Sarracenia - carnivorous plant!

here mine

 

@Sian in Belgium I do a 3 2 1 mix , so three parts spahnum moss (dry horticultural peat ) two of perlite and one of horticultual sand ....

Spruce

 

I'm getting confused here, when we say sphagnum moss, are we saying live moss or sphagnum moss peat?
I've only ever used peat.

 

It's totally fine @Sian in Belgium , just a bit of recreational fun.

 

sphagnum moss peat , Pete

 

Unfortunately, I don’t have any sphagnum peat, just live sphagnum moss, so they will have to make do...

 

Not a Sarracenia question per say, but a drosera one....

My Sarracenia started “harvesting” flies within 24 hours. The Drosera has still not taken a single fly, even a fruit-fly, in more than that time. We have small brown flies (nasty little bite-y things) aplenty, the Sarracenia can’t eat them all...!

 

@Sian in Belgium I don't know why the Drosera isn't "working" for you, mine have greenfly and others small flies stuck on them. Perhaps the small brown bitey flies are not attracted to the shiney sweet droplets on the Drosera.

 

There’s a little plant that is rising to this challenge - some pitchers are almost overflowing!!

 

Well, over a month in, and both plants are doing well.



The Drosera does not catch many flies, even the plentiful fruit flies (downside of me keeping the kitchen compost bin well-stocked) but I am supplementing its diet with human-caught fruit flies. It seems happy - please note the two flower-spikes that are forming.
The Sarracenia is very happy!

Re the addictive nature of these plants, I can also report that the condition is also contagious. My mother-in-law was fascinated, and I ended up taking her back home to S Wales with her own little Sarracenia plant!

 

Hi Sian

Looking great , with the venus fly trap its best to cut the flower off and dont let it flower as it uses to much energy up and may not re grow next year ...

Spruce

 

Thanks @Spruce . I think I’m ok though, as the Drosera is one of the common sundews - probably Drosera aliciae? I think they can flower without being too detrimental to the parent plant?

 

A follow-on question....

I understand the plants become dormant in the winter. Do they do this themselves, or do I need to encourage them? At the moment they are still looking lush...

 

@Sian in Belgium Mine, in a cold greenhouse, are currently pretty dormant and in need of a tidy-up to be honest.
Your's appear to be doing well and I would just leave them ticking along on a light windowsill and not let them dry out.
When I had mine indoors over winter they slowed down, but pretty much looked like your two.

 

Thanks, that’s just what I needed to know!!