How Carnivorous Plants Work

[@joyofgrowing]

These are a favorite of my sons he cares for them every few years just loves to keep them and try to feed them small fruit flys and flys. Best gift ever to enjoy as a kiddo! 1st time he picked one out for himself another customer in line had him completely baffled when he asked him if he knew just how large they can actually grow..and to be careful with that one..lol he was a lil hesitant to purchase it at that point but then also got curious...just like Otto the giant goldfish in a nursery storybook I used to read to him. Good memories always fun to look back on and this informative video gave me that really joyful flashback memory I will always hold on to when he was just a little boy full of wonder. Now he is a teen still full of wonder with nature and all things growing and visiting our families garden. Never wants to harm a single insect careful to not even step on an ant. Just an all around good in harmony with nature guy! Love his caring spirit with gardening. 😊❤ Next off to the nursery to find him a carnivorous plant to cherish and care for again.

[@MTB_adventures_with_Sam]

This is amazing! Thank you so much! I live in one of the few places carnivorous plants grow natively. This is so helpful!

[@epicgardening]

That's awesome!

[@princessdi6021]

I just bought a Drocera Capences sundew and it's now getting its dew drops back after being shipped. It caught a little fungus gnat yesterday and the sinister glee I had at seeing it with its first bug was so pure 🤣

[@izzyxblades]

The most gratifying thing is keeping sundews and pinguiculas next to normal plants, and watch the gnats get caught and die in front of your eyes 😆

[@dMi_mi]

💖🤭

[@dMi_mi]

​@@izzyxbladesohh I need these plants. 👀

[@akxdev]

I need to visit this place. Cool exhibits, knowledgeable employees, and a good excuse to get back to San Diego. Thanks for sharing these videos, Kevin.

[@williammaxwell1919]

It's weird to think that many of us have "botanical" gardens on our bucket list. Which reminds me, I haven't been to Mt Coot-tha botanic gardens in Brisbane, Australia in many years... appart from a botanical garden, an extensive library, a herbarium and a planetarium, there is also a Japanese Bonsai garden... would love Kevin and Jacques to go down the Bonsai rabbit warren. Many years ago when I was unemployed, to get unemployment benifits, I had to attend proscribed courses. One such course (over 6 weeks) was how to create a "small business". One of the other attendees was a "biker", tats and all, who in the pre "wearing patches in Qld is a crime" admitted who he rode with. This guy was a gentle giant, but I most definitely wouldn't have wanted to cross him in a dark alley. What he also unashamedly admitted was that creating Bonsai was his passion and his business idea. Kudos and respect to him. One way of looking at Bonsai is that it is training in the art of patience.... Hmm, maybe Kevin's not there yet

[@roxassora2706]

"Feed Me, Seymour"

[@sree_theachiever]

Hi

[@juanlopez-ss8jj]

*screaming* 😂😂😂

[@anarchist_parable]

Does it have to be human? Does it have to be mine?

[@7burnitdown]

I would love to see maybe a part 2 where you make a terrarium with this guy for all the carnivorous plants or even a plant bog inside a lil plastic kiddie pool that you burry in the ground!

[@sunshinecarnivores1919]

I love carnivorous plants! They are my favorite plants, it's too bad there is so much bad information about growing them successfully which makes a lot of people believe that they are "impossible" to grow.

[@rickthelian2215]

Beautiful ❤ Being in an inclosed large greenhouse, how do they feed them with insects for the plants?

[@katy8161]

I love all of your videos when you visit the botanical garden. We had a sundew for forever a while ago, and I miss it so much. This is inspiring!

[@IanFarquharson2]

Great episode. Kevin’s face at the ‘rainwater if you have it’ - yep only 1 million litres.

[@NathanShepard]

In the case of the Mimosa, it is a heat response. Go look at one during the middle of the day with relative high temperatures...and all the leaves will be crunched in and 'narrow'. Your fingers are hot compared to the relative air so they collapse. I have found keeping Sarracenia ssp. and SE US Drosera ssp. outdoors year round to be the best way to keep them. Along with fly traps, the SE carnivorous plants thrive with a dormant season.

[@tahursh637]

This is so cool! I love the science (botany) behind all of the plants!!!

