Feeding a Ping

[snowflakeobsidian]

I know that it is unneccesary to feed CPs.

I keep a ping at work under a small plant light. The plant is a conversation piece..... I work on a testing team and so have a CP to take care of the "bugs". The ping is about 3 to 3 1/2 inches in diameter and growing very well. I'm guessing it is a moranesis hybrid. The plant came from a local orchid greenhouse and was simply labeled Pinguicula. Anyhow, whenever I lean over the desk to check the ping, someone will ask if it's time to feed the plant. One person in the office has suggested taking the plant out at lunchtime so it can catch its' own meal. Well given all the attention, I would like to periodically feed the plant something. I remember reading something about using fish food (flake form) for feeding pings. Would that work?

BTW, my hubbie has suggested hanging a toy mouse or plastic bug over the plant.

Thanks

[Brian Barnes]

Hello snowflakeobsidian! I've been using bloodworms (fish food) for quite a while with some wonderful results. I mix mine with a few drops of water and "swab" the juicy goodness on a few leaves...
Pinguicula will drool with sheer delight within minutes!
Happy Growing,
Brian.

[Not a Number]

May 20, 2008 1:57:45 GMT snowflakeobsidian said:

I know that it is unneccesary to feed CPs.

Not quite true. Look at the thread on Drosera glanduligera. Siggi Hartmeyer reports that the seedlings will die if not feed. Many Drosera seedlings such as Drosera rotundifolia will more or less stop growing if not fed. Some will not flower or produce viable seed unless well fed.

For feeding Pinguicula and Drosera powdered dried bloodworm, other dried powdered insects or crushed fish food flakes works fine. Sprinkle it on dry and mist lightly. Much less labor intensive then swabbing it on.

See www.carnivorousplant.com/growing_pinguicula_detailed.html for Joseph Clemens take on feeding Pinguicula.

For an overview on the mineral nutrition of carnivorous plants (feeding) see this article: www.bestcarnivorousplants.com/mineral_nutrition.htm

[Clint]

PLEASE be careful when crushing up bloodworms! I crushed some up with a mortar and pestle a couple of years ago, and I inhaled the most minute amount of dust that wafted into the air. It was such a small amount, that I didn't even realize any dust was coming off. I went into anaphylaxis! My throat almost completely closed up, and in order to get a whisper out I had to scream. Lots of diphenhydramine and albuterol probably saved my life! Since then I keep epipens around. SCARY! The "episode" built up for 15 minutes, lasted about 45 minutes, and I was messed up for about three days. Don't be like me and not seek medical help if you suffer this allergy, medicating myself wasn't a smart thing to do.

I've NEVER had an allergic reaction that bad, and hope I never do again. Sure enough on the back of the bottle of bloodworms, it mentions allergic reactions in some individuals. I never had a reaction to them until that incident, and since then, even feeding fish with them makes my eyes and sinuses itch and inflame, and my hands itchy. I don't use them anymore.

For feeding Drosera and Pinguicula, I recommend a diluted fertilizer or fish flakes or whole bloodworms if you must use them.

[kby]

May 20, 2008 20:37:52 GMT Clint said:

I never had a reaction to them until that incident, and since then, even feeding fish with them makes my eyes and sinuses itch and inflame, and my hands itchy. I don't use them anymore.

That is wise. Allergic reactions, especially the severe ones tend to get worse with exposure. That's how immune reactions work to keep you protected against microbes, but in this case it has the wrong effect. Developing sensitivity to
bee stings or antibiotics are the more well-know manifestations of this, so in your
case you should definitely avoid them (unless maybe you go get allergy desensitization treatments if they are possible for this).-kby

[snowflakeobsidian]

Thanks everyone for the ideas. I bought flake fish food and used that. The thought of using dried bloodworms doesn't quite fit in with the environment of the office. We had a small audience during the feeding. One person was a little dissapointed that the Ping didn't move to grab the food. Afterward the plant had a growth spurt ...it's starting to slow down now. Next time I'll have to use a smaller piece of food. One of my office mates swears that the plant is pinker after being fed. Since then, several people visiting that area for the first time asked about the plant. I am considering swapping it out with a larger Ping like my young Moranesis or my Agnata x Moranesis, though right now the current plant has better color and a much nicer rosette. The office plant looks our Sethos but slightly larger and less color.

[PingKing]

fish food flakes