I am a newcomer to carnivourous plants and in fact plants as whole so I
am doing things very much by trial and error. I've only killed a few!
Drosera Alicia (I think that was what it was called. RIP) and a Venus
Flytrap. But I have been a little more successful lately.
I have always had an interest in all of natures wonders crocodiles and
earthquakes, tropical storms and Venus Fly Traps. I never believed that I
would be able to buy a Venus Fly Trap but then my fianc\351 told me of a
place in Oslo that sold them and bought me my first CP. It died quite
quickly, no where like enough light I think.
I then found out to my great surprise that amoungt the peas and potatoes
in one of my local supermarkets, Obs, and local plant butikk I could get
Drosera and Pinguicula amounget others, eventually came a few Nepenthes.
All plants in the plant shop are just labeled Dionea; Pinguicula and
Drosera alike except the Nepenthes which are all marked Nepenthis
Hybrid!! Not very helpfull. The best plant not a CP is labeled "Green
plant in a pot", the sad thing is it is completely true. It appears that
everything is imported from Holland and I have now got little signs that
tell me I have Drosera adelae, Drosera capensis, Pinguicula moranensis, a
carnivourous plant!! and Dionea muscipala. In addition I have a
Pinguicula vulgaris, and all 3 varieties of locally occuring Drosera
(Sundew/(Soldogg))in Norway. The one which has the sign "A carnivourous
plant" is a Pinguicula with quite small tight rosette 1-2cm dia., flowers
that are pretty pink and about 5cm high, I'm sure it is common but I
would like to know what it is?? It has produces lots of babies in the
last weeks (are these the gemmae that I read about??). The Nepenthes are
very low growing with quite wide leaves about 10cm long max, the pitchers
are light green and patterned with brownish marks, the pitchers are about
5 cm long and have a pretty red rim, it produces new pitchers quite often
in quite a dry atmosphere and eats flies by the pitcher full. I spray it
once a day (and yes I do use rain water!!). Another Nepenthes I found has
quite long thin leaves and is growing upwards quite quickly, it has only
two pitchers, dirty brownish with no pattern and about 4 cm long narrow
compared to the length. Any clues to the taxingly named plants would be
welcome????
I recently got very keen and bought a 79L fish tank and planted
everything (except the Nepenthes) in it and put two 23W energy saving
flourescent lights over it. The light and humidity seem to be helping the
plants a lot and the Drosera are nice and gooey and produce lots of new
leaves. BUT, out of what I mentioned I have what can I leave in over
winter and what should I put in the fridge??? The Pinguicula vulgaris has
lost it's leaves and has just a little bud in the middle, is this the
winter bud??
Any help for a complete begginer will be used enthusiastically, I enjoy
reading the daily mailings and now I'm hooked there is no going back.
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All the best
Andy Bill