i'm writng a book and for those with all those question on how to grow cps look here
INTRO: Venus flytraps ( Dionaea muscipula ) is the most well known cp in the world . It was first described by the govenor of north carolina , Governor Arthur Dobbs . He named it flytrap sensitive and was later known as the venus flyrap named after Diana , the greek goddess of love and beauty . It was also called the Tipitiwitchet . It belongs in the family Droseraceae .
DISTRIBUTION : this plant is only native to north and south carolina but it has had sucess in being introduced in a few other states such as florida , new jersey , alabama , and northern california . It lives in roughly a hundred-mile radius from Wilmington .
TRAPPING : this plant catches its prey just like a bear trap . Insects are attracted to the red inside of the trap . The insect goes to the plant thinking that it is a big piece of red meat or colorful flower . It lands inside the trap and sucks on the nectar that is on the rim . The insect must touch the trigger hairs 2 times to stimulate the trap to close . The trap uses trigger hairs because it does not want to waste its time closing on other objects .A small electrical current runs through the trap , after that , the cells on each lobe of the trap grow making it close . Once the trap closes , the insect is stuck in there , the spikes ( also called cilia witch has been confused as the trigger hairs many times ) are used as prison bars for the bug if the trap has'nt closed completely . While the bug in the trap moving arount trying to escape it will stimulate the trap more and soon the trap will close all the way . Digestive fluids are released and the bug is digested . This is one of the most fastest moving plants in the world just like the mimosa pudica ( the sensitive plant ) which is not a carnivorous plant but it is a very interesting and amazing plant . The trap will take at least 10 days to digest , it is common for a trap to die after digesting insects because a trap can only close 3-4 times .
SIZE : this can reach 6 inches to 8 in diamter if it is properly cared for
SOIL : 50/50 peat moss and sand or perlite. Keep soil moist at all times .
CONTAINERS : plastic pots are best with a water tray included , 3-5 inch pots for single mature plants . Any color pot is ok especially white because the sun will heat up the pot if it is darker but white pots will keep the plants cool . The smaller the pot the bigger the traps but it will form less offshoots because it uses its energy to make large traps , the bigger the pot the smaller the plant but it will make lots of off shoots .
WATER : Use distilled water always , use the water tray method and ALWAYS keep it moist .
LIGHT : full to part sun , the more light the redder the traps but be careful because light from the sun may fry your plants if it is too hot .
CLIMATE : warm temperate plants , they need warm summers and chilly winters , tolerant of light frost
GROWING PLACES : greenhosue , terrarium ( must take out in winter for dormancy ) , outdoors , windowsills , bog gardens .
FEEDING : any type of bugs that are 3/4 the size of the trap , watch out for flies because they can cause fungus . NEVER FEED HAMBURGER MEAT
FERTILIZERS : NEVER USE FERTILIZERS , but if so then mist 1/4 strength of the fertilizer on the leaves , miricid , superthrive , epiphytic and orchid fertilizers can be used . fertilize only1 time a month .
HUMIDITY : 50% or more is good but it does'nt need much for healthy growing , just remember to keep the soil moist at all times .
TEMPERATURES : 70 to 95 degrees F , keep cooler in winter , they can survive short periods of 100 degrees .
TRANSPLANTING : Best done in early spring
FLOWERING : the plant produces small white flowers in spring , it is best to cut them off to save energy for the plant because it will be have a very exhausting effect for the plant .
DORMANCY : Dormancy is best done by taking the plant out of the pot on thanksgiving day , spray it with fungicide , wrap roots with peat moss or wet paper towel , put it in plastic bag , place in the refridgerator , and take out on valentines day . Remember to take off dead plant matter to avoid fungus .
PROPAGATION : Division , vft's will produce offshoots and will develop into a clumping plant if not removed , Leaf cuttings , you can pull a leaf off with its white base intact and place it on top of peat moss , it will make plantlerts on its base , Seed , when the plants flower pollinate them , when it makes seeds , sow them or refridgerate them for later use , they will germinate in a few weeks . Tissue culture is another way to proagate
TIPS : this is a very easy plant to grow , you can find them anywhere such as grocery stores , plant nurseries , hardware store , florist shops and many more places . This plant usually comes in a small plastic pot with a cup on top .Choose the healthiest plant because most of the plants are usually half dead .Most ppl say it is a plant that is impossible to grow but it is actually very easy if you give it the correct requirments . Most ppl will think these plants come from hot steaming jungles but thats not true , they come from the great USA in north and south carolina in the swamps . If you ever go there and see the plants please do not collect them , instead just take pictures , they are endangered and are being threatened everyday so if you take them from the wild that is considered poaching and if you get caught you can face up with a fine of $50,000.00 and/or 1 year in prison .Don't be worried if your plant looks dead in autumn because it just wants to go through dormancy ( sleepy time for plants ) .I recomend to cut the flower scape if it every produces one because it will save the plants energy . There are a few simple rules to follow to make this plant live , always keep it moist because its a bog plants , always use peat moss when transplanting , always use distilled water , never feed hamburger meat , always keep humid , and always have fun .
