carnivorous plant question
the bugs are coming in and it’s super annoying >:( ive been thinking of getting a sundew or a pinguicula (bc those are my fave carnivores) but i’m a bit concerned about what to feed them once the seasons get colder and bugs aren’t as common anymore? i saw some people on Reddit saying they feed them fish flakes, small shrimp etc. but i’d like some input from you guys too!! i also don’t have the time to go catch bugs to give to the plant so i need a substitute food for them. thanks in advance!!
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You actually don't have to feed them. They prefer to catch their own food. I know my VFT has gone dormant over the colder months and bounced right back when the cold days end.
I'd ask @Kanteen about his sundews. My kiddo picked out a Venus Fly "Squid" and it's still new to us so I can't tell you much about it.
I'd ask @Kanteen about his sundews. My kiddo picked out a Venus Fly "Squid" and it's still new to us so I can't tell you much about it.
@sarahsalith oo they look so cool!! thank you- and how long can they take dormancy? the weather tends to be quite unpredictable here, so winter months can be longer or shorter than anticipated
@BehattedLlama ah ok!! that’s good to hear :) how often would you have to feed them (provided there’s no bugs for like an extended period)? do you have to do anything special to wake them up from dormancy when it gets warmer?
@strawberrymoon I know here in 7b (where we say: if you don't like the weather, wait a minute- it'll change!) in December, I thought it was dying. In January I moved a plant in front of it because I didn't want Joey to see it. By February, it was green again and by the beginning of March, it was good as new!
I also have a pitcher plant that catches wasps that come inside. 👍👍
I also have a pitcher plant that catches wasps that come inside. 👍👍
@sarahsalith oo that’s great!! yall helped me realize they’re less difficult than i thought lol, i might get a pinguicula bc they look like slightly weird succulents and would probably blend right in with my suc children ^^
Yes!!! I definitely did not regret adding pinguicula and sundew to the family. But it does matter what kind of bugs you have. Pinguicula's expertise are the fungus gnats, so if you have other bugs, it might not work as well. Sundews also do fungus gnats, but they also catch small flies that are attracted to that dew.
As for fertilization, I don't think it's necessary. In the colder seasons, the Pinguicula turns into a succulent and its petals become non-carnivorous. BUT, if you really are out of bugs in the summer, you can give them a gentle cactus fertilizer spray on the petals.
As for fertilization, I don't think it's necessary. In the colder seasons, the Pinguicula turns into a succulent and its petals become non-carnivorous. BUT, if you really are out of bugs in the summer, you can give them a gentle cactus fertilizer spray on the petals.
@strawberrymoon they look like they came straight out of a sci-fi movie! I love it!
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