Question
Two quick questions on Dionaea- In your online CD it is stated that you can trick the trap cell walls in to engorging by touching ONE TRIGGER HAIR a day, goal being to amp up the appearance of the plant. Darwin states that the traps can be anesthetized with the introduction and saturation of ether, but doesn't state if the cells enlarge or if the trap will close after the plant "awakes" from its anesthesia... Do the hairs or cells retain this "knowledge?"

I have a cupped Dionaea and it seems to let most of its prey (large and small) slip through. as the trap closes the cilia seem to meet in a tee-pee shape instead of cross thatching, this seems to inhibit the trap from closing around its victim fully. With this species being so close to the soil I'm afraid to use my fertilizer spray to amp it up as it is in the bog with S.minor, S.moorei, and Drosera ?ssp. but don't want the chemical residue leaching into the soil, concentrating it as the water fluctuates and running the chance of killing my bog garden.

Thanks Guys
GoodGrowing

PS: please get new SPAM Guard

Answer
Hi Deryk,

This topic is getting into some pretty heavy-duty biochemistry.  It's a little out of our league.  Quite a few papers have been written on research into this subject, so you may need to do so searching of botany/science journals.  The International Carnivorous Plant Society, particularly Dr. Barry Rice would be a good resource on this subject.  His website is http://www.sarracenia.com/

As long as your not applying your fertilizer by the bucket, your other plants will be fine.  Just apply a light spray to the leaves of the flytrap and not other plants.  Be sure to top-water the bog garden, and this will leach away any residual fertilizer.

Good Growing!

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