Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 11:32:17 -0500 From: BREWER_CHARLES@ecomail.damneck.navy.mil To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg4688$foo@default> Subject: Re: 2 basic venus fly trap questions
Hi Jennifer,
1. I live in Manhattan and can't seem to find much food for my venus fly
traps. Is it okay to feed them little crickets? Crickets, flies, spiders, bees,
moths, worms, fruit flies, and the list goes on.
2. Should my vfts be fed at this time of the year? I don't quite
understand when, specifically, they should be dormant or for how long. VFT do
better being fed with natural foods, but not necessary all the time. I know
growers that have never fed there vft and grow them under artificial light
inside aquariums, years after year. Although, I do not recommend this growing
procedure, it can be done quit successfully. VFTs have excellent root systems
that function quit well. They will survive easily without feeding for months or
longer. They tend to grow slower, but never the less, they will grow. As soon as
you feed your vft natural food, they go through a growing stage, developing new
traps and increasing in size. If constantly fed, VFTs will produce extra plants
with the excess energy received from over feeding.
During dormancy, VFTs slow down, but open traps do function quit well. I live in
Virginia and our winters are not as sever as yours. On occasions when the nights
are above freezing, I will spot a few lonely bugs flying around the greenhouse
attracted to the light within. If lucky, I will snatch up one or two and head
for the vft section. It may take a little longer this time of year, but the trap
will close and the bug will be eaten.
I don't necessary agree with keeping vfts dryer during winter months. I don't
think it really makes that much difference to them if the plants are healthy. I
still have quit a lot of vfts growing outside, getting rained on weekly and the
soil tends to stay very wet. Inside the greenhouse, I have vfts growing in
almost every container I have. Some containers are sitting in water while others
are not. I'm just to lazy to dump the water out. I also mist/water all my
greenhouse plants weekly regardless if the weather outside the greenhouse is
freezing or not. BTW, I keep a cool greenhouse never allowing the inside to drop
below freezing. The only time I am concerned with fungal attack is right after
dividing up plants, during winter or early spring. Otherwise I don't seem to
have a problem. The main key to my success is good air movement. I keep a fan
circulating air, 24 hours a day inside the greenhouse just like mother nature
does outside. Hope this helps.
Charles Brewer
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Tue Jan 02 2001 - 17:31:16 PST