Question
QUESTION: Can you please take a look at these photos and tell us what you think is growing and is on top of the soil?

I guess the main concerns are:
-what are the "white" like dots on top of different parts of the soil?
-what is the "green" like fuzzy stuff that is spreading around the top of the soil?

The soil mixture we used was "perlite" and "peat moss".

If you could please take a moment and look over the photos and explain what is happening and what we need to do in order to correct the problems.

Click to visit link: Venus Fly Traps pictures from gardens photos on webshots

OR http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/577708602elJWnF?vhost=home-and-garden&

Thank you again VERY much and hope to hear from you soon!

ANSWER: Hi Marc,

Yes, the white dots are perlite.  It's common for the peat moss to wash away and expose the perlite.  This occurs in our pots too.  It's not a problem at all.  

The green stuff is a combination of algae and moss (non-sphagnum).  The top soil will develop this, particularly the algae, when the pot is kept in low light conditions.  I see this a lot in greenhouses.  

Since you didn't state how you're growing your flytraps, I can't really provide any specific recommendations.  Ideally the plants should be outside in full sun.  At our nursery, we grow our flytraps outdoors, and we never see this problem with algae.  We only see it in plants growing in the greenhouse.  Even then, it's rare since we also provide a lot of intense lighting in the greenhouse.

The algae and moss don't pose a problem for the plant.  They only pose an aesthetic problem.  If you want to remove them, simply scrape off the top layer and refill with fresh soil (peat moss and perlite).  To prevent this from happening in the future, make sure to grow the plants outdoors in full sun.

For more info and growing flytraps, read the care sheet online:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Jacob,

Thank you for explaining!  I live in Indiana.  At the moment I have them growing under a few grow lights INSIDE the house.  I am waiting for it to warm up outside before I put them outside.  I have them ALWAYS sitting in distilled water.  I sometimes use a spray bottle and mist them.  Would you recommend misting them or just having them in the water is good enough?

Someone mentioned to me that I should try using "Play Sand/Horticulture Sand" in place of the "Perlite".  Does it really matter?

Also, I have a "Akai Ryu" and I am not sure if it is dying or what is going on with it.  I receieved it with 2 traps and one of them was open while the other was closed.  I did notice that it did have a growth coming from the center of the plant but then over the weekend it turned black along with one of the traps.  So I was wondering if there is a way to tell if it is dying or dead or how I can save it?

Lastly, is this the correct fungicide to get "Safer?Brand Garden Fungicide, RTU"?

Thank you again VERY much!

ANSWER: Hi Marc,

Misting tends to be of little benefit, to carnivorous plants or any other kind of plants for that matter.  I can sometimes be of more harm than good since it causes the relative humidity to see-saw up and down making it hard for plants to adapt.  Instead, do more top-watering of the pots which helps to aerate the soil, and minimizes the algae build-up.

Play sand and horticultural sand can be great as long as the sand doesn't contain limestone.  This would be most likely if you lived in the midwest.  Perlite isn't a problem unless you're using Miracle-gro or Shultz brand which contain fertilizer.  If that's what you used, it would explain the heavy moss/algae growth, and why your "Akai Ryu" isn't looking so good.  If your not sure of the sand, and you can't find generic perlite, see if you can get a bag of sandblasting sand at a big-box store like Home Depot or Lowes.  That is pure silica and great for cp.

I looked at your pictures and your Akai Ryu may be slowly sucombing to low light, lack of dormancy, and the possible fertilizer issue.  They tend to be more sensitive to soil minerals and fertilizer than the regular forms.  Try transplanting into fresh media.  All of them would benefit from that if you used the above mentioned perlite.

For the fungicide, this does look like the right product.  I went to their website to look, and just make sure it's the "Garden Fungicide" and not the 3 in 1 product.  The 3 in 1 has insecticidal soaps that are harmful to many carnivorous plants.
Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hello Jeff,

Thank you!

The brand of "Perlite" I am using is "Espoma Organic Perlite".  I don't think that there is any type of fertilizer in it.
This is the site : http://www.espoma.com/im/im_pottingmix_07.jpg

I will stop misting the plants.  But just to clarify about the watering...you suggest to water from the top INSTEAD of using the TRAY METHOD -OR- Continue using the tray method but also water them from the top?

Thank you again!

Answer
Marc,

I couldn't get any data on the brand of perlite you're using.  However, we've found that when products are sold in small bags such as this, they often contain fertilizers or contaminants.  Keep in mind that the packaging is done at a facility that also packages fertilizer, compost and gardening soil.  We get our perlite directly from the company that produces it.  It's likely that other companies purchase their perlite and repackage it.  

So if you want to be really safe, either get the perlite in large bags (4 cu. ft) or switch to sandblasting sand (silica sand).

Top watering is appropriate if you're keeping your plants indoors. Top watering will help flush out algae and fungal spores.

I also checked your weather in Indiana. I'm not sure why you're waiting for the weather to warm up.  It's perfectly fine to bring your plants outside.  We grow our flytraps exclusively outdoors in Oregon.  You also have our DVD and e-book, so hopefully you got to see how we grow our plants and the type of weather they can withstand.  As Jeff mentioned, lack of sunlight (indoor growing) is the number one reason why flytraps die.  While you have them under grow lights, the plants still don't look all that good.  The lighting has to mimic the strength of full sun (10,000 lumens).

Jacob Farin