Question
I've always bought my carnivorous plants live, but I received a kit, as a gift, in which you grow everything from seed.  In addition to the Venus Flytrap seeds, the kit contained seeds for 3 types of Sundew (D. capillaris, D. filiformis-tracy, D. intermedia), and 7 types of pitcher plant (S. rubra-wherryi, S. purpurea-venosa, S. psittacina, S. minor, S. leucophylla, S. flava, S. alata).

My question is about the validity of the directions given. They indicate that I should be spraying all the plants with a diluted fertilizer (suggests Miracid) as soon as the plants first appear, and even to continue doing it if I'm not hand feeding them bugs.  SO -- Fertilize or not to Fertize, that is the question!  Thanks for the time you spend on this , it's appreciated!

Answer
Hi Kathleen,

This is actually valid, but go easy!  If one has to choose to fertilize or not fertilize, to not is always safer with carnivorous plants.  Light foliar fertilization can be very beneficial to the pitcher plants and flytraps, and will speed growth of small plants.  It's overkill on the sundews.  Sundews catch tiny insects even as seedlings.  Use no more than 1/4 teaspoon of fertilizer per gallon of water, and spray no more than once every two weeks during the growing season.  Don't fertilize during winter dormancy.

The bigger fish you have to fry so to speak, is just getting the seeds to germinate.  All of the seeds you have will need stratification (cold, wet period) except for the flytraps and Drosera capillaris.  The good news is that this is just the right time of year to sow them to have them germinate this spring.  Visit our caresheet pages at http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets for both plant care info, and seed germination guide.  Also, patience is needed for growing carnivorous plants from seed.  The Venus flytraps and Sarracenia will take 4-5 years to reach maturity from seed.  The sundews will take about two.  Drosera capillaris is your fast one.  It's usually considered an annual.  It will grow, bloom and die in one year after dropping seed.


Good Growing!

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