Sunday, March 31, 2013

Carnivorous Plants Update

All of my carnivorous plants are doing well on the retro dentist tray "bog"...
 
 
                        ...especially the sundews!

 
Very dewey!



My biggest, oldest tropical pitcher plant didn't respond to being cut back like I'd hoped, and the cut section died.
 
Luckily the smallest new pitcher plant fared much better.


I'm usually hesitant to trim off dying pitchers too, in case they're still "digesting something" and contributing energy to the plant...

...but they look crappy, so these three had to go.

I decided to lob off the big dead section as well...
 
 
....much better!
 

Lots of cute new pitchers being formed in this spring growth spurt...
 
...very cute!



                                                   Different shapes, too...


....all evolving to serve their purpose....

 
...as bug traps to feed mama. I wonder how the water gets in there?
 
 
According to this link they produce their own fluid if growing conditions are right. Guess my humidifier is doing it's job-also indicated by this flytrap happily sending up a bloom spike. Yay!

 
These three newer tropical pitchers had me concerned by just kinda surviving over the winter...



...but now they're beginning to produce some pitchers!

                       Very exciting!


Especially since an earlier effort dried up.


Hopefully they stay happier this time (I mean, it is spring after all :)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I saw my HD had some pitcher plants for $10 and I resisted the urge to buy one. Now I see your post and think it must be a sign that I was meant to buy one!

Garden Broad said...

Absolutely! I've really enjoyed the pitcher plants, and my big one put out fist-sized pitchers when I put the plant outdoors in the summer (indirect light in the screen house). I think the pitchers are bigger because it can trap bigger bugs during the summer. If you get one please do a post! :)

Anonymous said...

Man...those things are beautiful!! Ain't nobody gonna say you can't grow carniverous plants like a pro!! You da man!
V.

Garden Broad said...

Aw thank you! Three cheers for dumb luck :)