Re: Winter CP food

David K. Purks (dkpurks%unicorn%telenet@uunet.uu.net)
Tue, 3 Jan 1995 10:53:59 -0500 (EST)

All of my active cp (Drosera, Pings, Utrics, Nepenthes) are in a
large terrarium. The Drosera and Pings at least are quite happy
to be munching on an infestation of fungus gnats. The D.capensis,
D.binata, and D.adelae seem to be particularly covered with dead
bodies. I'm also misting twice a week with a solution of Miracid
and SuperThrive. It must be a good combination because all the
mature Drosera are in bloom or producing buds, the Nepenthes are
producing pitchers (except for N. x Dominni "intermedia" which
is growing new leaves but has not produced a single pitcher since
I got it in June), and the Utrics are blooming too.

As a side note about the fertilizer spray, D.trinervia seems to be
particularly sensitive to it - within a few hours of being sprayed
all of the leaves fold up or over as if they had captured a bug
and stay that way for 24 - 48 hours. It seems to be happy with it
though because it's producing leaves rapidly and looks very healthy.
Unfortunately, it's one of the few that is not blooming.

(In case you're wondering, the plants are all blooming because they
think it's spring / summer - the terrarium is heated by 4 x 40 watt
bulbs which are on 16 hours a day (mostly at night)...daytime (their
night) temps are about 45 and nighttime (their day) temps are
65-75) - this is in an otherwise unheated garage).

Dave
Northern Virgina where it hasn't snowed yet but it was 18F last night
(Brrrrrrr)