WEBSITES :
www.petflytrap.com
( this website has the best cp's in the world in my opinion )
INTRO: Venus flytraps ( Dionaea muscipula ) is the most well known cp in the world . It was first described by the govenor of north carolina , Governor Arthur Dobbs . He named it flytrap sensitive and was later known as the venus flyrap named after Diana , the greek goddess of love and beauty . It was also called the Tipitiwitchet . It belongs in the family Droseraceae .
DISTRIBUTION : this plant is only native to north and south carolina but it has had sucess in being introduced in a few other states such as florida , new jersey , alabama , and northern california . It lives in roughly a hundred-mile radius from Wilmington .
TRAPPING : this plant catches its prey just like a bear trap . Insects are attracted to the red inside of the trap . The insect goes to the plant thinking that it is a big piece of red meat or colorful flower . It lands inside the trap and sucks on the nectar that is on the rim . The insect must touch the trigger hairs 2 times to stimulate the trap to close . The trap uses trigger hairs because it does not want to waste its time closing on other objects .A small electrical current runs through the trap , after that , the cells on each lobe of the trap grow making it close . Once the trap closes , the insect is stuck in there , the spikes ( also called cilia witch has been confused as the trigger hairs many times ) are used as prison bars for the bug if the trap has'nt closed completely . While the bug in the trap moving arount trying to escape it will stimulate the trap more and soon the trap will close all the way . Digestive fluids are released and the bug is digested . This is one of the most fastest moving plants in the world just like the mimosa pudica ( the sensitive plant ) which is not a carnivorous plant but it is a very interesting and amazing plant . The trap will take at least 10 days to digest , it is common for a trap to die after digesting insects because a trap can only close 3-4 times .
SIZE : this can reach 6 inches to 8 in diamter if it is properly cared for
SOIL : 50/50 peat moss and sand or perlite. Keep soil moist at all times .
CONTAINERS : plastic pots are best with a water tray included , 3-5 inch pots for single mature plants . Any color pot is ok especially white because the sun will heat up the pot if it is darker but white pots will keep the plants cool . The smaller the pot the bigger the traps but it will form less offshoots because it uses its energy to make large traps , the bigger the pot the smaller the plant but it will make lots of off shoots .
WATER : Use distilled water always , use the water tray method and ALWAYS keep it moist .
LIGHT : full to part sun , the more light the redder the traps but be careful because light from the sun may fry your plants if it is too hot .
CLIMATE : warm temperate plants , they need warm summers and chilly winters , tolerant of light frost
GROWING PLACES : greenhosue , terrarium ( must take out in winter for dormancy ) , outdoors , windowsills , bog gardens .
FEEDING : any type of bugs that are 3/4 the size of the trap , watch out for flies because they can cause fungus . NEVER FEED HAMBURGER MEAT
FERTILIZERS : NEVER USE FERTILIZERS , but if so then mist 1/4 strength of the fertilizer on the leaves , miricid , superthrive , epiphytic and orchid fertilizers can be used . fertilize only1 time a month .
HUMIDITY : 50% or more is good but it does'nt need much for healthy growing , just remember to keep the soil moist at all times .
TEMPERATURES : 70 to 95 degrees F , keep cooler in winter , they can survive short periods of 100 degrees .
TRANSPLANTING : Best done in early spring
FLOWERING : the plant produces small white flowers in spring , it is best to cut them off to save energy for the plant because it will be have a very exhausting effect for the plant .
DORMANCY : Dormancy is best done by taking the plant out of the pot on thanksgiving day , spray it with fungicide , wrap roots with peat moss or wet paper towel , put it in plastic bag , place in the refridgerator , and take out on valentines day . Remember to take off dead plant matter to avoid fungus .
PROPAGATION : Division , vft's will produce offshoots and will develop into a clumping plant if not removed , Leaf cuttings , you can pull a leaf off with its white base intact and place it on top of peat moss , it will make plantlerts on its base , Seed , when the plants flower pollinate them , when it makes seeds , sow them or refridgerate them for later use , they will germinate in a few weeks . Tissue culture is another way to proagate
TIPS : this is a very easy plant to grow , you can find them anywhere such as grocery stores , plant nurseries , hardware store , florist shops and many more places . This plant usually comes in a small plastic pot with a cup on top .Choose the healthiest plant because most of the plants are usually half dead .Most ppl say it is a plant that is impossible to grow but it is actually very easy if you give it the correct requirments . Most ppl will think these plants come from hot steaming jungles but thats not true , they come from the great USA in north and south carolina in the swamps . If you ever go there and see the plants please do not collect them , instead just take pictures , they are endangered and are being threatened everyday so if you take them from the wild that is considered poaching and if you get caught you can face up with a fine of $50,000.00 and/or 1 year in prison .Don't be worried if your plant looks dead in autumn because it just wants to go through dormancy ( sleepy time for plants ) .I recomend to cut the flower scape if it every produces one because it will save the plants energy . There are a few simple rules to follow to make this plant live , always keep it moist because its a bog plants , always use peat moss when transplanting , always use distilled water , never feed hamburger meat , always keep humid , and always have fun .
WEBSITES :
www.petflytrap.com
( this website has the best cp's in the world in my opinion )