re:Sundew won't accept insects

From: Paul V. McCullough (pvmcull@voicenet.com)
Date: Mon May 17 1999 - 17:17:28 PDT


Date: Mon, 17 May 1999 20:17:28 -0400
From: "Paul V. McCullough" <pvmcull@voicenet.com>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg1717$foo@default>
Subject: re:Sundew won't accept insects

Amy,
        There's a couple of reasons why any CP won't catch or digest bugs...
often it can be that the plant is in shock and is adjusting to it's new
environment. Or, it could be mishandling at the place you bought it- I
always buy my CP from Home Depot when they're newly arrived before HD
starts watering them with tap water- always deadly to CP.

One question: are there little droplets of glue on the end of the Sundew
trap tentacles? If not, the sundew isn't healthy and probably needs
higher humidity (A must for dew glue)- and either distilled water or
rain watering. Also, you say it's a round leaf sundew- is that
capillaris or rotundifolia? Both of these are very active sundews as
far as twisting around prey, but there are some Sundews (adelae comes to
mind) that barely move with prey.

Here's one thing you CAN do to feed your plants- go to the local pet
store and pick up some freeze dried blood worms. Sprinkle a few onto a
trap- if it's a d. capillaris or rotundifolia, the trap should fold over
the bloodworms within a few hours. Any freeze dried bugs will do as long
as they aren't too big. Caution: don't buy any old fish food as these
often contain corn starch and other bready ingredients that give CP
tummy aches. :)

Good luck,
Paul

-- 
Paul V. McCullough
Webpage: http://www.voicenet.com/~pvmcull



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