically a warm-temperate plant, so it's hardy only to zone 9. In our experience, ...
Nepenthes lighting5/29/2008
  Q: I opened my box from you guys today and was not ready to see such a ridiculously gorgeous shade of ...
  A: I assume you're talking about Nepenthes densiflora. Yes, it develops very nice red leaves. We ...
Nepenthes x "Velvet"5/29/2008
  Q: I would like to know about which Nepenthes species were crossed to get the hybrid Nepenthes x ...
  A: This hybrid is Nepenthes fusca x maxima. I'm not sure which is the parent plant, however. You ...
venus fly trap5/28/2008
  Q: he i have a Venus fly trap and i just wanted to know if it ok to leave it out side for a wile ...
  A: Hmm... First, visit our care sheet section on our website and read about our recommendations for ...
Sarracenia suddenly dying5/28/2008
  Q: Hey guys, Long time no ask a question. Couple months ago, my Sars started coming out of dormancy ...
  A: From your description, it's definitely a fungus issue. Fungus is a common problem with Sarracenia ...
Fly Traps5/28/2008
  Q: I recently bought flytraps from you and planted them. They came out of hibernation and sprang to ...
  A: Lighting could definitely be a factor. Ideally flytraps need 6 or more hours of direct sunlight. ...
Muluensis x lowii care5/28/2008
  Q: How do i care for nepenthes muluensis x lowii. 1.How much light do they need? 2.Can they be grown in ...
  A: Nepenthes muluensis x lowii is native to the upper parts of the mountain. They prefer lots of ...
Sarracenia Flava flowers5/28/2008
  Q: i just had a few more questions about the Flower. Last time i emailed the flowers were closed i ...
  A: The information on the web page is accurate, so follow its instructions and you'll do fine. (The ...
Indoor lighting5/28/2008
  Q: 1. Nepenthes Truncata 2. Peat/vermiculite 3. Cleveland, OhioHave had any experience using red and ...
  A: No, I haven't experimented with LED lights as of yet. My only concern is that those lights are very ...
windws5/27/2008
  Q: SNW For Orange pitchers, ventricosas, Can I MOVE the from window to window in order to get ful sun. ...
  A: Yes, if you move your plant from an east window to a south window for more sunlight, you'll end up ...
Any special treatment for VFTs in your private collection?5/27/2008
  Q: Greetings Jeff & Jacob: I promise to follow the 3 critical actions required for proper CP growth: ...
  A: We actually give daily root massages. Twice monthly is too infrequent. All joking aside, we ...
Cephalotus and temperature...5/27/2008
  Q: I have read some people say the drop on temperature is really important for the cephalotus that even ...
  A: Yes, temperature is critical. I have friends in Hawaii that can't keep a Cephalotus alive for more ...
Do I need to acclimate my new Sarracenia Northwest VFTs to full sun and 30-50% humidity?5/27/2008
  Q: Greetings Jeff and Jacob: I just ordered 3 small VFTs from Sarracenia Northwest in 3-inch plastic ...
  A: No, there's no need to acclimate your fytraps. We grow our plants outdoors, so they are well ...
Fly Traps5/27/2008
  Q: I recently bought flytraps from you and planted them. They came out of hibernation and sprang to ...
  A: When you say that you planted your flytraps, what did you mean exactly? We ship all of our plants ...
Nepenthe(alata)+Vernus Flytrap5/27/2008
  Q: Not long time ago, i have bought a nepenthe (alata) and a venus flytrap. And I was wondering if I ...
  A: Don't worry about having to repot your plants. We repot thousands of plants each year, and they all ...
nep5/27/2008
  Q: SNW for a water hardness test would the water be ideal acidic, neutral, basic. I want to use tap ...
  A: Water hardness refers to the mineral content in water. It is actually independent of water pH, ...
standing water5/27/2008
  Q: SNW can i use the bottom of a soda bottle for standing water
  A: Yes, this would be a very economical method of watering your plants. Use a liter soda bottle and ...
Indoor care5/22/2008
  Q: Today i just stumbled upon your Carnivorous plant website, i am really impressed on the amazing ...
  A: The Judith Hindle pitcher plant is really an outdoor plant, so you'll have best results growing it ...
Sarracenia purpuria5/22/2008
  Q: I want to grow Sarracenia purpuria outside and overwinter them. I will use a mixture of ...
  A: This particular species is relatively easy to grow and is suitable for first-time growers. For ...
nEp5/22/2008
  Q: when does a truncata reach full maturity(in years) and full sized pitchers.
  A: This entirely depends on your growing conditions and the actual variety of Nepenthes truncata. ...
a small pitcher plan - can i save it?5/22/2008
  Q: well, i purchased a small pitcher plan from Lowe's, hoping i could cut down on the occasional gnat ...
  A: Your situation is not at all unusual when purchasing those terrariums. Unfortunately, as a ...
Watering5/21/2008
  Q: i was just wondering if it was okay to give my sarracenia purpurea water that has been filtrated ...
  A: Yes and no. Brita is a carbon filter, so it filters out only large molecules, such as chlorine, ...
fruit-fly infestation5/21/2008
  Q: I wish I had come across your website a long time ago. It would have saved me a lot of grief. I ...