[@kat1984]

I keep my sundews and pinguicula in a pie plate filled with distilled water and use the tray method. I also have it in a slotted orchid pot so the roots get oxygen. It lives next to a humidifier that runs 24/7. I needed it to be open to the air so all of the carnivorous plants in that pot can control fungus gnats, mosquitos, and baby house flies. I have plants that want to me moist at all times and that tends to breed fungus gnats. I haven't had any issues with flying insects since they took off. Drosera/ sundew come in so many different forms and they're fun. All of the sundew plants that I have curl their leaves to envelope the insects.

[@innominate555]

So informative. Hv learnt so much from watching this.

[@epicgardening]

So glad!

[@capybaracake3798]

I'm studying Natural resource management in the southeast. Pitcherplants are native to where I'm at. Just saw one in the wild a few weeks ago! They're awesome little things. And this video was a great bite-sized and digestiable (pun intended) imsect of information about them. Thanm you!!

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

If you live in a frost-free (or rare frost) zone, you can grow Sarracenias outside. They like having their "ankles" always wet, so try nesting a bowl-shaped pot inside a larger bowl with no drain hole. I've kept mine alive for 10 years this way, watering about once a week to keep the water level about half-way up. Oh, and you should dump the whole thing periodically when it's rainy. Look up how to make the growing medium, though, it's kind of special.

[@earthisflat]

Ive never heard of the tickle me plant but that's probably the coolest plant ive ever seen, i definitely want one now 😅

[@VaultDwellerGal]

Fantastic!! I’ve been growing Venus flytraps for years in Texas. This is the video I’ve been waiting for!! 😀 Carnivorous plants are so fascinating; their origin story is beyond interesting. It’s fun to think of them as the dinosaurs of the plant world. Thanks for sharing such awesome content. It made my day 🥰

[@joshuamirabal3617]

Where at in Texas? It’s pretty dry up here in the panhandle so the moisture part is the most difficult

[@VaultDwellerGal]

@@joshuamirabal3617 Shavano Park/North San Antonio. To get around the dryness, I grow them in large net cups with moss, and place them in a container of water. It creates a swampy microclimate. I refill the water as needed, and never let the moss in the net cups dry out. Also, I keep them in semi-shaded areas so they don’t burn in the summer.

[@mkrgonzales]

So informative. My kid is in 3rd Gr and thought the venus fly trap was cool, too! Great interview!

[@adyscript]

Great video. I need to try again growing these guys. Also, congrats to Ari on what seems like an incredible career! I’m fairly certain I went to school with him many moons ago lol.

[@underwoodnr]

Low Country! Such a good and unique place in America that really is underrated. Really unique flora and funa and rich traditional in gardening!

[@gantzthegreat8998]

the low country is much further down in south carolina from the area that the flytrap is found

[@vital20]

Love this style video. Super professional video and audio quality. Loved seeing you as the "learner" as well. Keep it up 🎉

[@tleigh4583]

Can’t believe I missed this upload! I have a handful of pings but am itching to venture into other carnivorous plants. Super interesting content! ❤

[@bublhed]

I was really happy you covered this type of plant care. I purchased pitcher plant seeds and have been afraid to start them without researching their needs. Maybe you can go over starting Heuchera from seed…aka Coral Bells.

[@alexburgdorf419]

Ari really knows his stuff. Loved this style vid

[@ceeemm1901]

Amazing video!! I just learned so much!! Thanks..

[@JoseFloresEC]

Crazy how I always assumed venus fly traps were from some rainforest area like southeast asia, and not the east coast of the us

[@gcc2313]

I think most of us associate most tropical plants with south America, Africa and Asia. But there's some tropical pockets in south Europe, middle east, middle America and south US. Or tropical type plants with some frost hardiness.

[@craighawksworth6860]

yeah you even find the sticky sundew type in Scotland ! couldn't quite believe my eyes the first time I saw them.

[@tomsenft7434]

I kinda knew they were from The Carolinas, but I didn't know why. I also didn't know why they always died in my house. This was so interesting!

[@potatopoii2720]

@@gcc2313there are no places with tropical climates in europe, maybe some small parts with subtropical but the rest is temperate.

