Question
I asked a question earlier (http://www.allexperts.com/user.cgi?
m=6&catID=711&qID=4767246) and made the corrections as indicated. Now
the Cobra Lily is dead; the butterwort seems to be dying, and the Pitcher
Plant is doing OK, but not as well as it was. There is a 'frosting' on the new
growing medium that resembles powdered sugar.

I am at a loss as to the next step. I really want to start this hobby, but I am
getting discouraged with results.

Please advise/help...

Answer
Hello Robert,

Since I do not know what corrections were made to the growing setup (I do not see any previous information regarding your first question in my list of answered questions) I will have to ask for a followup with more information pertaining to what you had set up before, what happened, what was done to correct it, and what happened as a result.

From your description, it sounds like mineral buildup on the soil surface from hard water. If the water you are using on your plants is hard, contains minerals, it will drastically sour the soil and cause illness and death in most carnivorous plants.

Make sure to always use distilled, reverse osmosis, or rain water that has not been softened by salt nor has had any minerals added as with what is called drinking water.

Please send me a follow up with more information so I can help you with more depth.

Christopher