Re: Doing it right

From: wim.leys@vlaanderen.be
Date: Mon Feb 10 1997 - 05:08:48 PST


Date: Mon, 10 Feb 1997 14:08:48 +0100
From: wim.leys@vlaanderen.be
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg535$foo@default>
Subject: Re: Doing it right


    =20
     Hi Muhammad,
    =20
     A VFT is an easy plant to grow, but it requires a few special=20
     conditions :
    =20
     1) Soft water (rainwater, distilled water, ...)
     2) High humidity (big tray filled with 2 cm water under the pot) When=20
     the humidity is too low, the tiny traps on emerging leaves become=20
     brown.=20
     3) Wet soil ( " " " )
     4) Acid, open (not compact) and poor (low in nutrients) soil. (The =20
     composition I use is : 2 parts peat, 1 part washed coarse sand, 1 part=
=20
     sieved pine-needels and 1 part perlite (expanded aluminium silicate,=20
     looks like white grains of a volcanic stone). If you don't have=20
     perlite, you can replace it with more sand). A FVT grows in everything=
=20
     (pure Shagnum, pure peat, ...)=20
     5) A dormant period during the winter (cold (0 C - 10 C), dry tray,=20
     lower humidity)
     6) A growing period during early spring (March) till late autumn=20
     (October - November) (warm, tray with 2 cm water, high humidity)
    =20
     These conditions apply for most of the non-tropical CP's like=20
     Sarracenia's, Darlingtonia, Drosera's ...
    =20
> I just bought a Venus fly trap at a recent plant exhibition. I have
> had it for about a week already. Right now I notice that some of
> the leaves have got dark brown patches on them. Some traps also
> have these brown patches. I think the leaves are dry. I water the
> plants every day and leave at least a half centimeter of water in
> a tray I leave the pot in.
    =20
     You have recently bought your plant. That could mean that your plant=20
     was forced to grow during winter (if you are living in the Northern=20
     hemisphere). It is possibly now going into a dormancy period. The=20
     leaves will change color : green -> yellow -> brown -> black.=20
    =20
     On the other side you say that the leaves are dry, that could indicate=
=20
     that the rootsytem is damaged. Check the roots of your plant, perhaps=20
     they are attacked by something. If so, clean up your plant, use a new=20
     pot and a new soilmixture and repot your plant.
    =20
     Yet, the best way is to go back to the shop and=20
     a) swap your plant for a healty one or
     b) ask your money back and wait until spring before buying a new=20
     plant.
    =20
    =20
     Wim Leys
     Belgium



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