Carnivorous Plant keeping -anyone here tried it ?

macabethiel · 12-01-2019, 23:04

Now that I have managed to get Orchids to live and thrive for several years I have decided to have a go at keeping some of the Carnivorous Plants.

I started by buying a small Sarracemia type low level plant (not a full Pitcher) that came in a Kilner glass jar with a glass inlet lid to allow flys to enter - it was in the B&Q sale at £4.00. It was the best of a dying bunch so I have started by feeding it with Distilled Water and it has already picked up so hope it will grow. Currently being winter they are pretty dormant.

Carnivore Plant by Ted Bagshaw, on Flickr

The Venus Fly Trap was a bit pricier at £5.99 in a plastic container from local garden centre - it looks very healthy. I have planted it in a mixture of Sphagnum Moss, Pearlite & Lime Free Peat in a glass jar. I have quite a few small black flies in our conservatory due to the various house plants so am hoping they will be enough to feed them.

Venus Fly Trap by Ted Bagshaw, on Flickr

Any tips from members who have kept/grown such things would be welcome. I did try a Venus Fly Trap about 40 years ago but killed it using tap water - no internet back then so did not know that water with minerals was a killer.lol

scrumpydude · 12-01-2019, 23:44

We have a few Venus fly traps here and some sticky something or others. Only advice we've been given is to keep them moist (pot sat in a tray of half inch of butt water) and to cut any flowers off. It would appear that growing flowers/seeds will likely be the death of the plant. Google knows.

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johnb5177 · 13-01-2019, 17:48

Like this you mean.........

https://youtu.be/SfcPnul77T8

macabethiel · 13-01-2019, 23:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnb5177

Like this you mean.........

https://youtu.be/SfcPnul77T8

I need to learn on the tame versions first the one above is only for experienced house plant keepers !

Banshee · 14-01-2019, 00:05

Awesome thread, can't wait to see how you do with these

PCr_1 · 14-01-2019, 23:05

I have a couple of Sarracenia (pitcher) and Sundew (sticky) plants to protect various plants in the greenhouse. From memory the recommnedation was to keep them wet from spring to autumn and moist in a cold greenhouse over winter but protect from frost or freezing. Easier said than done here and last year I "double" insulated them in a storage box and they all survived. I also have a venus fly trap but that seems to catch more slugs than flies! Maybe the others are doing too good a job!
I bought mine from Matthew Soper who has a wealth of information (and plants) on his website.
The pitcher plants look brilliant (in a bizarre sort of way) when they are fully grown.

macabethiel · 15-01-2019, 01:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCr_1

I have a couple of Sarracenia (pitcher) and Sundew (sticky) plants to protect various plants in the greenhouse. From memory the recommnedation was to keep them wet from spring to autumn and moist in a cold greenhouse over winter but protect from frost or freezing. Easier said than done here and last year I "double" insulated them in a storage box and they all survived. I also have a venus fly trap but that seems to catch more slugs than flies! Maybe the others are doing too good a job!
I bought mine from Matthew Soper who has a wealth of information (and plants) on his website.
The pitcher plants look brilliant (in a bizarre sort of way) when they are fully grown.

I too like the look of a full Pitcher Plant where they hang down like ornaments from the mother plant. That's for the future if I can source one locally.

I like unusual stuff, I have a "Stag Horn Fern" that in the winter hangs in our Conservatory though I have to move it for the summer to stop the leaves from burning. I have tried to keep them a number of times over the last 25 years or so they always died after about a year. It is only in the last 3 years that I have kept one going it has grown really well.

I planted my current Stag Horn Fern in a lined wire basket with a layer of Sphagnum Moss using Orchid Medium not any soil. I only water it when the leaves start to droop then I fully immerse/soak it and then let it drain. In the winter this lasts about 8 weeks in the summer usually every 3 weeks or so depending on how hot it gets. The main fonds are a good 12-15" in length.

Terrano Steve · 15-01-2019, 07:42

Many years ago I had a Venus fly trap, I probably killed it with tap water as I didn't know any better.

elty001 · 15-01-2019, 08:39

My eldest daughters had a couple of venus fly traps years ago.
They kept them going for a good few years.
A combination of the right compost and water was all they used.
The water they used came from a small nature pond we had in the garden.
They eventually lost interest in them and they died off.

