Basin's carnivorous plants

[basin79]

Yeah, good point--the bigger the insect, the more it folds. The plant is very clever about resource allocation, and I have no idea how it can tell how much to fold the leaf.

Must work on a similar principle to a VTF's hair triggers I'd have thought. Stimulation sends signals and the more stimulation to the stalks the more signals and response.

 

[Ferrachi]

Now I have to see f I can source one of these plants here...

 

[schmiggle]

Now I have to see f I can source one of these plants here...

D. capensis is both trivially easy to find online and relatively easy to grow. You just need very high light, peat, silica sand, and lots of distilled water. Quick google search to find care info and plants for sale. VFTs are trickier to grow, and Cephalotus is quite challenging.

 

[basin79]

D. capensis is both trivially easy to find online and relatively easy to grow. You just need very high light, peat, silica sand, and lots of distilled water. Quick google search to find care info and plants for sale. VFTs are trickier to grow, and Cephalotus is quite challenging.

Or rain water. Plenty of that here in the UK.

 

[Ferrachi]

D. capensis is both trivially easy to find online and relatively easy to grow. You just need very high light, peat, silica sand, and lots of distilled water. Quick google search to find care info and plants for sale. VFTs are trickier to grow, and Cephalotus is quite challenging.

Thank you... I'll see if I can find some online

 

[schmiggle]

Or rain water. Plenty of that here in the UK.

Good point. Never had an opportunity to set up a mechanism to collect rainwater--parents didn't like the idea, and have lived in dorms and apartments since moving out, so it's not something I've thought a lot about. It's a great idea, though, even if it's just to supplement, because it's much more environmentally friendly.

 

[basin79]

Good point. Never had an opportunity to set up a mechanism to collect rainwater--parents didn't like the idea, and have lived in dorms and apartments since moving out, so it's not something I've thought a lot about it. It's a great idea, though, even if it's just to supplement, because it's much more environmentally friendly.

I just bought a dustbin, cut a hole in the lid and then cut the downpipe down that comes off a lean-to roof. I don't have loads of plants so even when it doesn't rain as much in summer I've always got at least 60 litres or so.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Good point. Never had an opportunity to set up a mechanism to collect rainwater

Gutters work great.

 

[basin79]

Gutters work great.

Yep. It's ridiculous how much even a small roof collects. Lean-to is maybe 7 foot long by 4ft wide and filled the bin really quick when I first set it up. Obviously here in the UK it does rain a fair bit but still surprising.

 

[schmiggle]

Gutters work great.

I was always afraid of pollution in the gutter. The one at my parents' house has peeling paint, and the exposed parts are really rusted. Don't want to introduce lots of dissolved metals.

 

[DomGom TheFather]

Yep. It's ridiculous how much even a small roof collects. Lean-to is maybe 7 foot long by 4ft wide and filled the bin really quick when I first set it up. Obviously here in the UK it does rain a fair bit but still surprising.

I have a 55 gallon rainbarrel that gets fed from just the roof over my porch. I water everything from it.

I was always afraid of pollution in the gutter. The one at my parents' house has peeling paint, and the exposed parts are really rusted. Don't want to introduce lots of dissolved metals.

If they're really bad, I could see the concern. I have aluminum gutters. Never had any issues. My well water on the other hand will kill sensitive plants in just a couple weeks. It's really hard water run through a sodium softener.

 

[scolopendra277]

how long do sundews take to germinate after potting?

 

[basin79]

how long do sundews take to germinate after potting?

I've no idea. @schmiggle might know though.

 

[schmiggle]

how long do sundews take to germinate after potting?

Depends on the sundew, but if it's a subtropical or tropical variety I wanna say it's a few weeks. Stratification takes a bit longer. How long has it been? Usually people don't wait long enough before freaking out that their seeds are all dead.

 

[scolopendra277]

I haven't got them yet, but i'm planning to. right now I only have flytraps.

 

[basin79]

Got a few pics today.

Sundew caught a little moth.


2 leaves touched as I was moving the pot.

 

[basin79]

 

[basin79]

Had the camera out so some grabbed some pics.

Drosera binata var. multifida

 

[basin79]

Same plant as above. Even though the moth has dusty wings it didn't help it here. You can see from the top the dust stuck to the plant and then carries on as the moth would have struggled.



And part of the leaf just because.

 

[basin79]