[@chriskappler22]

I love my carnivorous plants. I have successfully grown venus fly traps, Sarracenia, and sundews in Colorado three years now outdoors. I shelter in the garage when it is colder than 30 at night. The Sarracenia flowers are beautiful. I agree humidity helps but not a necessity. I find the full sun is much more important for success. Colorado isn't the most humid place in the world...

[@knittinko]

Wow, that was super interesting! Thank you.

[@Bolly811]

Wow Kevin. Didn’t know your channel could get cooler! I think you just unlock a new interest. Please keep teaching us about unique plants.

[@blackaliss9488]

My one sarracenia's first flower opened today after I got it 3years ago. ❤ The Nepentis other sarracenia and venus made new plants and the drosera grow like weeds. Going into summer here

[@Sanchez96d]

They’re so cool! I’ve seen them in the wild, in the woods of N.C. I’ve been watching your videos!! It’s soo cool you can grow many plants in San Diego.

[@maureencornell7151]

Such a fascinating video, thank you!

[@Ashas.Garden]

I didn’t even know I-was interested in this topic. Good information.

[@Annastasia666]

Super cool you're doing a vid on these killer (pun intended) plants. I grew up in Jersey-(still here) across the street from part of The Great Swamp Refuge and my sis & friends were always playing in the swamp. Bog hopping was a fun activity but seeing all of the cool plants we the best part. Snake plants/reeds were my fave but the pitcher plants were just fascinating! Love you guys!!!

[@catiepower3550]

I’ve killed so many of these over the years. I’m curious to grow them again. Around my produce on the counter. Natural way to combat fruit flies.

[@domesti-city]

Hey Kevin, I would think you could use your pond water for your plant. It's filtered, full of nutrients, etc. My grandmother had a couple beautiful Venus Fly Traps when I was growing up, and she was always after us kids to stop putting flies in them. Great video!

[@slowpoke4557]

The "full of nutrients" part is why you DON'T want to use pond water. Filtered doesn't take out ALL of the minerals and nutrients either. Carnivorous plants get their nutrients from the bugs they eat, not the water or soil.

[@hukmai]

TLDR; Parts per million in water should be, < 50ppm with distilled/RO at 0 ppm and rain at 0-10ppm depending on air quality. My water in Los Angeles is ~216ppm. The minerals would choke the plants. Also these plants have modified leaf to get nutrients from they so they can not uptake those from the root it will cause rot as it will build up in the water and media. I agree these plant evolved in a place where nitrogen is difficult to uptake and retain. Peat bogs for the North America varieties have acidic soil (4-5.5) so thing don't decompose effectively and when they do water washes it away including minerals. All of the North American varieties grow with short rhizomes and central crow, rhizomes are good are establishing the plant quick and for quick water transport because they are shallow. However because of this water with higher minerals + soil with nitrogen will be uptaken burning the roots. The natural progression of Peat bog is slowly things will fall lower and low down the bogs, the top most layer will never be able to accumulate enough nutrients for larger plants in these bigger patches so grass and carnivorous plant grow practically on top of it. So in the environment they are in, relative to the plant with low minerals and nutrients osmosis will be consistent with the plant what mostly washed over by pure rain water. The moment minerals and nutrients are added it will go from much higher concentration area to lower concentration, meaning into the plant from root up versus how it's designed from leaf down. Then in the winter months they will go dormant accumulating enough energy ( the movement trap do rely on Ion chemical transfer channel). Carnivorous plants have a different root uptake system making sensitive to whats in the water and ground. The modified leaves are what take in the nutrients from insects as their Stoma( the opening in leave for gas exchange) is modified to secrete enzymes and absorb Nitrogen. Yes, if I slow development or stunted growth for Nepnthese I will add a few table spoons foliage feed at quarter strength diluted in RO or distilled water into the pitcher these plants grow year round in a tropical environment so it fine to supplement. A little for Fly traps,sundew, and sarracenia is ok for the growing growing/flowering month but not necessary. These plants grow relativly slowly and sunlight is what is feeding the plants for the sugar while the nitrogen is to build more plant

[@jameswiggle]

you can use pond water if it is acidic

[@HeartOfEdenFarms]

This is so cool! I have always been fascinated by carnivorous plants!

