kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833 
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Post by kskatt on Aug 9, 2016 21:04:08 GMT
Anybody have experience with Venus Fly Traps? There are more flies around than I have ever seen before and look forward to watching them be eaten. I've gotten good instructions, so I think I've got that covered, I hope  . I would just love to hear first hand experience. Maybe you've run into things that don't get covered in "instructions" This could be fun! I will take pics. |
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mistersmom
Junior Member
Abita Springs, LA
Posts: 3,749
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Post by mistersmom on Aug 9, 2016 23:56:31 GMT
I think I remember buying one for Shane when he was little. If I remember correctly, they were really easy to care for and fun to watch catch things.
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Aug 10, 2016 1:10:37 GMT
The instructions sound easy and the place I'm buying from says it's easy. I'm just so fed up with the flies, and gnat like things, I want to watch them die! I usually only feel that strongly about mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and people that abuse kids/animals.
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nhg
Junior Member
Posts: 2,429
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Post by nhg on Aug 10, 2016 4:32:13 GMT
When we had our own place in the country we used those fly bags that have a smell to them and the flies go in and can't get out. I didn't think they smelled that bad and I have a really sensitive nose. Anyway, they end up with hundreds of flies in them and really make a difference. A Venus fly trap would be cool but I doubt they'd eat enough to make much of a difference.
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Aug 10, 2016 7:39:17 GMT
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Post by horselady on Aug 11, 2016 0:12:06 GMT
All I remember of those plants is when i had several of them growing up i had to feed them ground meat because we did not have that many flies in the house.. but if it will work for you than let us know how your plants are doing and if they really will cut down the fly population.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Aug 20, 2016 0:23:40 GMT
There is a company that sells them and there are dozens of kinds and sizes I never knew could even exist! Amazing isn't it?
So ksat (that's the term for hydraulic conductivity through a saturated soil so that's my nickname for you) did you buy some plants??
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Aug 20, 2016 4:54:26 GMT
The window I could really use them in isn't as sunny as these plants need. Four Venus Flytraps three Pitcher Plants. I lost (killed) one Venus Flytrap already. It would be best to find a place, local, that sells them. Shipping causes an awful lot of stress, not sure I'm doing too well at helping them recover. I did go to a garden store for the special moss that's best, I mentioned the ads saying these are easy plants. The man looked over at his wife, they shared a raised eyebrow look, then he said "they said that, did they?"
I have moved two plants outside and the rest to a sunnier window. We'll see.
I did buy a Bat house. It's been quite awhile since we had the bat get in the house, but it shows there are some in the area. I'm very happy to have some here to eat bugs. Probably work better than the plants, but I will not have bats in the house; plants yes, bats no.
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Aug 20, 2016 12:06:59 GMT
Flytraps and pitcher plants are adaptations to extremely high acid and low nutrient environments. They get all of their nutrients from decomposing bugs. Peatbogs are the most wonderful places in the whole world!!!! I did my MS thesis in one! So of course it makes sense how to provide the ideal conditions for them! Make your own bog rather than the tropical plant model of plant care!!! Duh! Lol
Put only peat in a pot and really pack it in there. Water it from the bottom up. Don't put fertilizer in the water but do let it sit out to volitilize off chlorine or what have you and store it in a pitcher of peat. I'm not sure how to figure out how much to water them but you can no doubt Google that. Then when you do water it you can replace the peat water from the outgas pitcher of water.
One of my concerns is getting the peat to pack to duplicate the bog soil so it doesn't dry out too fast
This is all about duplicating the soil and water regime of a bog. I wish I could bring you guys out for a bog tour back at the Marcell Experimental Forest, so utterly magical.
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Aug 22, 2016 5:10:04 GMT
 , how would I make my own bog? I'm going to have to research bogs, not sure I really know what one is.  My instructions were to only use Sphagnum moss in net pots, standing in a tray of water. The water needs to be rain water, distilled or osmosis. I do have osmosis in the kitchen. That the plants only eat live bugs, according to him nothing else is good for them. One fly lasts a long time and if there aren't bugs the plants slow down until there's another bug. I'm sure there has to be a limit to that! |
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hugs
Junior Member
Posts: 2,647
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Post by hugs on Aug 22, 2016 12:37:17 GMT
My explanation of pushing peat into a pot will probably accomplish the same thing as hanging a net. That though is a clever idea and probably easier to get the moisture balance. Bogs are watered bottom up and because peat has such an incredibly high water holding capacity it can take in a lot of water so prewet the peat before you plant. I'd give myself a few days to figure it out, like how deep the net in the water and how often to replenish the water. In a real bog you can squeeze a handful of wet peat and never get any water out but if you were to dry it out in an oven you'd end up with nothing.
A clay pot would slow down evaporation through the sides and take up water slower from the bottom than the net. Perhaps when they suggest a net it was trial and error that suggested the net over a pot? The idea is the same.
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kskatt
Junior Member
Posts: 833
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Post by kskatt on Sept 23, 2016 6:11:21 GMT
I guess I don't have a green thumb with the carnivore plants. One does have, what looks like, some new growth. I haven't totally given up!
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. I would just love to hear first hand experience. Maybe you've run into things that don't get covered in "instructions"
, how would I make my own bog? I'm going to have to research bogs, not sure I really know what one is.