Page 28 - Waterfall City April Issue 2023

Waterfall City Gardening

Trumpet pitcher

Nepenthes, a tropical pitcher plant, also known as the monkey cup plant Tropical pitcher

Sarracenia, commonly known as pitcher plants or Sundew with bugs Sundew
trumpet pitchers

How much sun does my plant plants. You can recreate their natural actually necessary as they are
need? environment at home by simply rather skilled in attracting prey
In general, carnivorous plants need standing the plants in a shallow tray themselves. Insects serve as a potent
plenty of sun as they are not good at and watering from the bottom. The fertiliser and provide plants with
photosynthesising (tropical pitcher tropical pitcher plant, however, is the the protein, nitrogen, potassium
plants, however, need dappled shade). exception, as it is found in rainforests and other important minerals they
The most common cause of plants and needs to be watered from the top. need to maintain good growth and
not thriving is insufficient or incorrect reproduction. That being said, insect
sunlight. Can I repot my predators in catching can be a fun activity for kids.
ordinary soil? If you do catch an insect, make sure it
Can I use any water? Normal garden soil, potting soil, and is still alive and wiggling. Movements
Predator plants require water that compost are too rich for carnivorous from prey signal the digestive process
is nutrient, mineral and chlorine plants and will kill them quickly. Plants and in the case of the Venus flytrap,
free. Rainwater, distilled water, or require an acidic, nutrient-deficient signals the sensitive trichomes that in
reverse osmosis water are perfect potting medium as they get most turn cause the ‘jaws’ to shut.
for carnivores. Borehole water can of their sustenance from the insects
also work but this depends on the they catch and not through their Top tip: Do not feed meat or cheese
quality of your particular water source. root system via the soil. Use a blend to your plants and take note that
Mineral water is not suitable because of sphagnum peat and perlite when overfeeding can cause damage to
it contains, well, minerals - and our repotting. the plant’s overall well-being. Stick
carnivores like it rough! to live bugs only!
Can I feed my plant with
How do I water carnivorous insects? The two types of trapping are grouped
plants? Your plant pets will certainly love as either active or passive. An active
Remember that most varieties are bog the extra treats, however it is not trap involves some movement to

26 Waterfall City Issue 4 2023