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lil_flytrap_kid

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About lil_flytrap_kid

  • Birthday 11/10/1991

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  • Location
    Manchester, UK
  • Interests
    Dionaea muscipula!

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  1. Hello everyone! I don't know if any of you remember me but I started posting on this and similar websites (e.g. terraforums) at the young age of 12, almost 10 years ago! I'm now 20 years old and studying Plant Science at the University of Manchester. Still having a keen interest in carnivorous plants, I have fortunately managed to convince my supervisor to allow me to study nutrient uptake in Dionaea muscipula for my final year dissertation. To put it simply, I want to find out exactly why they experience stress and die in high nutrient soils - what is it that makes them sensitive? My theory is that it's down to either having highly efficient nutrient uptake channels in the roots, which would have evolved to make the most of what little nutrient is available in peat soil. As we all know, VFTs can still be grown (albeit more slowly) without being fed - they therefore must be getting nutrient from the soil, the traps only supplementing their diet. I also think perhaps they have lost the mechanism by which to stop nutrient uptake in their roots when it reaches high levels. Due to this, the plant cannot control uptake of nutrients and so nutrient content quickly reaches toxic levels, stressing and killing the plant. My first idea is that I will test different levels of nutrients (such as potassium, zinc, etc) in the growing medium and find out if there is a particular mineral that VFTs are sensitive to. Although this is more scientific than horticultural I thought some of you may be interested in helping me out with this. I have only just begun to plan my experiment but wanted to hear any feedback of your own experiences with VFTs relating to this, and any opinions or suggestions you may have. For example, what in your opinion are the main signs of stress due to high nutrient in the medium? How long would it typically take a plant to die? Has anyone every tried fertilising VFTs? Etc etc.. all feedback welcome! I may also start a poll to help collaborate data from everyone's experiences (if that's okay with you mods?). I'd also like to know whether anyone can advise on where I can purchase wholesale VFTs cheaply - preferably propagated so they are all clones and of known, same age? If any of you run a commercial website I would be so appreciative if you could send me a message to let me know who your supplier is - I need to keep costs down as I have a very limited budget as an undergrad and so need to remove the middle man so to speak. It's purely for scientific research so there's no risk of commercial competition or what not! I look forward to hearing from everyone! Best, Danny
  2. Those sarracenia seedlings look very promising. Nice
  3. I quite like it, reminds me of when you marble paper.
  4. Lovely photographs - your plants are great! :) Thanks for sharing ;)
  5. Beauitful almost regal looking sarracenia :) Lovely Suzy!
  6. What a fantastic habitat! I particularly loved the individual photo of the D.rotundifolia - the colours are beautiful. Thanks for sharing
  7. I have a plant growing in my bog, I must say I do like them.
  8. That last one is absolutely awesome. It's evident why it's called 'vigorous'!
  9. Gently plant them up in peat. Simple Congrats!
  10. As said above; Water the poor thing!!!
  11. If it's on all the traps then looks like we may have another new cultivar on our hands!
  12. Astounding plants, Marston Clone or not! Wow Good luck finding the correct one!
  13. Spray provado on the aphids or just squish them with your finger gently. They'll cause damage to your plant so leaves will be deformed. As for the webbing, somebody else will have to advise you on that.
  14. Wow, check out the focus on the mossy stuff. Good lucking finding it's identity!
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