feeding plants

[bowmag]

I was wondering if What is the best food for venus fly traps, and other carnivorous plants. Or should we just let them capture insect unaided.

[ICPS-bob]

Start by reading
www.sarracenia.com/faq/faq1240.html

then read the entire FAQ
www.sarracenia.com/faq.html

[Adammmm]

The best food for flytraps is flies, and like someone elses idea ( sorry i cant give you credit if i dont remember who) Put some dead minnows in a bog garden. Definately not in a pot. Bleh

[Vater Araignee]

Jun 27, 2008 11:02:53 GMT Adammmm said:

The best food for flytraps is flies, and like someone elses idea ( sorry i cant give you credit if i dont remember who) Put some dead minnows in a bog garden. Definately not in a pot. Bleh

David Crump. I don't remember what CPN issue some time in 88 or 89. I have read to many issues to close together.
You could also do this for potted plants all you have to do is use your brain if you don't want media contamination. Trust me, the solution is simple.

[ICPS-bob]

It is easy to search for articles published in CPN
www.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/Search.php

Searching for author Crump results in one article
Crump, David (1999) Fly Fishing. Carniv. Pl. Newslett. 28(3):96
available in both pdf and html

www.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/samples/v28n3p96.html
www.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/articles/CPNv28n3p96.pdf

[taz6122]

I am no professional but I think if you feed it there is not as much wasted energy.They do not catch everything that triggers the trap.I use a co2 bb gun unloaded to stun flies.It usually gives you enough time to catch the fly and place it in some tweezers before it comes around but if not pop it again.Do not try this with a loaded gun or with a fresh co2 cartrdge as the fly will disintigrate and become part of whatever it landed on.

[kby]

Jul 24, 2008 18:46:55 GMT taz6122 said:

I am no professional but I think if you feed it there is not as much wasted energy.They do not catch everything that triggers the trap.I use a co2 bb gun unloaded to stun flies.It usually gives you enough time to catch the fly and place it in some tweezers before it comes around but if not pop it again.Do not try this with a loaded gun or with a fresh co2 cartrdge as the fly will disintigrate and become part of whatever it landed on.

Hmmm, this is an interesting technique for other reasons...how well do you know/think it would work to knock grasshoppers off of Sarracenia (having had a recent munch-fest happen on some of mine where I suspect these were the culprits)?-kby

[taz6122]

Grasshoppers are more lethargic and less fragile than flies.I have to get from 4-6 in. from flies to stun them.I don't think a grasshopper will let you get that close.I would suggest the newer air soft pistols that shoot plastic rounds.With a little practice you should be able to pick them off from 4-6 feet away or closer if they will allow.