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Does anyone else here like carnivorous plants

post #1 of 19
2/17/10 at 7:08pm
Thread Starter 
As the title states, does anyone else have this hobby? I grow Dionaea muscipula or venus flytraps. I have a couple of them a sawtooth and a B-52 division. I also grow napenthes which are tropical pitcher plants. I love them to death and think they are probably the coolest things in the world, next to audio equipment. Here are some pictures:



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post #2 of 19
2/17/10 at 7:20pm
I've never had the chance to see one in person.

I've always been mildly curious as to whether or not they can cause any sort of harm to a human... Do their digestive chemicals pose any harm if you stuck your finger in their mouths? Also, how tight is the clamp that their mouths have?
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post #3 of 19
2/17/10 at 7:21pm
Cripes, you should resize those pictures!

But yes, on topic I did have a Venus flytrap many years ago. I used to bring it dazed or dead flies and watch it close on their bodies.

I forgot why it died one day, but it was a great plant to have around the backyard.
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post #4 of 19
2/17/10 at 7:30pm

Feed me Seymour!

Nice plants.
Do they get all of their nutrient intake from the insects they eat or do you have to fertilize them too?
I guess they reproduce from the root rather than flower and seed?
Kinda creepy.... they move so quickly... very unplant-like.
.
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post #5 of 19
2/17/10 at 7:58pm
Thread Starter 
They cannot have ANY fertilizer, all their nutrients come from insects. In fact they have to be watered either using rain water or reverse osmosis water. Any additonal nutrients or minerals will kill them. The only other thing that will kill them is letting them flower.
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post #6 of 19
2/17/10 at 9:33pm
I think carnivorous plants are awesome. Last year I had a problem with these tiny flies that came in with contaminated soil with a small plant, so I bought a very small group of young/small venus flytraps. Unfortunately, the flies were small enough to escape through the cracks in the "jaws", so the flytraps starved and died. The temp/humidity in the apartment probably didn't help them either.

I'd love to get some carnivorous plants, as long as they'd be fed and I learn how to care for them. Of course, that means I would probably need to have some sort of flies in my apartment, which I do not want..
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post #7 of 19
2/17/10 at 10:08pm
I love carnivorous plants. I had them all throughout high school and college. My favorites were the flytraps as they were usually the easiest to take care of. Once I got out and began working full time and had kids, I did not have as much time, so I gave them to my school's biology department.

Anyway, alysony is on the money with care tips: pure water, no fertilizer, and do not let them flower. In addition, the soil should always be damp and direct sunlight in arid climates is a death sentence in many cases. The bulbs should also be put into the veggie drawer in the refrigerator every winter to simulate the natural climate they come from is you want them to last a long time (5+ years).
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post #8 of 19
2/17/10 at 10:09pm
What / how do you feed your traps?

Are there bugs which are more nutritious, "health food"?
Do fire ants give them indigestion?
How about vegetarian fly traps? Tofu traps.. Now that's a weird thought.... hmm...
.
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post #9 of 19
2/17/10 at 10:34pm
does each stem die after it catches a fly? why are there dead stems among the living?
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post #10 of 19
2/17/10 at 10:38pm
Thread Starter 
I leave them outside unless there is a bug problem. Also they feel cute wen the traps close on your fingers they don't have a lot strength. They are very cute though.
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post #11 of 19
2/17/10 at 11:54pm
I enjoy my carnivorous plants with a light vinegarette dressing and a nice Chianti.
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post #12 of 19
2/18/10 at 12:16am
I try to stay away for fear of being eaten. Now who is that girl in your avatar?
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post #13 of 19
2/18/10 at 12:20am
I feckin' love carniverous plants. Theres few things that are more delicious when served up in a nice white wine and cream sauce with mushrooms and some diced bacon.


Oh wait. This is about cultivation?


Hohhohoohoho. Can you tell I'm bored?
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post #14 of 19
2/18/10 at 1:04am
What dou mean when u say, "let the, flower"
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post #15 of 19
2/18/10 at 1:33am
They're pretty cool. I wanted to raise one before, but I've forgotten about that for a while. Is it costly to raise them?
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