QuestionHello my name is Ernesto and I started to grow carnivourous plants such as a Venus flytrap and a Nepenthes. And I want to know what species my flytrap and my Nepenthes are and where I should grow my plants because I live in Arizona currently i have four different flytraps and i grow them in a terrarium and i have been misting them daily with distilled water and they are in a western facing window the soil I used is peat moss I feed them fruit flies when ever the traps are open.I also own a Nepenthes that I feed often with large cricketts I have a stand with my Nepenthes on it and a Pothes under neath it I also have water inside each pitcher about half full of distilled water I also mist this plant like I do with my fly trap and I would like to know what im doing wrong and why the leaves are getting wholes in them. I look forword to your response and thank you for your time.
Answer
Sarracenia and Venus F
Simple Terrarium
Hi Ernesto,
I'm going to need to give you a little homework assignment as part of the answer to your question. Go to our caresheet pages and review the information for the plants you have. Here's the link: http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=7&chapter=1&zenid=74f8343539b1
In order to help you with identification I'll need you to send a photo of your plants.
It's common for residents of the desert Southwest to assume that carnivorous plants can't grow outside of terrarium type enclosures in their climate. It's simply not true. I've included some photos from a customer of ours in Apache Junction, AZ as a testimony to that. Our volume #1 DVD has a chapter on how to set plants up for success in desert regions.
Unfortunately, to get your Venus Flytrap on the right track it's going to take drastic measures. They are full sun plants (yes, even in your climate), since it is now in a terrarium, and in low light (if it was getting full sun in the terrarium it would likely be dead already), you need to cut all the leaves off. After that place it in a full sun window, or set it up outside like in the photos. Make sure it always has some low mineral water to sit in. It will take about a month for new leaves to grow, but the new ones will be strong and able to deal with low humidity.
Your Nepenthes will not be an outdoor plant, but if you're going to do a terrarium setting, you need to do it correctly. It will require artificial light. You didn't say exactly what your terrarium was, but a simple aquarium with a two-tube shoplight sitting on top will get the job done. Window light is too dangerous since to give the plants the light they need, you would cook them.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