12-01-2019, 23:04	#1
macabethiel Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Derby Vehicle: Freelander & Jeep GC 3.0 Posts: 4,416	Carnivorous Plant keeping -anyone here tried it ? Now that I have managed to get Orchids to live and thrive for several years I have decided to have a go at keeping some of the Carnivorous Plants. I started by buying a small Sarracemia type low level plant (not a full Pitcher) that came in a Kilner glass jar with a glass inlet lid to allow flys to enter - it was in the B&Q sale at £4.00. It was the best of a dying bunch so I have started by feeding it with Distilled Water and it has already picked up so hope it will grow. Currently being winter they are pretty dormant. Carnivore Plant by Ted Bagshaw, on Flickr The Venus Fly Trap was a bit pricier at £5.99 in a plastic container from local garden centre - it looks very healthy. I have planted it in a mixture of Sphagnum Moss, Pearlite & Lime Free Peat in a glass jar. I have quite a few small black flies in our conservatory due to the various house plants so am hoping they will be enough to feed them. Venus Fly Trap by Ted Bagshaw, on Flickr Any tips from members who have kept/grown such things would be welcome. I did try a Venus Fly Trap about 40 years ago but killed it using tap water - no internet back then so did not know that water with minerals was a killer.lol

14-01-2019, 00:05	#5
Banshee Moderator Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: West Midlands Vehicle: 04 2.7 SWB Terrano II Van Posts: 13,526	Awesome thread, can't wait to see how you do with these __________________ Moderator 04' Terrano II SE 2.7 TDi SWB Commercial in Silver - Project Thread Toyo Open Country M/T 33's on 10J Steels, Super Strong Steering Job Navara D22 Snorkel, Front LOKKA, Maunal Hubs, EGR Blank TunitII ECU Chip, 3" Body Lift, 2" Suss Lift, Heat Exchanger Black Interior, 3.0 Borg&Beck Clutch, Eckes Heated Fuel Filter 99' Y61 Patrol GR SE 2.8 TD6 LWB in Blue/Silver - Project Thread Engine Transplant - In Progress!!!

14-01-2019, 23:05	#6
PCr_1 Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Yorkshire Vehicle: Now Have 3L SVE Terrano Posts: 35	I'v got a few... I have a couple of Sarracenia (pitcher) and Sundew (sticky) plants to protect various plants in the greenhouse. From memory the recommnedation was to keep them wet from spring to autumn and moist in a cold greenhouse over winter but protect from frost or freezing. Easier said than done here and last year I "double" insulated them in a storage box and they all survived. I also have a venus fly trap but that seems to catch more slugs than flies! Maybe the others are doing too good a job! I bought mine from Matthew Soper who has a wealth of information (and plants) on his website. The pitcher plants look brilliant (in a bizarre sort of way) when they are fully grown.

12-01-2019, 23:44	#2
scrumpydude Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: South West Vehicle: 2002 Teranno 3.0 Posts: 161	We have a few Venus fly traps here and some sticky something or others. Only advice we've been given is to keep them moist (pot sat in a tray of half inch of butt water) and to cut any flowers off. It would appear that growing flowers/seeds will likely be the death of the plant. Google knows. Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

13-01-2019, 17:48	#3
johnb5177 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Swansea, S.Wales Vehicle: 02Terrano II 3.0 SVE Auto Posts: 1,586	Like this you mean......... https://youtu.be/SfcPnul77T8

15-01-2019, 07:42	#8
Terrano Steve Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: South west Vehicle: Terrano Posts: 522	Many years ago I had a Venus fly trap, I probably killed it with tap water as I didn't know any better.

15-01-2019, 08:39	#9
elty001 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Aflreton,Derbyshire. Vehicle: 2000se+ 2.7tdi terrano II Posts: 6,832	My eldest daughters had a couple of venus fly traps years ago. They kept them going for a good few years. A combination of the right compost and water was all they used. The water they used came from a small nature pond we had in the garden. They eventually lost interest in them and they died off.