Venus Fly Traps and the refrigerator? - February 8th, 2007 at 04:14 AM
Hello all,
I'm an absolute novice embarking on my first terrarium experiment involving two venus fly traps and two hermit crabs. I've been told that the fly traps need a hibernating period this time of year and that one should up root them and store them in an environment that is a constant 40 degrees. The only place in my apartment where I might be able to maintain such a temperature requirement would be my refrigerator! One of the plants appears now to be dead, in all honesty, after living for a month in my care and doing well for a while(it ate a moth and a fox-elder beetle). It has shriveled up a good deal. I've been told that these plants will, however, do that during their "dormant season." The other plant is doing much better and I'm using filtered, room-temperature tap water to keep them moist. The terrarium itself has the essential four layers of "earth" (that is, a coarse drainage layer of small gravel, a carbon filter layer, some coconut shell, and then a layer of potting soil [African violet mix]). So my question is, how do I know if the first plant is dead or just hibernating, and, do I actually need to uproot both of them and stick them in my fridge?!? I can send pics if necessary. Thanks a bunch!
I'm an absolute novice embarking on my first terrarium experiment involving two venus fly traps and two hermit crabs. I've been told that the fly traps need a hibernating period this time of year and that one should up root them and store them in an environment that is a constant 40 degrees. The only place in my apartment where I might be able to maintain such a temperature requirement would be my refrigerator! One of the plants appears now to be dead, in all honesty, after living for a month in my care and doing well for a while(it ate a moth and a fox-elder beetle). It has shriveled up a good deal. I've been told that these plants will, however, do that during their "dormant season." The other plant is doing much better and I'm using filtered, room-temperature tap water to keep them moist. The terrarium itself has the essential four layers of "earth" (that is, a coarse drainage layer of small gravel, a carbon filter layer, some coconut shell, and then a layer of potting soil [African violet mix]). So my question is, how do I know if the first plant is dead or just hibernating, and, do I actually need to uproot both of them and stick them in my fridge?!? I can send pics if necessary. Thanks a bunch!