RE: carnivorous plants was: Clivia Golden Dragon

I have been thinking of trying some myself. This only rain/distilled
water concept is what has been stopping me.

Anyone know if my pond water would work? Thinking as I do my water
changes, this might work as the water has much nutrients, but all the
chemically added junk from the hose is gone.

I have suggested that we save rain water, but DH says I am not going to
cut the gutters to go into a 55 gallon barrel.... very stubborn on this!

Thoughts anyone?

Donna
 

> 
> Well, Bonnie, I forget how old Brenden is; know you've mentioned it,
> but it did not stick in what passes for my brain.
> 
> IMO, most kids would be fascinated with carnivorous plants and
> positive experiences with them might trigger long lasting interest in
> plants in general or related stuff.  With supervision and
> explanation, I'm sure he'd do fine with some - esp. if you're
> actually caring for it/them most of the time:-)
> 
> Not only are the habits of carnivorous plants fascinating, many of
> them are simply beautiful plants.  I have found mine to be very
> undemanding to this point.  They need cutting back in spring to
> remove dead growth and you *must* keep the soil wet; they are true
> bog plants and do not take kindly to drying out.
> 
> Besides providing rain or distilled water, you need to give them the
> proper soil, which in cultivation consists of a mix of washed sand
> and peat - either peatmoss or the preferred sphagnum peat.  Most of
> them require as much sun as you can provide - full sun is preferred
> although mine make do with somewhat less than this.  Other than the
> watering and tidying, they require no real care.  No staking or
> continuous division or fertilization.  I save rain water for them in
> a 30 gallon plastic trash can with a piece of plastic screenwire over
> the top to keep out dirt and insects.  I store it in used spring
> water jugs.
> 
> The hardy types require a cold period in winter as well.
> 
> The flowers on Sarracenia are incredible as well.  I've only got half
> a dozen sarrs and one Venus flytrap in my minibog and long for the
> day when I can increase bog size so I can have more...they're sorta
> like potato chips; you can't just have one:-)
> 
> There is lots of information on the web about building bogs for these
> plants as well as keeping them inside.
> 
> Barry Rice's Carnivorous Plant FAQ is a great place to start:
> 
> http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html
> 
> Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
> mtalt@hort.net

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