Tuesday, January 08, 2008

More carniverous plant action! Because this is the year of "more", then I should acquire more carnvierous plants! These are from Hirt's Gardens off Ebay...and as you can see the plants were packed well...

....look at this lovely venus fly trap!
Um...this plant was supposed to be a pitcher plant, nepenthes , but they sent me another venus fly trap! (I have since tried to contact them about this and not having any luck.) But it is pretty, and the same price as the pitcher plant I wanted.
And check this out-they're hungry! Aww...poor ladybug...not! (Actually, I mean to say Asian Lady Beetle.)
As for this ladybug, she got away later. Probably just as well; I've read that if the fly trap cannot fully close then the plant can have problems with bacteria getting into the trap, even causing death to the plant. (I wasn't too worried though, I'm sure that sort of thing happens in nature now and again anyway.)
Don't they all just look cute together? Now I just need a nepenthes and my indoor carniverous collection will be complete for now.
After all, I want to be sure I'm not a "carniverous plant serial killer" before I collect too many of these. Fingers crossed...so far, so good!

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

You may already have the book The Savage Garden by Peter D'Amato--if not, check your local library to see if they have it (if they don't, they can most likely get it through Inter Library Loan). Good reference, and Peter's a nice guy (I bought some plants from him a few years ago). One of the things he told me was really important is to use the right water. If you can collect rainwater that would be good, or he recommended the filtered water that you can get from vending machines that dispense it into your own jug. Wait till these guys start blooming, you'll really love them then!

lisa said...

Thank you for the info! Lots of people have recommended that book to me, and I certainly WILL read it. I am using distilled water for my carn's so far...very excited to see them grow!

Gardener of La Mancha said...

I miss my nepenthes. Had it for a long time, but died of thirst a couple of years ago. Do you have a glow light over these or just a window nearby?

chuck b. said...

Ah, the venus flytrap! The very icon of a carnivorous plant. I remember when they had commercials for these on TV when I was a little kid. Once upon a time, there were two things I wanted very much: a venus flytrap, and a pet rock. I never got either one.

My family tried to tell me, "it's just a rock!" and I was all, "No it's not! It does tricks!"

The nursery I shop at sells venus flytraps... I suddenly feel, in the Year of More, that it's kind of strange I don't have one.

lisa said...

Gardener of LaMancha-I'm sorry for your loss, I mean that in all seriousness! I have them in a soutwest facing window, mostly morning sun. but I have a project on tap for the weekend to get a seriously south facing spot set up, likely with a sheer over the window all day. I'm trying not to fuss too much, yet keep an eye on them for signs of unhappiness.

Chuck-Oh hell yea, you need a venus fly trap (or two!) Absolutely never too late to fulfill your own fantasies/dreams/wishes...dammit! I mean, why not? At worst you waste less than $10 and kill an innocent plant. I'm guessing it won't be the first time...but you know: if it doesn't sting a little bit once in awhile, then you're not doing it right, eh? Nothing ventured, nothing gained...all that crap...right?

Marvin said...

Glad you're having great fun celebrating the Year of Moe, but aren't you concerned about upsetting the ecological balance of your neighborhood by introducing all these carnivores? :-)

Unknown said...

Lisa, I've BEEN to Hirt's! They used to have a nice sized store in Strongsville (a Cleveland suburb) with interesting annuals, organic herbs, etc... but then they moved and are doing a lot more online, too. Nice establishment.

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

What do you mean awww...poor ladybug... not! :-) Ladybugs are our friends as they munch on all the aphids. Glad the ladybug got away!;-)

lisa said...

Marvin-Heh...luckily my little ecosystem has plenty of bugs to go around.

Kim-Their online store seems nice too. I was a bit upset that I didn't get the nepanthes I ordered, but they are corresponding with me on the matter at least.

Yolanda-I kinda mis-spoke, as these are Asian lady beetles, which are not native to this country. And although they eat some pests too, they also invade the house every fall. Plus they bite and smell bad if you just touch them. So to my carniverous buddies, I say "Get em'!"

MrBrownThumb said...

Awesome collection of little guys. I've got a little nepenthes at HD the other day.

Keep your eyes peeled closer to spring and you may see them in HD I've even seed them at a drug store called Walgreens.

lisa said...

Wow, I never would think to look there! And Walgreens...we have those. Thank you, I will keep my eyes peeled for local bargains!

David (Snappy) said...

Hi Lisa,One of my unblogged projects is growing some Venus flytraps from seed.I have collected a little rainwater, made the pot they are growing in a mini greenhouse.Its been about three weeks and no sign of any growth yet.It says wait for between 4 to 6 weeks.I hope my plants can get up to yours size!Go and find a Pitcher plant..
Go Packers too :)

lisa said...

That's so cool Snappy! Be sure and post pics when they germinate!