[@jennydfrog8007]

I have a nepenthes, a sarracenia, and a Venus fly trap. They are in my laundry room in a 4 shelf pop up green house, humidity stays at about 65 % or higher. I leave a container of water in there to keep humidity high, but, I also leave it slightly unzipped to allow for slight air movement. I have a box fan in the laundry room running at all times. The green house has grow lights and if it gets chilly I turn my seed starting mat on. Temp is usually 78, but 83 to 87 in the summer The nepenthes is loving it, the Sarracenia is struggling along with the venus fly trap. They probably are hungry. The bugs, mainly fruit flies and fungus gnats, love the nepenthes!

[@potatopoii2720]

Sarracenia and Venus flytraps are outdoor perennials that need full sun and a dormancy period during the winter

[@jennydfrog8007]

@@potatopoii2720 I take them out for a couple of months in the winter, I have a cold spot in the laundry room that gets down to 50

[@thatcapuchin6597]

Kevin! Idk how you keep feeding us wonderful content but please keep it up. 😃

[@51rwyatt]

Over my 40+ years I've grown CPs three times. Doing it now. I have an outdoor bog with carnivore plants that are local to my region, and some indoor "windowsill" plants. Going well, glad they are back in my life, they are super fun. Like watching a fire.

[@TheOnlyKontrol]

“Like watching a fire” yeah people really loved watching their houses and properties burn down this year all over North America

[@bobbyhogan1823]

Would also like to stress that the sarracenja and flytraps require a LOT of sunlight. They grow in open boggy areas with few trees and get often get upwards of 7 or more direct hours of sunlight. If you want them to look their best, grow em outside and give ‘em as much light as you would give a tomato.

[@polarberri]

Such a cool video, full of awesome footage and great tips.

[@rotterintheblight6143]

Be careful with terrariums and humidity domes for carnivorous plants, it can cause rot and mold. Often they get called "death domes" by growers.

[@IjeomaThePlantMama]

Learned this the hard way, both my sundews rotted away after I was told to keep a humidity dome.over both of them 😢

[@rotterintheblight6143]

@@IjeomaThePlantMama ugh that sucks, had a similar thing happen with my first sarracenia. I bought one that had a plastic thing around it and the care instructions on it were about as wrong as it gets and it died within a couple weeks.

[@migyman321]

I used to love them but they are hard work. You really have to perfect everything. Amount of light, perfect temperature, perfect humidity, look for pests, repot them often… etc. easiest one I’ve had to take care of were the Saracenia

[@ozzypunk1]

Fantastic looking greenhouse 🌱

[@tayloramari121305]

This is easily the coolest thing I have ever learned

[@Crimea_River]

Lol touch grass (pun intended).

[@TheMisbegotten]

No talk about when they go dormant and such and how to recognize it or help in in home environments? I have both an in ground pitcher and a venus flytrap and I don't know how to prepare them and leaving them outside wouldn't work for me. My flytrap for instance is planted in spagnum moss, with live spaghnum on top and its kept moist with a wick at the bottom sitting in water and I do use a spray cannister to kinda clean them off and also make the live moss just extra moist. Both are sitting next to a fish tank under high light, but I am worried because they are not going dormant and instead are just throwing up new growth. So, what do I do?

[@talkingweevil3172]

Try putting in unseated room, as a last resort put it in fridge

[@7thsluglord363]

ive been wanting to try growing a bunch of carnivorous plants along with everything else i grow to see if that would handle pest issues like gnats and aphids

[@wjm1319]

I use carnivorous plants as pest control in the greenhouse. So much easier to keep insects off of my edibles when I give them a plant designed to attract the insects instead. As a passive control, they won't cure an infestation. But when they're around, they reduce the numbers of infestations.

[@withoutrhythm4009]

On the Pitcher plants, how do they get rid of the carcasses left inside of it? Does it just overflow when it rains and flushes it out?

[@garyhamilton2979]

I've wanted a venus fly trap for a while now but could never get them in Northern Ireland. Love the info on this video.

