My 6 year old's picture plant

[cloud jaguar]

My 6 year old received a picture plant which is swarming with ants. One time my kid had a venus fly trap which also swarmed with ants until he fed it steak and killed it.

For this type of plant, please tell me the optimal TEMP and HUMIDITY so that he does not kill it. We live in California where it is dry. Is this a plant that can live in the garden?

Why the heck is the plant swarming with ants!!!??

 

[Andrew]

Humidity is not something that you need concern yourself about. These plants grow extremely well outdoors in California, year round.

Check this out for some of the basics:

http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=10

Just be sure you water only with distilled or rain water, and never let the soil dry out. Any more questions, just ask.

 

[cloud jaguar]

Thanks Andrew... i appreciate the link! Interesting plants - i will have my wife read the 'special desert instructions.' Funny how my kid's hobbies usually end up becoming my obligations or those of my wife, lol. I guess that is part of the joy of being parents. I think it would be cool to take a picture of a mantid on one of those plants - unless it would harm the mantid. I don't suppose those sticky juices along the rim of the pitchers are in any way dangerous to them? Not like pre-digestive juices or anything?

~Arkanis

 

[Schloaty]

Hi there,

I assume the pitcher plant is a Sarracenia (North American Pitcher Plant)? All the pitchers grow from a crown at the soil level, rather than from the ends of the leaves?

Going on that assumption, the plant won't mind the dryness of your area provided you keep it's soil wet. They are bog plants, and love direct sun ALL DAY LONG.

I recommend you keep it on the "tray method." Put the pot in a 1" deep saucer, and fill it with pure water (rain, distilled or reverse osmosis). When the tray dries out, re-fill.

If you want to put it in the garden, get an undrained pot, and drop the pot into the ground - just make sure the garden soil doesn't spill over into the pot.

With regards to the ants, they are attracted to the nectar secreted from the lid and lip of the pitcher - and they then become food. This nectar is not harmfull in any way to a manits. Just make sure the mantis is large enough that it won't fall in by accident.

I'm waiting for my daughter to ask for her first carnivorous plant....that will put a tear of joy in my eye!

 

[cloud jaguar]

Thanks Shoalty! I would rather put it in the garden since we have enough problems without being eaten alive by ants!