Question
QUESTION: I'm using a 65w sylvania spot-gro spot light is this good for my
 venusflytrap it is 10 1/2.in above the pot i have the light on
 for 10 1/2 hours a day inside. the plant is in a 3in pot.
 i use dis-water. I'm not shear what type of soil is in it i got it from mycarnnivore. web site. the pot is siting in a bowl with little water in it the pot hase it's owne drane bottom with water in that to about around 1/4 of water in it the pet hase no dome over it  am i doing evry thing good for it  oh i live in syracuse n,y  please let me know thank you    p.s pleas e-mail me for this thank's again.  Ed, oh and i would like to know if. hoffman canadian sphagnum peat moss is good to use for venus flytrap and schultz horticultural perlite thank you agin.  Ed,

ANSWER: Hi Ed,

The Hoffman peat moss and the Schultz perlite are fine.  Rinse the perlite with plenty of water before you use it in case it has fertilizer traces in it.

Here's how I'm going to address your other questions.  Go to our website at http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=8  Once you've had a chance to read our directions thoroughly, come back here to Allexperts for follow-up.  There's one additional step I'll need to walk you through.  These directions will be a bit different than those you may have gotten from the website you purchased your plant form.  Our directions are based on 25 years of experience growing North American carnivorous plants.  In your current set-up your Venus flytrap will be an annual, living one year, then will die.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Good Growing!

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

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QUESTION: thank you about the perlite i din't know that. your also qwick thank you. for geting back to me this soon. i do apresheate it thank you.
 um is my 65w spot-gro good to use? i have it 10 n a 1/2in. above my pet
i'm thinking on geting a 100w one thow but not sher if i should. i only live in a studio appt. so I'm limeted to what to do far as sun go's i don't get mutch sun only around 4:30 5:00 pm but not enuf for the pet so i have to gro it with spot-gro or something so i'm not sher the best light to get. thank you for helping me.


ANSWER: Hi Ed,

The spot-grow light your talking about is an incandescent light used mainly for decorative lighting on plants.  They are totally inappropriate for carnivorous plants (I cooked some plants with these as a kid) and lousy for regular plants.  What you need is a fluorescent light.  For the set-up you have a fluorescent desk lamp will work best.  Here's an example of one:  http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006U66H0/ref=asc_df_B0006U66H0870034?smid=ATVPDKIKX0D  These come in a million different shapes and sizes, but you should be able to find one that will work for you at a home improvement or hardware store.  You'll need to have it about 3 inches above the plant.  Be sure to get a timer also.  That way you won't have to turn it on and off constantly.

On a side note, as you probably read in our instructions, Venus flytraps are temperate perennials.  The are native to the U.S., and would do best as outdoor container plants in your area.  It would be a little like digging up a woodland wildflower from your area, then trying to grow it in the house.  It can be done, but only with quite a bit of effort.  Did MyCarnivore supply you with all the detailed information you needed since they sold you the plant?

Many tropical carnivorous plants are available that make great houseplants.  Visit our website at http://www.cobraplant.com to view some of these.

Good Growing!

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

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

QUESTION: yup i have a clip-on lamp that moves in eny drection you whant it to go.
thy did give me a smal 8 page book but i whent by it and it made my pet
not do so well so i'm trying difrent thing's the spot-gro is working     somwhat good oh and yes i do have a timer on it. plug in wall type
 i have it to go on at 5:00am go off at 9:30pm
i do have a flouresient light that i can ues. it hase on it 20w 2700k i'm not too sher what it put's out after it worms up thow cuse i know that it go's more then 20w. after it's on it's a scrowe in typ i can use it if it's better than spot-gro. the pet is in 3in pot. should i leave whater in the bottom or no? it has a self try on the bottom.
      THANK YOU VERY MUTCH FOR HELPING ME. Ed,  

Answer
Hi Ed,

Definitely use the compact fluorescent.  They have a much better spectral output, and they are not as hot.  Keep it about 3 inches away from your plant.  You should always have the soil wet.  A little water in the tray is good.  Be sure to use rainwater or distilled water.


Good Growing!

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