Things You Need to Know about Carnivorous Plants
Carnivorous plants are very unique plants; they survive in environments and through mechanisms totally different from common plants, how do they do this? For this reason they can be able to survive in environments that other plants can't thrive such as areas with thin soil or lack nutrients say rock outcroppings and acidic bogs. With the use of sealable glass containers which can be opened for maintenance and to access the plants inside (terrariums) one can be able to raise carnivorous plants at home. Carnivorous plant can be grown at home say in a terrarium but requires some care by feeding them and understanding their survival mechanisms.
Since carnivorous plants from mycarnivore.com survive by trapping and obtaining nutrients from their prey it is only right we first understand this trapping mechanism. It may be a flypaper trap which uses sticky mucilage or a pitfall trap where the prey is rolled in a leaf containing a pool of digestive enzyme or bacteria. There are also those with bladder traps which operate like a vacuum, Pitfall trap where the prey is rolled in a digestive enzyme containing leaf or a Snap trap that utilizes rapid leaf movement. Depending on whether movement helps in catching the prey these plants can be classified as active or passive trappers.
Passive and active trappers
Active trappers show movement when catching their prey. The Triphyophyllum for example is passive flypaper trap whose leaves produce mucilage but neither do they move or grow when catching a prey. The Venus Fly Trap, Bladderwort and Butterwort are other active trapper species.
The passive trappers do not move to catch prey. A typical example is the Triphyophyllum, also has a flypaper trap, but it is passive and so its leaves produce mucilage but don't respond to catching a prey by any movement or growth. The Triphyophyllum is passive flypaper whose leaves secrete mucilage but they do not grow or move in response to catching the prey. Check out this collection of my carniovore plants.
Taking care of your carnivorous plants
In your terrariums it is for the best you only keep a single species in each of them. The special care and attention one particular species need may lead to the death of the other plant. For your first terrarium the best choice will be a Venus fly trap. If it is your first terrarium then I would advise you go for this plant. Avoid using potting soil or fertilizer as it usually derives its nutrients requirements from the insects it eats, contrary to this you may end up killing the plant.
You first need to choose a bowl for your terrarium before mixing sand, perlite or pumice with sphagnum or peat moss half by half in it. I repeat again, potting soil is a big "NO". The water you use should be distilled, don't use tap water to water the plant. Activating the flytrap more the five to six times can end up killing the plant. This plant likes the sunlight so make sure your terrarium is placed in a well lit room or outdoors. When feeding them use small insects such as baby crickets but not hamburger meat. Beware of the number of times you activate the flytrap, doing it often can end up killing it. If you want to know more, go to the site at http://www.ehow.com/facts_7687710_venus-flytrap-characteristics.html.
Carnivorous plants are very unique plants; they survive in environments and through mechanisms totally different from common plants, how do they do this? For this reason they can be able to survive in environments that other plants can't thrive such as areas with thin soil or lack nutrients say rock outcroppings and acidic bogs. With the use of sealable glass containers which can be opened for maintenance and to access the plants inside (terrariums) one can be able to raise carnivorous plants at home. Carnivorous plant can be grown at home say in a terrarium but requires some care by feeding them and understanding their survival mechanisms.
Since carnivorous plants from mycarnivore.com survive by trapping and obtaining nutrients from their prey it is only right we first understand this trapping mechanism. It may be a flypaper trap which uses sticky mucilage or a pitfall trap where the prey is rolled in a leaf containing a pool of digestive enzyme or bacteria. There are also those with bladder traps which operate like a vacuum, Pitfall trap where the prey is rolled in a digestive enzyme containing leaf or a Snap trap that utilizes rapid leaf movement. Depending on whether movement helps in catching the prey these plants can be classified as active or passive trappers.
Passive and active trappers
Active trappers show movement when catching their prey. The Triphyophyllum for example is passive flypaper trap whose leaves produce mucilage but neither do they move or grow when catching a prey. The Venus Fly Trap, Bladderwort and Butterwort are other active trapper species.
The passive trappers do not move to catch prey. A typical example is the Triphyophyllum, also has a flypaper trap, but it is passive and so its leaves produce mucilage but don't respond to catching a prey by any movement or growth. The Triphyophyllum is passive flypaper whose leaves secrete mucilage but they do not grow or move in response to catching the prey. Check out this collection of my carniovore plants.
Taking care of your carnivorous plants
In your terrariums it is for the best you only keep a single species in each of them. The special care and attention one particular species need may lead to the death of the other plant. For your first terrarium the best choice will be a Venus fly trap. If it is your first terrarium then I would advise you go for this plant. Avoid using potting soil or fertilizer as it usually derives its nutrients requirements from the insects it eats, contrary to this you may end up killing the plant.
You first need to choose a bowl for your terrarium before mixing sand, perlite or pumice with sphagnum or peat moss half by half in it. I repeat again, potting soil is a big "NO". The water you use should be distilled, don't use tap water to water the plant. Activating the flytrap more the five to six times can end up killing the plant. This plant likes the sunlight so make sure your terrarium is placed in a well lit room or outdoors. When feeding them use small insects such as baby crickets but not hamburger meat. Beware of the number of times you activate the flytrap, doing it often can end up killing it. If you want to know more, go to the site at http://www.ehow.com/facts_7687710_venus-flytrap-characteristics.html.