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Carnivorous plants are a type of plant beings that, unlike other plants, have turned their leaves into sophisticated traps with which they hunt their own food. And, there are so few nutrients in the soil where they grow that, if they had not done it that way, we probably would not be able to enjoy them today.
However, their care is not always easy. Having a copy requires acquiring basic knowledge about it so that it can live for several years without having problems. Because, If you have never had one before and you are wondering why my carnivorous plant turns black, then we will give you the answer to your question.
Spent trap
This is usually the most common reason. Traps, like leaves, eventually dry out and die. How long can it take? It depends on each species and how it is being cared for, but to give you an idea a trap of venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) tends to hunt three or four times before wilting; those of the sundew more or less open and close up to five times, and those of the Sarracenia are more resistant and trap prey for six months or more.
To avoid unwanted presences, such as parasitic fungi, it is necessary to cut them. But yes, use clean scissors, otherwise it could be you, unintentionally, the one who causes a fungal infection. And the spores are so small that they cannot be seen, that is why a good cleaning with soap and water before using the tool is so useful.
Sunburn
Although there are carnivores that must be located in an area where direct sun hits them, If we buy them from a nursery where they were protected from the sun and we expose them directly to it, they will burn. To avoid this, you have to get used to them little by little, putting them in semi-shade as soon as you get home and, in autumn or spring, exposing them more and more to the morning sunlight.
Furthermore, if we are going to grow them indoors it is very important that we move them away from the windows a bitsince otherwise the sun would also burn them due to the magnifying glass effect that occurs when the rays pass through the glass and hit the plants.
What are the carnivorous plants that need sun?
So that there are no problems, you need to know that all Sarracenia must be in full sunif possible throughout the day, or at least half a day. It is very interesting that they are exposed to the star king, since they acquire their natural colors, which are very showy.
Also, other carnivores want light, but not as much. Let’s see what they are:
- Sun for half a day: Dionaea, Drosophyllum.
- Filtered sun: Heliamphora, Cephalotus, Pinguicula, Darlingtonia.
Is hibernating
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If we have taken good care of our plants and with the arrival of autumn-winter the leaves begin to turn ugly, we do not have to worry. There are several genera, such as the Sarracenia, Dionaea, Drosophyllum, Darlingtonia and the Nordic Sundew, which need a bit of cold to be able to grow strongly next spring. In the case of living in an area with a mild climate, where the minimum temperature does not drop below 0º at any time, we have to remove the substrate, spray their roots with fungicide and place them in a tupperware in the refrigerator where they will remain for two months at a temperature of 6 ° C.
Eye, This does not mean that the plants mentioned can withstand strong frosts.. The minimum temperature for them should not be lower than -3ºC, since otherwise they could die of cold.
Irrigation water with lime
Excess lime in irrigation water affects all plants, regardless of what types they are. But carnivores are especially delicate, since they cannot absorb the minerals that are dissolved in said water. Therefore, always irrigate with pure, distilled or osmosis rainwater. In this way, its roots will not be spoiled, nor will the plant become ill.
What do we do if we have already watered it with inadequate water? If it has been once or twice, nothing happens: we water it with distilled water and little by little the problem will resolve itself.. But, if there have already been a few more, we will have to extract the plant from the pot, remove the substrate and wash the roots with distilled water. Then, we will plant it in a new pot with a suitable substrate for carnivores, the standard mixture being the following: unfertilized blond peat (for sale here!) with perlite (for sale here!) in equal parts.
Excess irrigation
Although there are some carnivores, such as Sarracenia, which have to be watered very often, there are others that, on the contrary, do not feel good about having their roots in permanent contact with water, such as Dionaea or Drosera. For this reason, When we see that the leaves are turning black, we cannot rule out excess watering, and even less if we see that they are losing strength.
To try to save them, you have to change the substrateput brown peat with perlite on them, and water less. If we put a plate under them, we have to drain it every time we water in order to keep them well.
Has been paid
In the same way that lime can burn the roots, making the traps turn black, the fertilizer has the same effect. Never fertilize carnivorous plantsbut rather let them hunt their own prey. In addition, the substrate we choose must be very poor in nutrients.
If it has been paid, then we will have to do the same as if we had watered it with water that is not correct; namely, extract the plant from the pot, and proceed to wash the roots with distilled water. Then, we plant it in a new container, made of plastic with holes in its base, and a substrate made up of equal parts blond peat and perlite.
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