Re: Feeding CP's

dave evans (T442119@RUTADMIN.RUTGERS.EDU)
Mon, 30 Jan 95 23:21 EST

> I would be interested to know how other people are feeding their CPs.
> Presently I am sporadically spraying my drosera with Peter's 20-20-20
> diluted 1/2 tsp/gallon. The seem to respond to the spray with movement as
> if they had caught some gnats. I do not fertilize my Sarracenia or
> cephalotus. Should I? I also have 2 VFT that I feel should be fed but I
> do not know what to give them. The red variety has 1 inch traps, the
> green variety has 1/2 to 3/4 inch traps. What size traps does everyone
> else have and what are you using for food? Someone ealier mentioned
> around 5 forms of VFT but I have only heard of the two above. Could
> someone elaborate on the others? Thanks for the help.
>
> John Rising

I feed all my CP (Heliamphora, Sarr., Darlingtonia, Drosera,
Nepenthes, Cephalotus) a solution of fertilizer at 1/3 the
recommended strength. I do try to avoid fertilizer with extra
calcium or copper as I have heard that these are poisonous to
Heliamphora. I recently tried an "experiment" of increasing the
strength of the solution; at about 50% recommended dose the
Cephalotus began to suffer, and at about 66% the Heliamphora
also began to suffer (leaves were browning early). I should
mention that I increased the strength over a period of six or
seven weeks, I honestly believe that the plants would have been
damaged much more if started on the higher doses right off the
bat. I DID NOT include Drosera in the experiment and I also do
not feed them that often. In the past I have introduced pebble
sized pieces of fertilizer 20-20-20 right in the pitchers of
adult Sarr. Purpurea without ill effect. I never feed the plants
by spray, I have but that seems to benefit the moss (not
sphagnum) more, but with an eyedropper. The amount being placed
on/in a plant can be easily controlled.

Dave Evans