Carnivorous plants, do not provoke!
I’ve recently moved my carnivorous plants out of the greenhouse onto a table outside. People seem to either love them or hate them. Obviously I love them but I can see how they would produce shudders from more sensitive souls. I tend to grow the easy ones, Dionaea muscipula (Venus Fly Trap), Drosera (Sundews), Sarracenia (Pitcher plants) and Pinguicula (Butterworts).
They don’t need feeding and as long as they stand in rainwater (or soft water) they are happy. Many like sun though a few like some shade. They all gain their nourishment from catching insects. Surprisingly the plants cannot obliterate all the members of the insect kingdom that they come in contact with. For example, new growth on pitcher plants can be damaged by greenfly - would you believe it!. Sometimes I think aphids lead a charmed life. Other insects are more susceptible to the lethal temptations that the plants can offer.
A Venus Fly Trap has caught a hoverfly. Each trap opens and closes about three times before it dies off. This is why they should never be needlessly provoked into closing by poking them with a pencil etc - I know, I know, we’ve all done it as children. Now we must restrain ourselves.
All carnivorous plants can survive on very few insects but they don’t refuse any that fall into their various traps. Not all small creatures are victims. Some actually utilise the plants to catch prey for themselves. Here a spider has webbed over a pitcher to catch insects before they fall into the trumpet. Neat!
Some of the plants can be troubled by snails. In this picture one has eaten its way inside and apparently fallen asleep. I have seen a wasp fall inside and then eat its way out. Others have not been so lucky. Soon the plants will start flowering and will look even more fascinating.
6 comments
I am fascinated by carnivorous plants. Who wouldn’t be? I have bought some in small pots for my grand children; and some for myself!
What an interesting post! I never knew that about Venus Fly Traps. My son, needless to say, loves them. I think they are particularly appealing to the more bloodthirsty children!
Trudi - They are fascinating aren’t they.
Mrs Be - Yes there is a touch of The Little Shop Of Horrors about them.
Will try to post on your blog but I usually use Name/URL option which you haven’t got. I’m sure I’ll find a way eventually.
Your photos are brilliant and capture the essence of these unique plants.
Its nice to see that plants can get their own back on snails. I will certainly be back to see these plants flower.
I tried to keep a Venus fly trap alive without much luck are some varieties more hardy than others?
Kristi - I think an ordinary shop bought one is as tough as you’re going to get. I keep mine outside in the summer and put it back in a frost free green house once frosts threaten. It could come indoors if you can give it a period of coolness so it can “rest”.
Obviously it must stand in water during the summer and the traps shouldn’t be made to close or the plant will become exhausted and die.
Good luck if you try again
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