Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 11:34:59 -0600 From: "John Green" <HPJGREEN@ihc.com> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2319$foo@default> Subject: Re: VFT didn't make it.
Jay Ritchie wrote:
>I posted over a week ago about buying a mini-terrarium
>that contained a VFT, Pitcher, Ping, and Sundew with moss
>only. After reading the very excellent response, I followed
>the instructions the best I could; giving each plant it's own
>pot with the appropriate potting. I ended up putting the VFT
>in a peat/vermiculite mixture where the plant promptly turned
>black. This is my 5th VFT in the past 10 years, and they all
>die within 2 months. The nearby greenhouse said that is
>typical for the VFT. What am I to do to establish a beautiful
>healthy plant?
Having killed a number of VFTs and other assorted CP I can relate to
your problem. I'd recommend not babying the plant too much. I think a
simple mixture of peat/sand or peat/perilite will probably be fine for
your plant the next time you try one. Pot it up in a 5" or 6" pot and
put it on a sunny windowsill, using common sense and adjusting it to the
new environment gradually, of course. Then just keep it watered with
rain or distilled water, watering from the bottom and filling the tray
when it dries out. I've found that the less I fuss about my plants the
better they seem to do overall, or maybe I've just learned to relax a
little more. Realize also, that many times the plants you buy from the
stores are pretty stressed to begin with, and may be already in the
process of dying. Try buying them from someone on the net, like Dean
Cook, and you'll get better quality plants. And at $2.50 each (I think)
they're a lot cheaper than in the stores (around here they're about
$7.50 each) and you could buy several to increase your chances of
success. Maybe you could let us know where you are and your local
conditions and someone could give better advice.
John Green
Salt Lake City, Utah
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