Question

My Plants   QUESTION: My E-mail =

Also, did I say they don't like the humidity? If so then I shouldn't have. I just meant they don't need high humidity, which is what everybody on the internet thinks they need to survive and thrive. I've seen more people kill their plants by giving too much humidity rather than too less and heard about such occurrences as well from various experts on this site.

So were you saying not use my peat moss and sphagnum moss together? Just use my 100% peat moss to plant my plants so mold doesn't grow? I've never planted anything in pure sphagnum moss, so I'm wary of how they'd do. I think my Nepenthes I got from a nursery was planted in this, but I'm still not sure as it's firmly packed together and not like the dead sphagnum moss I bought in a bag.

I just don't have enough lighting to put temperate carnivorous plants in the terrarium, unless it be just in their pots so I could bring them outside for full sunlight when it warms up. My sundews and butterworts seem not to need as much light, which is a good thing for me.

I wish I could get more lighting and have it like you said yours is set up like, but I only have a 4-light, 4ft. shop light I got from Lowes with lumens adding up to 11,800. I'll show you a picture of my setup. They also receive 2-6 hours of direct sunlight, depending on clouds, via my Southeastern window during the early morning hours.

As best I can to describe all my species, I have four Drosera Capensis (Alba), 1 Drosera Capensis (Red), 2 Drosera Binata (although the baby one seems to be dying...), 1 Nepenthes but I don't know which species, 1 Venus flytrap, 1 Sarracenia Purpurea, 3 temperate Sarracenia which I also don't know what they are, 1 Drosera Burmannii, 4 Drosera Spathulata, and 1 Pinguicula Primuliflora. I hope this list helps in some way.

Thanks for your continued help on this topic!


Sundews with dew  
Venus Flytraps thrivin   ANSWER: No you don't say Venus Flytraps could not thrive with high humidity. But know many sundews need these high humidity just to get them to dew up. My main point was your mixing of all these plants you must have a level of humidity to service all your plants and the right amounts of ventilation has servied me well. You are very good at knowing the different needs of your plants and the big trick is to put it ALL together and I'm very good at that. So many think terrariums and carnivorous plants is a bad word if put together and that is just not true. I have enjoyed your photo and list of your carnivorous plants and understand where you are coming from. Your next step is a big one and can be hard moving your carnivorous plants in a terrarium. You have some carnivorous plants that will need a dormancy and be removed for five to six months a year for their rest, something you will need to plan for.  Can you move your plants up next to the light? Try to get them about five to six inches from the tops of your plants will help a lot! What's the name of the type of fluorescent tubes and wattage you are using? Maybe I can help found something better, if I get this info. Thanks again and Happy Growing and untill next time your friend Dan

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QUESTION: I'm only putting my sundews into the terrarium, as I couldn't fit all of them in if I tried, haha. Just a few Drosera Capensis, my baby Drosera Binata (if it survives, hopefully), my Drosera Burmannii, and perhaps my butterwort. I'll have to see.

And it's not so much that carnivorous plants and terrariums are a bad thing. It's just that many sites and people who don't know better say to do things that will kill, not help, your plants. The wrong soil, the wrong water, not the right amount of sunlight, not the right amount of lights, etc. For beginners, which I used to be before now since I've learned so much from the awesome experts on this site, it's better to avoid terrariums until you've researched and found out more about carnivorous plants.

GE 4FT. fluorescent cool white tubes are what I use as my lighting. I bought them at Lowes. I currently have 4 overhead. They are 1 foot away from each plant.

When I had a fluorescent light that was a lot closer, it burned my Nepenthes leaves and made them get red blotches on them. The new baby leaves seem to be faring much better since the light is now a foot away.

At this point in time I can't move them up further towards the light. Although once I get my terrarium set up those plants that are in there shall only be about 6 inches away.

Did you answer my question about the soil(peat moss, sphagnum moss) that was stated in the last question? I don't remember reading about it in your response. Did you merely mean not to mix the different soil matter, as it could cause mold/fungi? Did you mean only to use one or the other, but not to mix them?

Thanks once again for your insight!


Love My Sundews  
My Sun Pitcher Plant e   ANSWER: You have been a lot of fun to work with, and looking forward to seeing the outcome of your terrarium. So true about these other web. sites and bad info. You can really tell they have never grown carnivorous plants in terrariums before or ever, just wanting to sell you something different and so happy you are doing all the leg work first before taking this step into carnivorous planted terrarium, 'good for you and us!' Lighting too close to nepenthes will burn them true, for most don't need as much lighting as other carnivorous plants do but, I was talking about your sundews, some of your pitchers plants & your Venus Flytraps. Yes, I use only the long type sphagnum moss, and nothing but sphagnum moss, for it keeps the plants wet all the time and does not grow as much mold or as fast but things like sand, gravel, rocks, and growing mixes I hear growers selling on line.  These mixes are for potting, growing and planting for carnivorous plants not terrarium growing, for many of them have not been tested for terrarium use with carnivorous plants. All the facts I have talked about I have tested and using today with a mold free terrarium and have the thriving carnivorous plants to back it all up. I so enjoy hearing from you and hope we can work together again soon. Happy Growing, your friend Dan  

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QUESTION: I love all your photos of your plants! They look absolutely amazing and I hope by the time I have gained this information from you I can make something similar!

About you using just sphagnum moss to grow your plants in... are you sure you don't mean peat moss?

The sphagnum moss I have would never grow any of my carnivorous plants. It's too loose and my plants roots would have nothing to anchor themselves into.

However, you most likely are using a living sphagnum moss, right? I don't have that as mine is bought in a bag and could only provide a tiny layer for my 10-gallon tank. The only planting medium I have for use is peat moss which is what I have all my individually potted carnivorous plants, aside from the Nepenthes I think, in 100% peat moss. The brand is Hoffman's 100% Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss. You can find it online. That's what I've used for all my plants and have had no mold/fungi problems. (Albeit, they have not been used in a terrarium.)

I guess I'm just very confused about this sphagnum moss thing. This is the name of the sphagnum moss I currently have. "Luster Leaf 1415 Length Fiber Sphagnum Moss, Green, 224-Cubic Inch"

Below is the website's URL for what brand and other information. Hopefully this will be helpful in your assessment of it on if this is what you use or is similar to what you use.

http://www.amazon.com/Luster-Leaf-1415-Sphagnum-224-Cubic/dp/B000HHHEVY

I immensely enjoy hearing back from you on this topic and I have a feeling there will be many, many more questions heading your way in the enar future... I hope you're up to the challenge, haha.

Thanks so much for your time and knowledge!

Answer

Ceps and 'Black Knight  

Nepenthes thrive in te   Yes, you are right about the sphagnum moss, for peat moss is some what of the same thing, but I use the long sphagnum moss like the one on this web. site and you will just need to PACK it down good, after soaking in distilled water.  You can then form it in the way that looks the best for you, and eraser to add too. Peat moss is a lot cheaper for growers then using sphagnum moss I think is one of the biggest reason why it's used. I'm so sorry about the confusion, for I'm talking moss not brand names, and know I only want to give you the best info. I have used and tested! As always it's been a joy to service you.  Happy Growing and until next time your friend Dan