  A: Yes, those critters can be quite annoying. It's likely that they are fungus gnats. These guys can ...
Dried Moss question5/20/2008
  Q: I bought a bail of dried moss the other day and saw that the strands seem to be pretty thick. ...
  A: First, make sure the moss you purchased is indeed sphagnum moss. If it says forest moss, tree moss, ...
watering question5/19/2008
  Q: Hey guys, its me again. Your SD question asking maching. ha ha. in between rainfalls, i water my ...
  A: Oh, oh! Somebody didn't read his e-book! ;-) For brevity sake, I'm going to refer you to the ...
venus flytrap seeds5/19/2008
  Q: I have just planted some Venus flytrap seeds yesterday and I feel kind of nervous because last time ...
  A: The most common problem with growing seedlings is mold and fungus. Many growers make the mistake of ...
watering question5/19/2008
  Q: Hey guys, its me again. Your SD question asking maching. ha ha. in between rainfalls, i water my ...
  A: Oh, that's not a good idea! While the aquarium water might be clear and void of solid waste ...
Venus Flytrap Flower5/18/2008
  Q: I have a two Venus Flytraps that sit next to each other near a window receiving sunlight from the ...
  A: I strongly suspect that the buds are dying off because your plants are not getting sufficient ...
Plants outdoors5/17/2008
  Q: I have my Asian Pitcher Plants and my Sundews under artificial light on my windowsill all winter.Now ...
  A: Whenever you move plants from one location to another, there will always be a period of acclimation. ...
D. Rotundifolia varieties5/17/2008
  Q: This is a question mostly out of curiosity. I have quite a few D. rotundifolias growing in my ...
  A: Drosera rotundifolia is the most populous sundew in the world, so you'll definitely see variations ...
Nepenthes Ceasar5/17/2008
  Q: I received my Nepenthes Ceaser last week and I must say, what a magnificent looking carnivorous ...
  A: The general care sheet that we have online is appropriate for the Caesar. Care for it like you ...
tiny white bugs in my soil5/17/2008
  Q: i recently repotted my cape sundews, lance leafs, giant staghorn,spoon leafs, and south american dew ...
  A: OOPS! I hope you didn't use vermiculite! Vermiculite is not the same as perlite, and it leaches ...
Sarracenia not opening up...5/17/2008
  Q: I have a Sarracenia Willisi as well as a Doodle Bug and both of them are seem to be sending up new ...
  A: Just give your plants more time. What you're seeing is the new growth. They all start off looking ...
water5/17/2008
  Q: SNW to water plants you need water so what bottled water will be best aquafina,dasani etc or if you ...
  A: When you use bottled water, make sure the label says distilled water or water processed via ...
VFT and D. Intermedia Questions5/17/2008
  Q: I have 2 questions, First one, my VFT seeds havent germinated yet, how warm does it have to be ...
  A: Venus flytrap seeds will germinate when the temperature is consistently above 65°F If it's cooler ...
Sarracenia Identification Help5/17/2008
  Q: Could you please help me identify this Sarracenia. I have had it for about 3 year, and it is ...
  A: You have a very nice plant there! It looks like one of the cultivar hybrids that were massed ...
classroom plants5/16/2008
  Q: I'm hoping to build a terrarium or tank or something of carnivorous plants for our undergraduate ...
  A: Fortunately nearly all carnivorous plants don't require terrariums, so I'd recommend to ditch the ...
Type of water to use5/16/2008
  Q: I have 2 Fly-traps and I was wondering if I should be using collected rain water or my tap water ...
  A: Flytraps require water that is low in minerals. If the water has too much minerals, it'll burn the ...
Sarracenia/vft flowers5/15/2008
  Q: i just had a few questions about my sarracenia flowers. Ok, i have three flowers, 2 which i believe ...
  A: The flowers are prime for pollination for about 5 days after they open up. You can use the pollen ...
venus flytrap in trouble!5/15/2008
  Q: I bought 3 Venus flytraps from a different site and 2 of them have already died. the last one is not ...
  A: Yikes! It looks like that your flytraps are suffering from hard water. Hard water is when the ...
Two Nepenthes questions5/15/2008
  Q: I have two questions about Nepenthes: 1. A few people have recommended to me that adding a 1/4 ...
  A: Actually spraying is a lot easier and better for the plant because you don't have to risk damaging ...
Type of Plant Light to Use5/15/2008
  Q: I have just recently received a TLC Plant light which uses a full spectrum 9-watt fluorescent light. ...
  A: Unfortunately, using a 9-watt fluorescent tube is the equivalent of growing a plant in shade. The ...
east5/15/2008
  Q: SNW in your caresheets it says that a west or south window is better but i noticed that east windows ...
  A: We recommend south and west windows because sometimes the light intensity in an east window isn't as ...
Two Nepenthes questions5/14/2008
  Q: I have two questions about Nepenthes: 1. A few people have recommended to me that adding a 1/4 ...
  A: You can certainly put the fertilizer in the pitchers of your Nepenthes, but as you've noticed, ...
