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RobH

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Posts posted by RobH

  2. Greenhouse temperature - how hot is too hot?

    in General Carnivorous Plant Discussion

    Posted

    I don't know where you read the Venus Fly Trap needs 35C to grow as this is simply incorrect.  A regular Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea) does not need 35C to grow, in fact this may even stress the plant if continued for too long.  Many of us let them drop to 0C or just below 0C in winter in an unheated greenhouse and this low temperature rests them.  During the growing season they may get up to 35C but that is not necessary as they will be perfectly happy in the 15 - 30C range.  They also need humidity and they should be kept in about 1 - 2cm of rainwater at all times except when it is below about 5C.

    Check out any carnivorous plant nursery for detailed growing conditions for Dionaea muscipula.

    Kind regards, 

    Rob

  3. Nick

    in General Carnivorous Plant Discussion

    Posted

    You shouldn't use normal horticultural compost since CPs do not want the nutrients contained in regular compost as this can be harmful to them.  The compost you use should not contain any added nutrients but it certainly does not have to be peat.

    Bark chippings are a common ingredient together with perlite and coarse sand or horticultural grit to ensure good drainage and aeration.  A common mix is Bark chips: Perlite: Grit in the ratio of 1 : 1 : 1 or 2 : 1 : 1 if preferred.  Bark chippings should be around 0 - 5 mm and Grit 2 - 6 mm ideally.  This mix is good for Sarracenias and Drosera but you may wish to add peat for Dionaeas and Pinguiculas.

    Also, you should only use rainwater to water your plants and keep them in water filled tray with the water around 2 cm deep.

    You can substitute peat for the bark chippings above but not sure how much longer peat will be available.  Other people have tried coir in the mix with varying degrees of success.  Most CP nurseries will suggest the compost mix to use for the plants they sell and, of course, sell you their CP compost as well!

    Kind regards,  Rob

  4. Reverse osmosis / water filter

    in Greenhouses - Cultivation & Equipment

    Posted

    Whilst I agree RO removes a lot of beneficial minerals from water, which you will likely get from other sources such as food, it also removes a lot of impurities in the domestic water system.  In really hard water, agricultural areas such as where I live currently, a water softener will only neutralise calcium carbonate to a degree - yes I have a water softener - and unfortunately replace it with a lot of sodium, but it will not remove pesticides and other impurities in the water system which an RO system will.

    An interesting article you post but I have to say the WHO is not an organization I am prepared to trust, especially after their recent problems with Covid-19, but this a not a subject to discuss in this thread.

    Kind regards,

    Rob

  7. Unsuitable Sphagnum

    in Sustainable and Peat-free Cultivation

    Posted

    I would suggest Phil is referring to LIVE sphagnum moss whereas the stuff you typically buy from Garden Centres is "dead" sphagnum moss.  Having said that I doubt that "dead" sphagnum moss would do any harm.  After all peat is primarily dead and compacted sphagnum moss along with other long dead  bog plants.

    So my suggestion would be find somewhere selling live sphagnum and try that.  I have seen people on this forum selling live moss and I am sure you can find it by doing a search.

    Kind regards,

    Rob

  9. Water filters

    in General Carnivorous Plant Discussion

    Posted · Edited by RobH

    Quote
    13 hours ago, pirks said:

    I use the water from our two dehumidifiers which are on 24 hours a day (obviously they only run when the humidity gets above a set limit as we live in a bungalow.) I use it occasionally when we haven't had rain for a while and my stock of rain water is running out. I check the toss every time I do this and it has always been 20ppm

     

    Then is should be fine to use that.  Better get storing it for a "non-rainy" period!

    Kind regards,  Rob

  10. Water filters

    in General Carnivorous Plant Discussion

    Posted

    Not sure what you mean by a "domestic water filter".  A further explanation would be useful to know what sort it is.

    Quite a few people, including me, use a Reverse Osmosis unit as a "spare" in case of rain water shortage.  You can also use them for producing "pure" drinking water.  The water that comes out of my RO unit is <20 ppm as measured by my TDS (Total Dissolved Solids) Meter - you can buy them on Amazon - and I live in a hard water area.

    It is generally regarded as important to use water with <50 ppm TDS for carnivorous plants, so if your "domestic water filter" does that, then it should be OK.

    Kind regards,  Rob

  14. Clueless grower - black tips and mould developing on Filiformis

    in Drosera

    Posted

    Clearly your filiformis does not appreciate you moving house!  Presumably there is something different about the new environment it does not like.  One assumes you are using rainwater or distilled water.  From the pictures the new leaves on the plant look healthy and I think removing the lid was a good idea to get more air inside the terrarium.  I would suggest leaving the lid off to help reduce the incidence of mould through the air being too stagnant.  The mould suggests the air needs more movement.  I grow filiformis outside, but sheltered from the elements, and have no problems.

    With a bit of luck, I think you will find the plant grows out of its current problem as it becomes adapted to its new environment.

    Kind regards,  Rob

     

  19. Messages?

    in Forum Feedback

    Posted · Edited by RobH

    Quote

    @Richard Bunn

     - May I suggest you ask whether the problem occurs with a web browser or with a mobile phone.  I have no problems accessing the forum through a desktop PC and web browser - Chrome while I believe some people have reported the problem when using a mobile phone to access the forum

    Kind regards,  Rob

  24. Please help drosera identification

    in Drosera

    Posted

    Just a suggestion.  Could it be D. spatulata the spoon-leaved sundew?  I am not an expert but those leaves do appear spoon shaped and it appears very similar to my D. spatulata.  However, I do know that D. tokaiensis is D. (spatulata x rotundifolia) so there are very clear similarities between tokaiensis and spatulata.

    Kind regards,  Rob

    • Like 1
    • Thanks 1

  25. Pics 2020

    in Carnivorous Plants in Cultivation

    Posted · Edited by RobH

    Now that is a really spectacular looking collection  :biggrin:

    I guess you must grow those outdoors, perhaps protected from the rain, due to all the ties you have meticulously placed on all the plants.  That is something I must try next year to protect my plants from the wind.

    Kind regards,  Rob

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