Carnivorous Plants

God's Warrior · Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous Plants

shazbot3
Anyone here know anything about raising these things? Not just the Venus Flytraps, but a lot of different ones. I had started to get into it years ago, but the ranch took so much of my time I just dropped it.

It's something I've really been thinking about getting back into, tho. I never see anyone here or over at DG talk about them, and I was just wondering...
I bought a beautiful book on them back then. I had no idea there were so many different ones!

Elena
I had a Venus fly trap once but didn't feed it enough or something and it died. I decided I would just raise the plants that I could use commercial fertilizers on rather than having to find bugs for the thing in the winter time. LOL! I think you could give it meat but it was so long ago I have forgotten.

Aloe
I've tried Venus flytrap and some kind of South African sundew. The Venus flytrap died, at least in part because I gave it tap water. I didn't know any better at that time. I gave the sundew distilled water, but it still died, maybe because it was too hot or a lack of humidity. I don't know.

Elena
Maybe not many people do well with the plants and that may be why we don't read much about people growing them.

shazbot3
I was wondering what it would be like to try growing them in an aquarium, or terrarium of some kind. I need to check it out a little more. I need to find my book and read up on it, and do a little Googling, I guess.

Elena
After you Google, let us know what you find out as for at the practicality of raisng those plants. I do well to keep me, my husband and my pets fed without taking on a plant that also needs meat!!!! LOL

shazbot3
I do know it's not necessary that the plants be fed meat exclusively. I think that's a popular misconception about carnivorous plants. They do need some, but it's not necessay to constantly feed them meat. I will do some research on it, tho. And post some more in-depth info in a few days.

Horseshoe
My first venus flytrap died, too. But heck, how was I to know they don't like hotdogs!?

My next one lived quite a long time (nearly a year) but finally succumbed to neglect...again, my fault entirely.

The coast area of N. Carolina is home to the natural growing of flytraps. They're a treasured and endangered species and we have laws about taking them. I think I'll leave them there. Besides, I'd rather not sacrifice another hot dog anyway. (It's my new grill, ya know!) :>)

Elena
I didn't know that about NC being a natural growing area for them. I just figured they were tropical plants.

shazbot3
LOL, 'Shoe, you're a nut! No, I wouldn't take the wild ones. There are places you can order from that raise them. I was always fascinated with those kinds of plants. I'm really thinking about getting back into it.

Elena
Don't expect Shoe to send you any hot dogs to feed them . He wants them for that grill of his. Wonder if they would like grilled hot dogs.

shazbot3
"Shoe's gonna wear that grill out afore too much longer!

Elena
Wish I could be there to help him eat all that good grilled food.

Horseshoe
:>)

Elena
Does that smiley face mean I am welcome?????? Ha!

shazbot3
Yeah, I wanna try HIS grilled corn!

Horseshoe
next year I should grow acres of corn, just to make sure there would be plenty for everyone!

With plenty of corn everyone is welcome! Trubble is no one would talk much...we'd all be stuffing corn in our pie-holes!

shazbot3
Mmmmm!

Elena
Talk is cheap so I vote we just chow down on corn.

shazbot3
Yeah! What she said!

Elena
Ok, now you can just put us on your guest list for next year, huh Shoe? That will be when corn gets ready, ok!

Horseshoe
Slow down now...next thing ya know ya'll will be planning a Roundup here! :>)

Aloe
Sounds like 'Shoe has volunteered to hold the next Roundup. Wink

Horseshoe
Ya'll behave!!

Elena
Yeah , I vote we do it during the time that corn gets ready to grill. (That should be about this same time next year for the Horseshoe Roundup.) Everybody with me on that? Plant a lot of good veggies next year, Shoe, and I will bring the chicken (You can grill it.) and the nanner puddin.

shazbot3
Oh yeah! I'll bring the secret recipe baked mac & cheese, and homemade fudge!
'Shoe, ya got a spot for our tents, I hope!! Anybody like venison? I can bring backstrap steaks, too...

Horseshoe
I fear the worst...(he mutters to himself, while he listens to himself mutter...). :>0

Aloe
Aren't you glad I live too far away to come?

shazbot3
We're good cumpny, 'Shoe. We'll work for our food. You could just put me to weedin' somewhere, DH swings a mean weedeater. Ellen can supervise! Aloe, you'd HAVE to come. CA ain't that far away, as the crow flies...

