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CARNIVOROUS PLANTS

 

Carnivorous plants fill a niche in nature by growing in soil that is deficient in nitrogen (an essential element for plant growth).  Few other plants can grow here. 

They overcome this deficiency by 1. Attracting 2. Catching 3. Killing and 4. Digesting nitrogen rich insects for their nutrition.
 

FERTILISING:
DO NOT feed with insects, nature has designed the plant to attract and catch its own.  If you catch an insect and stick it in the plant, it won’t know it has caught it, and therefore won’t digest it.  The plant needs the thrill of the catch to release its digestive juices to break down the insect.

In a home situation, with the plants growing in small pots, you can help the plant a long a bit by feeding it Seasol and Powerfeed mixed together every 8 weeks during Spring, Summer and Autumn at about 2 ml of each per litre water.  DO NOT use or recommend any other fertilisers. 

REPOTTING: For best results, repot in winter when the plants are in dormancy, every 2 years.   However repotting can be done all year round.
Sarracenias, Venus Fly Traps and Drosera - repot in Sphagnum Peat Moss with perlite mixed in.  DO NOT use any other types of peat moss, or you will kill them.
Nepenthes - repot in a mixture of 75% orchid bark, and the other 25% made up of perlite, sphagnum moss and sphagnum peat moss.

For more growing information, please visit our Growing Information Page.  You are welcome to copy any of this information for your customers.

 

WHERE TO DISPLAY YOUR CARNIVOROUS PLANTS

Carnivorous plants need a nice brightly lit area in your nursery.  Usually inside your gift shop is too dark.

They need protection from the hot afternoon sun, and protection from the wind and rain.  So under cover, but well lit, is best.

Carnivorous plants, such as Venus Fly Traps, Sarracenia and Drosera, are bog plants, so they need to sit in a tray of water at all times.  DO NOT overhead water, or you will splash the peat moss up on to the labels.  DO NOT allow to dry out.

With the hanging Nepenthes baskets, just keep some water in their basket saucers at all times.

In winter, Sarracenias and Venus Fly Traps go dormant.  If you have some left in your nursery, cut off the dying traps about ½ cm from the base of the plant, keep moist and they will grow back in spring.  You don’t need to keep them warm over winter because they need this dormancy period to gain strength for spring.  Nepethes will not go dormant, just keep protected from frost.

 

Not all insects are eaten by Carnivorous Plants.  Some use the plants for homes and eat the bugs that have already died inside the plants.

DIONAEA MUSCIPULA

VENUS FLY TRAP

Pot size - 70mm

FLOWERING: White flower in spring

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

DIONAEA MUSCIPULA

VENUS FLY TRAP

​Pot size - 100mm
 

FLOWERING: White flower in spring

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

DROSERA

Sundew

Pot size - 70mm

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FLOWERING: Spring - autumn

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

POT SIZE: 70mm - assorted mixed tray of plant varieties

DROSERA

Sundew

Pot size - 100mm

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FLOWERING: Spring - autumn

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

POT SIZE: 70mm - assorted mixed tray of plant varieties

SARRACENIA

Pitcher plant

Pot size - 70mm green pot - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Gorgeous flowers in spring that look like upside down Umbrellas.

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

SARRACENIA

Pitcher plant

Pot size - 100mm red pot - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Gorgeous flowers in spring that look like upside down Umbrellas.

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

SARRACENIA

Pitcher plant

Pot size - 120mm green pot - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Gorgeous flowers in spring that look like upside down Umbrellas.

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

SARRACENIA

Florist Quality Pitcher plant

Pot size - 120mm red pot - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Gorgeous flowers in spring that look like upside down Umbrellas.

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

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SARRACENIA

Winter Variety Pitcher plant

Pot size - 120mm red pot - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Gorgeous flowers in spring that look like upside down Umbrellas.

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

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SARRACENIA

Pitcher plant

Pot size - 180mm square pot - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Gorgeous flowers in spring that look like upside down Umbrellas.

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

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SNAP PACKS

Mixed Sarracenia/ Venus fly trap

Pot size - 100mm square pot of mixed varieties
 

FLOWERING: Gorgeous flowers in spring that look like upside down Umbrellas.

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

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WINDOW BOX

Pitcher plant, Venus Fly trap, Drosera

Pot size - 270mm green or terracotta window box - mixed varieties

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FLOWERING: Flowers in spring, summer and autumn

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

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BOWL

Pitcher plant, Venus Fly trap, Drosera

Pot size - 220mm terracotta bowl with saucer - mixed varieties

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FLOWERING: Flowers in spring, summer and autumn

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

NEPENTHES

Hanging Pitcher plant

Pot size - 130mm basket - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Flowers in spring, but are not grown for their flowers.  Traps/pitchers can be produced all year round.
POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost tender.  Nepenthes will not go dormant, but may not produce traps/pitchers during winter.

CARE: Keep water in their basket saucer, so they can drink when required.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

NEPENTHES PREMIUM

Hanging Pitcher plant

Pot size - 130mm basket - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Flowers in spring, but are not grown for their flowers.  Traps/pitchers can be produced all year round.
POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost tender.  Nepenthes will not go dormant, but may not produce traps/pitchers during winter.

CARE: Keep water in their basket saucer, so they can drink when required.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

NEPENTHES

Hanging Pitcher plant

Pot size - 200mm basket - mixed varieties

FLOWERING: Flowers in spring, but are not grown for their flowers.  Traps/pitchers can be produced all year round.
POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost tender.  Nepenthes will not go dormant, but may not produce traps/pitchers during winter.

CARE: Keep water in their basket saucer, so they can drink when required.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

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DISPLAY PACK

8 x Venus Fly trap, 6 x Sarracenia,

4 x Drosera

Pot size - 70mm  mixed varieties in display water holding tray

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FLOWERING: Flowers in spring, summer and autumn

POSITION: Prefers a bright position, morning to early afternoon sun, kitchen window sill, porch, patio etc - inside or out.

FROST: Frost hardy as they go dormant in winter.  Trim off the traps as they go dormant, 1/2 cm from the base.  Keep moist over winter.  New traps will grow in spring.

CARE: Sit in a saucer or tray of water so it can drink from the bottom up.

AVAILABLE: Australia wide

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