Carnivorous Plants

JustThisOnce · 20-06-2009, 04:50 PM

I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had trouble with them. I tried several times to grow them from seed as well and only once did something happen end even then it never made it past the shoot. I'm just not good with plants.

slazanger · 20-06-2009, 06:16 PM

as long as we dont end up with this!

OfOneEarth · 22-07-2009, 03:44 PM

Venus fly traps- Place out of direct sunlight, and water ONLY with rain water, tap water does them no good, I have no idea why.

Alexandra · 23-07-2009, 10:20 AM

I bought a venus fly trap about a month ago and amazingly for me, it is not dead yet! I've fed it a few flies which have been eagerly "swallowed" and it has even been flowering.

To the person who asked how to get theirs to eat, I just swat a fly, put it into the jaws, then gently poke the hairs with a pen to trigger the jaws to close.

Mike · 23-07-2009, 01:00 PM

I have just planted mine - one thing it does say in the book is that each "trap" has a limited number of closes as each time it weakens them. Also it does backup the comment about not giving them tap water. It recommends leaving tap water for 48hrs first

Alexandra · 23-07-2009, 01:05 PM

I hadn't heard about the tap water thing so that is what I had been giving mine. I suppose it must depend to some extent where you live, as tap water can vary so much.

I'll switch to rain water from now on though!

Phil · 24-07-2009, 08:02 AM

Venus flytraps probably come from an acidic area. Tap water contains a lot of limestone (depending on how hard your water is), and that is quite alkaline. Therefore you'll reduce the acidity of the soil if you use tap water too much. If you have a Brita filter then it should be fine though I think; I know when I use the Brita water in the kettle it stops the limescale from developing.

OfOneEarth · 24-07-2009, 08:21 AM

Ah, you might be on to something there; rain water is always mildly acidic, the result of nitrous oxide and sulphur in the air.

I doubt a Brita filter would alter the pH of tap water however.

Phil · 24-07-2009, 08:26 AM

It does take out the limescale though which should help stop the water evaporating to leave behind some alkaline limescale. I know that my orange tree perked up when I switched from tap to Brita... then again, I do live in London where our water tastes awful.

OfOneEarth · 24-07-2009, 08:35 AM

I'm not sure tap water per se tastes too great. I suppose by the time sewage has been treated, filtered through a pebble bed and put through aerobic activation, treated with sulphuric acid and then hit with chlorine to kill off the microbial load, it isn't going to taste too great.

Then it has to come down steel, copper or even lead pipes before you drink it.

Of course where I live the water is full of chalk and lime. Kettles, washing machines and power showers have no chance.

22-07-2009, 03:44 PM	#13 (permalink)
OfOneEarth Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South of the M4 Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Venus fly traps- Place out of direct sunlight, and water ONLY with rain water, tap water does them no good, I have no idea why. __________________ 'The act of putting into your mouth what the earth has grown is perhaps your most direct interaction with the earth'

23-07-2009, 10:20 AM	#14 (permalink)
Alexandra Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: West Sussex Posts: 57 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	I bought a venus fly trap about a month ago and amazingly for me, it is not dead yet! I've fed it a few flies which have been eagerly "swallowed" and it has even been flowering. To the person who asked how to get theirs to eat, I just swat a fly, put it into the jaws, then gently poke the hairs with a pen to trigger the jaws to close. __________________ Green People: Organic skin care, sls-free shampoos and paraben-free products for all the family.

23-07-2009, 01:00 PM	#15 (permalink)
Mike Big Boss Man! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Swindon Posts: 808 Thanks: 76 Thanked 35 Times in 30 Posts	I have just planted mine - one thing it does say in the book is that each "trap" has a limited number of closes as each time it weakens them. Also it does backup the comment about not giving them tap water. It recommends leaving tap water for 48hrs first __________________ Cheers Mike Do your bit, invite your friends here! Follow us on Twitter - Organiclinker Have you tried our: Veggie Trumps \| Food Miles Calculator \| Egg Tracker \| Book Store ...no? why not?

23-07-2009, 01:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
Alexandra Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: West Sussex Posts: 57 Thanks: 0 Thanked 6 Times in 5 Posts	I hadn't heard about the tap water thing so that is what I had been giving mine. I suppose it must depend to some extent where you live, as tap water can vary so much. I'll switch to rain water from now on though! __________________ Green People: Organic skin care, sls-free shampoos and paraben-free products for all the family.

24-07-2009, 08:02 AM	#17 (permalink)
Phil Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Camden, London Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Venus flytraps probably come from an acidic area. Tap water contains a lot of limestone (depending on how hard your water is), and that is quite alkaline. Therefore you'll reduce the acidity of the soil if you use tap water too much. If you have a Brita filter then it should be fine though I think; I know when I use the Brita water in the kettle it stops the limescale from developing. __________________ Phil Rae NetInspired - Website Design and eCommerce Solutions

20-06-2009, 04:50 PM	#11 (permalink)
JustThisOnce Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had trouble with them. I tried several times to grow them from seed as well and only once did something happen end even then it never made it past the shoot. I'm just not good with plants.

20-06-2009, 06:16 PM	#12 (permalink)
slazanger Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 189 Thanks: 3 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	as long as we dont end up with this!

24-07-2009, 08:21 AM	#18 (permalink)
OfOneEarth Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South of the M4 Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Ah, you might be on to something there; rain water is always mildly acidic, the result of nitrous oxide and sulphur in the air. I doubt a Brita filter would alter the pH of tap water however. __________________ 'The act of putting into your mouth what the earth has grown is perhaps your most direct interaction with the earth'

24-07-2009, 08:26 AM	#19 (permalink)
Phil Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Camden, London Posts: 44 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	It does take out the limescale though which should help stop the water evaporating to leave behind some alkaline limescale. I know that my orange tree perked up when I switched from tap to Brita... then again, I do live in London where our water tastes awful. __________________ Phil Rae NetInspired - Website Design and eCommerce Solutions

24-07-2009, 08:35 AM	#20 (permalink)
OfOneEarth Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: South of the M4 Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	I'm not sure tap water per se tastes too great. I suppose by the time sewage has been treated, filtered through a pebble bed and put through aerobic activation, treated with sulphuric acid and then hit with chlorine to kill off the microbial load, it isn't going to taste too great. Then it has to come down steel, copper or even lead pipes before you drink it. Of course where I live the water is full of chalk and lime. Kettles, washing machines and power showers have no chance. __________________ 'The act of putting into your mouth what the earth has grown is perhaps your most direct interaction with the earth'

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