Care Instructions
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Quick and easy basic care guide for most carnivorous plants
Constant Moisture:The mini greenhouses provided with the "Bugout" will provide ideal conditions. Alternatively the plants can be kept in shallow water trays where water levels are maintained at less than 1" depth to give them "wet feet and dry ankles". Carnivorous Plants and their companions are native to bogs and wetlands with nutrient poor soils and high humidity. In nature, Carnivorous plants are often found upon tussocks which are surrounded by water.
Pure Soil:Carnivorous plants have evolved and adapted to environments absent of minerals in the soil and water. In the wild, these conditions limit the competition and allow carnivorous plants to thrive where most plants cannot. The substrate upon which they grow is most often a mix of peat moss & sand. Typically a ratio of 1 part peat to 1 part sand is a suitable mix for most carnivores. Beach sand is NOT an option as it often contains residual salt or minerals. Pearlite
can be substituted for sand. Rice hulls & coconut husks (coir) can be combined for a more sustainable mix. Feeding:Since native carnivorous plants live in mineral poor soils, they have adapted to this environment by using their ability to trap and digest insects as their source for nutrients. In an outdoor setting, carnivorous plants will capture insects on their own. However, in an indoor environment, it would not hurt to feed them insects.
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Pure Water:Carnivorous plants need pure water and do not tolerate water with dissolved minerals (i.e. "bottled water, tap water, de-ionized, or softened water are not acceptable). Mineral free, pure water is available as rain water, distilled water,
snow melt, water from a dehumidifier, or dripping from an air conditioner. DO NOT FERTILIZE as carnivorous plants acquire nutrients from feeding- just like us! High Light Levels:Most carnivorous plants grow best in full sun. In nature, many are found in open sunny areas that are often disturbed by fire, beavers, or mankind. Red coloration is maximized in full sun. 6-8 hours a day is the minimum required for flowering. A bright sunny window or under fluorescent grow lights will also work.
Dormancy:Most carnivorous plants we offer are hardy perennials and thus require a dormancy period of at least 30 days at 40 degrees Fahrenheit. All of the Sarracenias are hardy down to at least a zone 6 and can overwinter unprotected in outdoor in-ground bogs. Dormancy starts when light and temperatures start to decrease in autumn. During dormancy plants do not need light and the soil needs only to be damp. A garage, protected porch, or refrigerator are all acceptable methods of overwintering hardy potted carnivorous plants.
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