Elena
As I was reading the last post, I was beginning to think I was going to have to WORK!!!! Thank heavens, she said supervise!!!!!

shazbot3
Did you guys notice this? This thread sarted out as meat-eating plants, and turned into plant-eating meets!!

Aloe
Now, that's a good one! LOL!!

Elena
Never know about us, huh???? At least we can't be accused of having one track minds.

Horseshoe
Hah!... good one , Shaz!

Aloe...the way I figger it...

In Californy you can still purchase a 3 legged mule for only $125. A two wheel cart is easily assembled for less that 50 (using scavenged bicycle wheels).

A mule (3 legged) can travel 4 miles per hr. It's about 3000 miles to my place so it appears you could be here in 31.25 days. (Stretch that out to 60.5 days if you want to allow your mule to sleep from time to time.)

I'll holler when the seed goes in the ground.
:>)

shazbot3
LOL. Told you that you were a nut!

Elena
How is the hand doing now, Shoe?

Horseshoe
Nuts for the Nutty, Shaz!

(Hand is in a brace...looks like I'll wear this for a few weeks and see if there is any difference. After that, we move on to something else.)

Elena
We have just got to think positively now! Shoe's hand is gonna recover completely, yesiree!!!!!! I will continue to pray for you.

Horseshoe
(thank you!)

Elena
You are most welcome, my friend.

shazbot3
Me, too, 'Shoe. This may sound goofy to you, but have you tried massaging it with Arnica cream? That's what I've been doing for the last 3 days, and I'm out of my brace except for nights. I've been using it about twice a day.

Horseshoe
What is arnica cream?

Elena
I am glad you asked as I was just waiting for someone else to do it. I don't want folks to think I don't know anything!!!!!! Ha!

shazbot3
'Shoe, it's a homeopathic remedy. The cream can be used just like a muscle rub, but also for bruises, sprains, and any other problems such as joint pain, arthritis, and I use it for Fibro soreness. Technically, it is Arnica montana. I use a strength of 1X HPUS-7%.

http://www.boiron.com Go here, it's the company that makes the brand I use. Arnica comes in many different forms; it's like a cure-all, but this stuff works! I swear by it.

It won't completely end the pain, but should at least make it bearable for you, and you'll get a little more use out of your hand.

There are some homeopathic remedies I just swear by. This is one of them. You can get a form of it for cuts and scrapes. You can get it in tablet form for stomach ailments, etc.

You might also try Emu Oil. Yes, emu oil! I haven't tried it yet, but my uncle swears by it. Wallyworld has it for about $13 or so. My uncle is a master craftsman, and uses it often. He says there's nothing like it.

Trying these is at least better than suffering, right?

Horseshoe
Okay, thanks. I'm familiar with homeopathy/herbal uses, etc. Will check it out.

shazbot3
Oh! Cool, 'Shoe! You go, boyeee!!

Zanymuse
So, did anyone ever find out more on carniverous plants? I was told they are mostly bog plants but I don't know if that is correct.

shazbot3
Zany, I have a big book on them, but I haven't taken it out in years. I've really been eyeing the flytraps and pitcher plants I've been seeing at Lowe's lately. I have a small terrarium set up in my room, but in the last couple days I've found two different maidenhair ferns I couldn't live without, so they have to go in there.

I bet I'll break down before it's over and get an aquarium, and wind up with those flytraps and pitcher plants. LOL. I've been wanting to play with them for years, maybe my time has come.

I got my all-in-one printer sent back to the manufacturer last week, so I should have my new one within the week. When it comes home I'll get my book out and post some pics of some of the carnivorous plants in it. There are some very strange-looking ones. The folks who wrote the book also run a carnivorous plant mail-order business, or they did when I go the book about 15 years ago. Good Lord, has it been that long?? I guess it has, Sarah will be 15 on her next birthday, and I was pregnant with her when I got it. Geez, where does the time go?????

Zanymuse
Isn't it amazing how fast the years have gone!

Elena
They fly by faster when you are older. Kids think that time doesn't ever pass. As you get a little older things seem to roll around a bit faster and then when you are as old as dirt, they whirl by like rockets.