Carnivorous Plants

Following a visit to the GC, oldest kiddie bought himself a Sundew Carnivorous Plant. (We have had a couple of Venus Fly-Traps in the past which I have managed to kill :rolleyes: (What a surprise)).

I have put it in the greenhouse, and on checking today, it is covered with tiny black flies stuck on its sticky tenticle-thingys!!! I have stood it in a saucer filled with compost and rainwater. It is quite fascinating!! He now wants a Pitcher plant and Cobra Lily.

Does anyone else have any of these types of plants, and have you any advice? Both my little darlings are fascinated by them, must be the gory-ness!!!!!

 

Hi Honey Bee you must have children like mine.
He has just posted a question about his new Venus fly-trap but by mistake it went under edible gardening.
Just when you think you have 1/2 hr peace they appear.Must tell him it is time for bed.

 

I bought a venus fly trap and pitcher plant last spring. They both flourished on water and what ever they could catch. They do NOT want any compost at all. Grow them in very wet spaghnum moss in sunshine. Both survived the cold frosts out in the open, although the pitcher plant got a bit tatty and the venus died back quite a bit. Now the venus is covered in new traps and has 4 or 5 flower stalks with lots of buds. I'll post a photo when they open.

 

Hey, Slugbug - thinking about it, Edible Gardening is probably the most apt place to have put it!!!!!!! :D :D

 

Children often tease them to death by triggering the traps. The traps will re-open but while they are closed they cannot catch food. Eventually the plant dies from exhaustion.

Thanks for the link, frogesque - great time lapse sequence.
Here is a photo of mine this morning - looking forward to seeing the flowers!

 

Pitcher plants like similar conditions to sundews and venus flytraps, that is the North American pitchers (sarracenia).
Nepenthese which are also called pither plants like it a bit warmer as some are tropical.

Sarracenia Leucophylla.

Sarracenia flava maxima, this can reach 3 ft in a greenhouse but its shorter if you grow it outdoors.

Flower of Sarracenia flava.

Nepenthes, need to be kept warmer in winter, not sure what this one is, but its OK at a minimum of 50F.

 

Should add that cobra lily (Darlingtonia) I haven't tried but I believe it likes similar conditions to the Sarracenia.

 

Yes - son sr has already put a pitcher plant on the shopping list when we go the GC next - and son jr wants a cobra lily!! Your photos look fab!!