Live Sphagnum Moss5/14/2008
  Q: I recently bought the sarracenia "Daina's Delight" and repotted it into a bigger pot. I would like ...
  A: You need only a pint of sphagnum moss. Over time, the moss will grow and fill up the pot, so you ...
Lowland Nepenthes germination5/14/2008
  Q: For a couple weeks I've been trying to germinate some N. ampullaria and during the past few days ...
  A: Germination rate varies considerably from species to species. The lowland species tend to have a ...
Heliamphora5/13/2008
  Q: I was wondering if these plants can tolerate humidity in the 30's and the 40's I resently got a ...
  A: Heliamphora is one of the very small handful of carnivorous plants that actually requires constantly ...
S. Flavas Flower5/13/2008
  Q: about my S. Flavas flower, on the stem for the flower theres a big brown spot that every day gets ...
  A: Depending on your climate, your flower stalk will bloom when the weather is warm. At our nursery, ...
Nepenthes5/13/2008
  Q: My name is Justin. I live in San Diego Ca. I have asked you a question regarding nepenthes just ...
  A: The Nepenthes you have could either be the standard Nepenthes hybrid you often find at hardware ...
DIRT5/13/2008
  Q: SNW IF I BUY SOIL FROM YOU WITH MY PLANT AND I DON'T USE IT UNTIL NEXT YEAR WILL IT BE AS GOOD AS ...
  A: Yes, as long as you keep the soil dry, you should be able to use it again next year. When dry, the ...
Neglected Venus Fly Trap5/13/2008
  Q: Not too long ago, one of my friends ordered some VFT's for her high school drama class. Needless to ...
  A: Yes, as you've been keen to notice, Venus flytraps are plants, and as plants, they need sunlight and ...
sundew sprouts and mold5/12/2008
  Q: I have germinated some tropical sundew seeds this past month (capensis pink variety I believe). ...
  A: Sulfur kills mold by making the soil acidic. Acids both inhibit and kill mold growth. Sulfur is ...
Nepenthes help........!5/12/2008
  Q: I live in Malaysia(tropical climate) and i'm planning on growing some highland nepenthes.Since i'm ...
  A: You can get by without misting. I think Malaysia is plenty humid enough! Besides, you'll have ...
Pinguicula macroceras seed5/12/2008
  Q: I bought a P. macroceras from you about in late-March to early-April. It produced a flower which I ...
  A: Congratulations on getting Pinguicula seeds! You have more patience than I do. I stopped trying to ...
mystery sundew5/11/2008
  Q: I recently rescued a Parrot pitcher from a local garden center (it had been there for over a year, ...
  A: Unfortunately a lot of sundews look alike during the seedling stage, so you really won't know what ...
Lowland Nepenthes germination5/11/2008
  Q: For a couple weeks I've been trying to germinate some N. ampullaria and during the past few days ...
  A: Yes, use a heat mat if you want to improve your germination rate. These seeds germinate best when ...
sundew question5/11/2008
  Q: I am going to start a lowland tank for neps soon & I want to grow some sundews in there as well. ...
  A: I generally don't recommend growing sundews in terrariums because they grow just fine outside of a ...
cold5/11/2008
  Q: SNW, I know highland nepenthes require a low night temp. of 40-50F so can you put them in a fridge. ...
  A: NO! Don't put your Nepenthes in the refrigerator. If you do that, you will definitely shock your ...
Nepenthes help........!5/11/2008
  Q: I live in Malaysia(tropical climate) and i'm planning on growing some highland nepenthes.Since i'm ...
  A: The term "typical highland" refers to the nighttime temperatures. Highland Nepenthes prefer cool ...
moss5/11/2008
  Q: SNW Today I was in my the garden and I found some moss. So I dug a hole around it trying not to ...
  A: Not all moss is the same. The type of moss that we use with carnivorous plants is called sphagnum ...
hot!5/10/2008
  Q: im a carnivorous plant entusiast from Mexico and i have this friend in Merida, Yucatan who wants to ...
  A: Yes, you can grow any of the lowland Nepenthes with relative ease in your climate. Consider the ...
Wintering over5/10/2008
  Q: HELP!! For the past 2 years I have not been able to winter over my Sarracenias. (green, purple, and ...
  A: Over wintering is probably the trickiest part of growing perennials in pots, regardless if they're ...
vft5/10/2008
  Q: is it har to grow vft?
  A: As long as you're willing to grow your plant outdoors in full sun, you'll have an easy time growing ...
POTTING5/9/2008
  Q: SNW wHEN i FIRST RECEIVE MY PLANTS DO i REPOT RIGHT AWAY
  A: We ship plant only in their pots, so you don't need to repot them for a while. Generally, the ...
nepenthes sibuyanensis5/9/2008
  Q: is there any trick to growing nepenthes sibuyanensis? and i have nepenthes rajah and it has been ...
  A: Ah, the joys of owning Nepenthes sibuyanensis. This species is a bit challenging, but once you get ...
Peat Moss5/9/2008
  Q: I have heard that bulk of the peat moss sold in the US is primarily imported from Canada? Why is ...
  A: Canada has much more