New Member Barbara Ling

Carlstrom_Rick (Carlstrom_Rick%P-AME-HQ.CCBRIDGE.SEAA.mrouter@seaa.navsea.navy.mil)
14 May 96 12:41:00 EST

I would not plant all of these in the same terrarium. I would
Separate the Drosera's, Dionea's, Sarracenia's and Darlingtonia into
separate containers so that there individual needs could be addressed.


I would especially be careful with the Darlingtonia. Where do you
live? How hot does it get in the summer. Darlingtonia usually die if
there roots get too hot (above around 65 degrees F). I keep mine cool
with a circulating refrigerated water system. For this reason my
Darlingtonia is grown indoors while my Sarracenia's, Dionea's and
Drosera's are kept outdoors. (I live in Northern Virginia USA). You
can probably keep the Darlingtonia cool by watering it 2-3 times a day
with ice water and keeping it in a basement for the hottest part of
the summer.


Be sure to use the correct soil mix and don't skimp on the pot size
for the Sarr's. For indoor growing I've gotten the best results with
4-tube fixtures, not two

I have found that VFT likes sandier soils than most literature
indicates. I use 60% sand 40% sphagnum peat moss. On the subject of
peat moss make sure you do not buy Hyponex Peat moss. I used it and
it killed several plants. Supposedly Hyponex is Sedge Peat that has
been "fortified" as opposed to plain Sphagnum Peat moss.

My Darlingtonia's are all planted in live sphagnum. Since you can
get a fungal infection from sphagnum be careful in handling it (use
gloves). There is more about this on the WEB.

You should also get at least two books on CP. One of my favorites
is the Schnell book "CP of US and Canada"? It is out of print but can
still be found from mail order places and it is cheap ($5-$10).
"Carnivorous PLants of the World" written by the infamous owner of PPN
is also a good book.


PS Get an electronic light timer not a mechanical one. The
mechanical ones have short life spans. The electronic ones have no
moveing parts, are silent and should last forever.