Guest PinheadedMike Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Hi i have 2 Sarracenia plants and a venus fly trap and it says use rainwater or filtered water to water them when it says filtered water is it alright if its been filtered through a brita filter? Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy Collins Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 Filtered water is no good, we get pleny in the UK so use rainwater it's free. Or if you want to buy it use Distilled (deionised) water. http://www.aura-innovations.co.uk/bottled-...d-water-9-c.asp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimfoxy Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 (edited) Hi Mike. Welcome to the forum. The topic of water comes up quite often so you will find lots of info using the search facility. For example: http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=14784 http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24556 http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24362 http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=22778 What happened to the FAQs? A Brita filter may help a little but it will probably replace calcium with sodium. That is no good, apparently. Edited February 27, 2008 by jimfoxy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 FAQs are here with the general information http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/index.php?showforum=26 Reverse osmosis water would be cheaper than distilled water if you can't collect enough rainwater. Most aquarists that sell tropical fish supply it for about 50p a gallon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PinheadedMike Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 thanks for help and another question when should i start standing them in water and not just keeping them damp? is it start of march? Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted February 27, 2008 Report Share Posted February 27, 2008 At the moment plants are just starting to come out of dormancy, when they are back to full growth then you can stand them in water (perhaps mid to late March depending on how the weather goes but you should see that the plants are growing more over the next month). Many people will still advise you to let the tray dray out sometimes between waterings too. Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PinheadedMike Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 When you water them during dormecy period do you put a bit of water in the water try once a day? or do you poor the water straight onto the compost mix? Cheers Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ada Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Mike,straight in the tray. Ada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PinheadedMike Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 Mike,straight in the tray.Ada I know when they are not dormant you keep tray topped up but when they are dormant do you just top it up once a day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diva Posted February 28, 2008 Report Share Posted February 28, 2008 it depends on the location but mine in an unheated greenhouse have been watered maybe 2 times since last october as there dormant they are using very little water in certain locations other factors may dry out the compost but you should be aiming to keep the soil damp not wet either way you won't adversly harm them if you water them a lil to much now as its nearly spring (well thats what i keep telling myself! brrrrrr) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest PinheadedMike Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 Is now the time to keep them standing in water or should i wait a bit longer? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 I would leave it a bit longer yet. I dont think it would hurt to stand them in water at this stage but i dont think its necessary yet. Mine are just getting watered about once a week at the mo, just enough to keep the media wet...... Heather Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexis Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 I put mine in water 2 weeks ago. I let it soak up and they've been sitting damp, but not in water since. I'll probably put the water in permanently in about 10 days, once the cold spell coming up has passed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzy Posted March 19, 2008 Report Share Posted March 19, 2008 Mine have been sat in water all winter and are going through two top ups per week already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimfoxy Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 For those not already standing their plants in water, I am interested in knowing what their thinking is e.g. regards cold etc. I had always assumed that the only reason for reducing water in the Winter was to reduce the risk of Botrytis. I started standing mine in water as soon as growth resumed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 I suppose it depends where you keep them. Mine have been standing in water more or less all winter. Athough they are kept outside in the fresh air, so not as much chance of any mould growing. I have been tipping the water trays out when they get too full, especially if it is cold enough to freeze. This doesn't seem to have done them any harm. A couple of sarras I kept in the window of my shed have not been watered all winter and the media has stayed moist. Have just brought them outside again last week along with my VFT's. Cheers, Mick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ada Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 In the past i've left them stood in water all winter,even if it froze solid,but for the last couple of years i've let them dry out a bit until they are just moist.The greenhouse is still left open during the day to ensure good ventilation.The water trays are dry at the moment,but they did get some water last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LJ Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 (edited) For those not already standing their plants in water, I am interested in knowing what their thinking is e.g. regards cold etc. Well the reason for not standaing in water all winter is botrytis worries, there isnt a great deal of air circulation where they are. Also, surely they need a lot less water since they are barely growing so they dont need to stand in water. Not standing them in water constantly uses less water too (maybe only a bit less but its still less) which is something I need to think about with a limited supply of rain water. If they dont need to be stood in water then I think its easier not to, you can effectively forget about them for a few weeks then go back every now and again to give them a quick check and some water. I havent started standing in water yet because growth is still minimal (a few flower buds buts thats it), I expect in a fews weeks or a month they'll all be stood permenantly in water again. Heather Edited March 20, 2008 by LJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimscott Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 Since I have mine in buckets as minibogs I tote mine to the attic (or cold garage), by a window, for the winer. I only "wet their whistle" during that time. After they wake up I move then to a warmer place but not outside because over here it will be a good month before the temps are consistently above freezing. Then it's under the porch for a spell, before full sun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted March 20, 2008 Report Share Posted March 20, 2008 Of course, when I say mine have stood in water most of the winter, I didn't actually water them myself, just what they gathered from rain, in the big trays I stand them in. I would be more acurate to say that I have totally ignored them for months. I really must get around to cutting away all the dead pitchers before they start to grow again. In fact quite a few need repotting as I can see some bulging pots ready to crack from the pressure! Cheers, Mick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommyr Posted March 22, 2008 Report Share Posted March 22, 2008 In the fall I take mine out of the trays, let the water drain off then place in zip lock bags and put them in the fridge. They stay damp all winter. No real fungus issues but I hit them with a little fungicide when I take them out in Feb./March just to play it safe. They go right in trays of water. All are doing great right now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.