[@Psp-id7uw]

Isn't there droseras in Ireland

[@Psp-id7uw]

Send one

[@stuartmcdonald1525]

Loved learning about these, especially since I recently impulse bought a pitcher plant! Double check that map of the east coast though 😂

[@Barosunflower]

Thanks for sharing Very interesting ❤

[@gus8142]

Howdy 🙋‍♀️ can you tell what video you show painting the beautiful garden wall???? Thanks 😀

[@pointyorb]

Could I achieve proper humidity levels with a Nepenthese pitcher plant by placing the pot in a tray filled with sphagnum moss? Also at 14:49, it is stated that distilled water doesn't have enough nutrients, which could be bad in the long term. Could this be addressed by simply feeding the plant insects every now and then?

[@elijahwu4168]

They can absorb nutrients from they're roots, but very few. putting fertilizer or nutrient rich soil will still kill them. great video!

[@Mihhgvhiih]

Love your hard work

[@andnowi]

What are those two big-leaved plants in the jar at 2.15 pls?

[@johncaswell2648]

I tried to grow some pitchers from seed, first attempt didn't go well but I'm researching where I went wrong and trying again. I know I had too much moisture during the cold stratification because the seeds molded, but checking if there's anything else I did wrong.

[@jameswiggle]

how did you do the cold stratifcation? i put mine seeds in a test tube of water and leave it in the fridge for 1 month...never had any mold.

[@johncaswell2648]

@@jameswiggle the instructions that came with mine said to lightly moisten a paper towel and then seal the seeds in a plastic bag with that for several weeks.

[@jameswiggle]

@@johncaswell2648 i never tried that method. i just put mine in a small test tube of water . of course..only use distilled water

[@davidunderwood4499]

Awesome I just ordered some drosera and vft before this video.

[@bean_ctm724]

Thank you. Ice been trying to Binge killer plants. It's not that many videos out there

[@rotterintheblight6143]

If you're looking for channel recommendations California carnivores, predatory plants, carnivorous plant hub, and Brad's greenhouse are all good resources.

[@bean_ctm724]

@@rotterintheblight6143 I mean more so documentary style. But that'll work also

[@alexisayirebi-acquah5730]

Great and very informative video.

[@ellenzinner]

Help, what type of soil should I be putting the pitcher plant in? Mine is in sphagnum. Can i put the plants in a greenhouse i just put up inside.

[@danielcarr5163]

I am looking at getting vivariums to host dart frogs and carnivorous plants have some green in my flat :)

[@vivalavivarium]

so the how as to why the plants move is because they have large vacuoles in the cells that give the cells structure and keep the cell walls from collapsing, this can take up like 80% id say of a cell sometimes. so in oder to move the plant moves the water in the vacuoles from cell vacuole to cell vacuole to fill and empty the different vacuoles in different locations on the plant which will push the leaves around. also another and potentially more important reason the sensitive plant moves is because of wind, wind can take a lot of water from a plant through the leaves and in order to remain photosynthesizing (so not closing the stomata to retain water) the plant closes the stomata filled parts of the leaves as to reduce the amount of wind friction across that surface of the plant.

[@seanc1920]

Lol crazy they makes this video the day after I start looking into getting carnivorous plants!

[@epicgardening]

We got you - Kevin

[@talkingweevil3172]

@@epicgardeningyour wrong on many th8ngs

[@jlord4843]

Field trip!!!

[@adielgonzalez2517]

Vft enjoy a lot of sun. I place them in a tray full of ro water about couple inches and where they’ll get a lot of sun.

[@sarasparks1802]

love this interesting dive

[@tahursh637]

So, is the Asian version of the Pitcher plant an aerial? Like a bromide?

[@kennyweatherspoon8135]

I noticed a small error at 01:27 North Carolina is labeled as Virginia.

[@contessa.adella]

I bought a Flytrap, planted it in sphagnum moss in a bowl terrarium. I became sick and died over a few weeks…..but I left it alone and after winter….new leaves emerged from the dead ones. It is not as big as original, but seems healthy now. I only use rain water.

[@pointyorb]

I'm not an expert at keeping venus fly traps but I think that might have been the dormancy period. Could be wrong, though

[@VoteThirdPartyorFourth]

sweet episode

[@JabecoC]

Legit I need some help here.. I have been growing my Alta Pitcher plant for about 2 years. It's now over 7 foot tall! It's getting out of hand but I'd like to ask any pro's for tips on cutting it back! For what it's worth, It's grown an entire second plant out of the rootball. I've considered cutting the entire 7' off and starting over again with the smaller growth. Is that possible? Will it keep generating new plants? Thanks!!

