TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk
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What comes with the plant from this site?
- Thread starter TazZduDe54
- Start date
PlantAKiss
Moderator Schmoderator Fluorescent fluorite, Engl
Hi Taz
Welcome to the forums and congrats on your new plant.
First off...any questions you have about plants you've ordered you can contact the owners, Phil and Jeff, directly and ask. They will be more than happy to answer your questions about your purchases. And there are gabillions of folks here to offer you help at any time on care of your plants.
As for soil, you can't use regular potting soil. Its too rich. VFTs need a nutrient poor soil...the most common mix is 50/50 peat moss to sand. You can add perlite too to lighten the soil. Fertilizers will kill them.
Unless you ordered a bulb, your plant should arrive potted. Then all you need to do is provide the right conditions....lots of bright light or full sun, lots of pure water (distilled or rain) and good air circulation. Left alone, your VFT will catch plenty of bugs.
Hope you enjoy your plant. You will probably end up with MORE.
Suzanne
Welcome to the forums and congrats on your new plant.
First off...any questions you have about plants you've ordered you can contact the owners, Phil and Jeff, directly and ask. They will be more than happy to answer your questions about your purchases. And there are gabillions of folks here to offer you help at any time on care of your plants.
As for soil, you can't use regular potting soil. Its too rich. VFTs need a nutrient poor soil...the most common mix is 50/50 peat moss to sand. You can add perlite too to lighten the soil. Fertilizers will kill them.
Unless you ordered a bulb, your plant should arrive potted. Then all you need to do is provide the right conditions....lots of bright light or full sun, lots of pure water (distilled or rain) and good air circulation. Left alone, your VFT will catch plenty of bugs.
Hope you enjoy your plant. You will probably end up with MORE.
Suzanne
</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (PlantAKiss @ July 22 2002,02:56)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">lots of pure water (distilled or rain)[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Key to success... Do not use tap water. Distilled, rain or reverse osmosis (RO) water only to keep this baby alive.
Key to success... Do not use tap water. Distilled, rain or reverse osmosis (RO) water only to keep this baby alive.
PlantAKiss
Moderator Schmoderator Fluorescent fluorite, Engl
Hi Tazz
No, you do not need a terrarium and, in my opinion, they do best out of an enclosed space. I'm not saying you CAN'T grow them in a terrarium or tank...many people do... but you have to be careful about things like air ciruclation. I started with my first VFTs in a terrarium and they were NOT happy. But its been smooth sailing since they were put in their own pots and moved outside. They appreciate the air circulation which helps prevent m old and rot.
So...yes, you can just set them outside and "let them do their thing".
Thats exactly what I do. They are out in the sun and I keep them wet in a shallow saucer of water. They eat flies like crazy and even a few surprise things like granddaddy longlegs and bees. Sometimes I sit outside and look at them and I've seen them catch flies before my eyes.
Flytraps are not a tropical plant so they dont have the high humidity requirements some CPs have. So no terrarium is needed.
Just plop it outdoor and enjoy!
Suzanne
No, you do not need a terrarium and, in my opinion, they do best out of an enclosed space. I'm not saying you CAN'T grow them in a terrarium or tank...many people do... but you have to be careful about things like air ciruclation. I started with my first VFTs in a terrarium and they were NOT happy. But its been smooth sailing since they were put in their own pots and moved outside. They appreciate the air circulation which helps prevent m old and rot.
So...yes, you can just set them outside and "let them do their thing".
Flytraps are not a tropical plant so they dont have the high humidity requirements some CPs have. So no terrarium is needed.
Just plop it outdoor and enjoy!
Suzanne
Hey Taz,
Propogating is a bit more complicated than that
If the plant flowers you can try for seeds but these usually take a few years before that really get any size to them.
VFTs can also be propogated by leaf cuttings which is supposed to be fairly easy (I have never tried though.)
Right now I suggest you just let your plant grow and do its own thing. Once it has had a good season of growth and you are comfortable with it then you can try your hand at propogation.
For more info check out the plant care link on the PFT pages and also check out here
Good growing and welcome to the forums
Pyro
Propogating is a bit more complicated than that
If the plant flowers you can try for seeds but these usually take a few years before that really get any size to them.
VFTs can also be propogated by leaf cuttings which is supposed to be fairly easy (I have never tried though.)
Right now I suggest you just let your plant grow and do its own thing. Once it has had a good season of growth and you are comfortable with it then you can try your hand at propogation.
For more info check out the plant care link on the PFT pages and also check out here
Good growing and welcome to the forums
Pyro
