I've been experimenting with indoor growing as of late due to problems outdoors. I really think I may live in an environment that is too extreme for carnivorous plants. Gulf coast, Texas. Summer temps are often over 100 and humidity can be 85+ with that temperature. I put my plants out in full sun... And they burn. Clearly they don't mean my full sun. If the sun doesn't get them, the rain might. It pours so hard all my plants droop, Venus fly traps close, and sundews run all their sticky goo to the ends and drip off. If they survive that, there is wind! Oh, yes, wind that blows hard enough to lift a 5 pound wooden planter box and throw it right into... You guessed it, my plants.
So that covers weather, let's cover nature. Frogs seem to love my plants. I go outside and find 3-4 stomping and jumping around in them. On my VFTs. If its not frogs, its caterpillars, worms or other large insects eating them. Something took a bite out of a closed fly trap and when it opened, it now has a big hole through the top :/ looks like that same something took a few bites out of my capensis x spatulata hybrid too.
So I tried growing indoors. My humidity is pretty high even inside- up to 60%- so I figured I could just get a 4 bulb, 4 foot t5 light, put them near a window, and give them that dual effect and it would work. Well, it kinda does... For some things. Most of my plants after almost a week now show signs they don't like it. Losing dew, some drying, etc. I don't know if its the heat or not enough humidity. My temp reader says it can be up to 85 right now due to AC problems. But surely that's not too hot? A lot of you guys enclose your plants completely with lights way closer than mine and they don't burn. I haven't figured out how that works yet.
So, now I ask for advice. What should I do here? I don't have a lot to spend. Right now, I have nothing to spend really. I guess my best option Is still outside, but I really think its just too unpredictable out there. Is there some sort of meshing or plastic box I could use? Anyone have any plans for something that will let in light, but be cool and resist insects and rain? I don't know of anything like that.
Thanks for any advice. I'm frustrated.
So that covers weather, let's cover nature. Frogs seem to love my plants. I go outside and find 3-4 stomping and jumping around in them. On my VFTs. If its not frogs, its caterpillars, worms or other large insects eating them. Something took a bite out of a closed fly trap and when it opened, it now has a big hole through the top :/ looks like that same something took a few bites out of my capensis x spatulata hybrid too.
So I tried growing indoors. My humidity is pretty high even inside- up to 60%- so I figured I could just get a 4 bulb, 4 foot t5 light, put them near a window, and give them that dual effect and it would work. Well, it kinda does... For some things. Most of my plants after almost a week now show signs they don't like it. Losing dew, some drying, etc. I don't know if its the heat or not enough humidity. My temp reader says it can be up to 85 right now due to AC problems. But surely that's not too hot? A lot of you guys enclose your plants completely with lights way closer than mine and they don't burn. I haven't figured out how that works yet.
So, now I ask for advice. What should I do here? I don't have a lot to spend. Right now, I have nothing to spend really. I guess my best option Is still outside, but I really think its just too unpredictable out there. Is there some sort of meshing or plastic box I could use? Anyone have any plans for something that will let in light, but be cool and resist insects and rain? I don't know of anything like that.
Thanks for any advice. I'm frustrated.