[@chrisgoldbach4450]

Drocera is probably my favorite. It already flowered. It always catches something and the look is epic. Venus fly trap is cool but boring. It's rare to see the moment a fly makes its last move. The pitchers just chill haha

[@darkwinter8]

I just repotted my VFT that I've been raising for several months now. And I think I've killed it by repotting it, because the traps and leaves are dying. 😔

[@tahursh637]

What percent of humidity would they thrive in?

[@talkingweevil3172]

It doesn’t matter they are wrong in outdoors there isn’t much humidity

[@terrivance8750]

Kevin, The state labelled Virginia is actually North Carolina--Virginia is the state above that. 😊

[@traxeonic3600]

My kids caught that too

[@greengardenideas]

Hi ! Welldone Brother ! your job is great ❤

[@luciabee]

very cool! thank you!

[@Geeksmithing]

I'm surprised the question of feeding hamburger or bug alternatives didn't come up.

[@ericasminisminiverse]

I was wondering if I could build a terrarium for my Venus fly traps so excited to try it.

[@toolman9081]

The fly trap is indigenous to my current location ❤

[@daniescc9622]

But what about sun and average temperature? Can i have them in the soil they say but outdoors or in a partial shade area?

[@potatopoii2720]

Full sun outdoor, like tomato plants. They can handle down to -8c durning the winter

[@daniescc9622]

@@potatopoii2720 Thanks!

[@savannahrains8187]

Awesome video!

[@MCSoapthgr8]

1:30 North Carolina and Virginia would like to have a word with the cartographer

[@ytube777]

how's the undigestable matter gotten rid of with the pitcher plant?

[@talkingweevil3172]

It stays there

[@yolandaramirez3273]

Hello your new subscriber from the Philippines.

[@darrylt8502]

I bought two last year. It was fine the first two months but I noticed each plant only eat less than 2 bugs so I brought them outside and within a week, both plants caught a bunch of flies and fungus gnats. Yup, but they both started dying in weeks to come. Probably died of obesity I guess...

[@Top5_Pilipinas]

😅

[@7burnitdown]

Bought 2 what? Some of the temperate plants go dormant during the winter months and aren’t actually dead

[@stormraven4183]

I just brought home a Venus flytrap today, and this popped up. Thank you, Kevin!

[@pointyorb]

How's the venus flytrap doing now?

[@izzyxblades]

The channel TechPlant taught me that you could put tiny diluted droplets of fertilizer on sundew leaves, and they absorb it that way. Just be careful not to drop any fertilizer in their soil, that hurts them

[@ozywomandius2290]

How timely! I just bought my first Venus flytrap and was wondering how to care for it. Thank you so much. That said, so you know anything about how retail plants originate, so that poaching doesn’t occur?

[@ozywomandius2290]

That’s a shame I won’t be able to propagate. Thanks for the reply.

[@Takoyaki20248]

Whats that place name

[@kanagawakenji7]

What happens to to bits that aren't used by the pitcher plant?

[@talkingweevil3172]

It sit there in the bottom

[@LissaFocus]

This is amazing

[@LightWalker03]

For the sticky trap/sun dew, that would be a hell of a payback to white flies that try to suck on plants to get sucked on and digested lol

[@TC-ss5bh]

Humbly....... Awesome.....

[@FrankGhal]

How do the plants lure in prey during the winter?

[@cp70375]

As someone who grows venus flytraps I cringed so hard when they triggered traps for no reasons haha, they looked pretty slow and green too, they need more light! Also he said to grow them in a terrarium if you're a beginner and that's not true, growing venus flytraps in a terrarium is extremely hard to control the humidity and mineral buildup, they will get rizome rot whitin weeks if not handled properly.

[@potatopoii2720]

Yep they’re an outdoor plant and they don’t really care about humidity, all they need is water, full sunlight and a dormancy period to survive

[@talkingweevil3172]

He also said it fine to fertilize 😢