FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I just picked up a clearance VFT cube at Lowe's for $1.50. The plant is in poor shape and after reading some of the pages on this forum I think I'm going back to get the rest of them! There are about 4 left. The others looked bad as well, but I was unaware of the hibernation stage. They also may be dying due to lack of water. Mine has since perked up since I watered it, unfortunately I watered it with tap water. The leaves are already burnt on the ends so I'm going to guess Lowe's watered them with tap water as well.

Anyway, I'm excited about having this little guy. Hopefully I can get him to flourish!

I want to express my appreciation for this site. It truly is a great resource!

echto wrote:They also may be dying due to lack of water.

Yeah, but probably mostly because they are being watered with the tap water.

well it would be a good idea to flush the soil to get rid of the nasty minerals in it,basically water it a load until your happy the soil is clean.if you get all the other VFT's then maybe flush the soild of those. the plant should get over the tap water in time

i hope ive helped you

Yeah, I love a good rescue!!! Good Luck with them.

I think after you buy plants from stores like that you should re pot them right when you get them to remove minerals and other stuff that they put the poor vfts in

Thanks everyone! I had a container outside that had collected rain water and I used the water to flush the moss this evening. I did not get a chance to get to Lowe's this evening. I'm going to try to rush over there tomorrow during my lunch.

Seeing how I don't have anything I can transplant the VFT to, and I don't have any moss, I have put the little guy back in the cube. Before doing that I cut off all the black burnt material off the leaves. Having it under my desk lamp has also perked the little guy up. I'm hoping the wash of rain water will produce even greater results.

Here are some pics I took this evening. The state this VFT is in is 100X better than it was on Sunday when I bought it. I just now realise how long ago that was, the remaining ones at Lowe's are surely hurting units by now. ugh

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/T5 ... directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pd ... directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Iw ... directlink
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/FI ... directlink

Oh wow those things are in pretty bad shape. Good luck getting them better

flippin heck they dont look well.hopefully he'll perk up soon

The funniest part, is look at the picture on the side of the container, then look at the actual plant

I was able to rescue 4 more VFT from Lowe's today. There were 3 more VFTs and 1 pitcher plant but they were covered with mold. As soon as I get them cleaned up I'll post some pics.

Here are the 4 removed from the death cubes.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/4a ... directlink

Here is a close up prior to getting soaked in a bowl of rain water.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bD ... directlink

Here are the little guys all cleaned up and back in their boxes. Unfortunately until I get more moss these containers will have to do.

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/vk ... directlink

you might want to get rid of the cube around it becuase that could creat humidity and promote mold

I rescue them from Lowe's in that condition quite often. Same cubes and everything. Just got two the other day for $2.50 each, nearly identical to yours. You got the better deal.

They ALWAYS perk up. I typically back the lid of in stages over a period of about a week. 1/3 way open for 2 days, 2/3 way open for 2 more days, and then without the lid but still in the cube for another 2 or 3 days. I then remove them from the cube and keep them really moist. After that point I repot them as soon as I get a chance. I would put them all together in a six inch pot, if I were you. They always seem to like a peat/sand mix, 50:50. Good water and they will look awesome in a couple months.

I once bought a large death cube for half off. I thought it had one miserable looking plant, when instead it had several. Score!

Keep onr rescuing!

I'll take that advice! Thanks!

Getting 8+ hours of light under a desk lamp seems to be helping. The 4 I just bought are showing signs of improvement.

I rescued my original VFTs from Walmart. They were in a similar cube, but they were in a little better condition than those. I immediately transplanted them into a large pot, but left it in mostly indirect sunlight for about a week. Once they started showing some new growth, I moved the pot into full sun - probably a little too quickly. They lost most of the old leaves pretty shortly, but the new growth was visibly healthier and stronger, and it just kept coming. I have no idea how many plants I've divided, sold, and given away over the years, all from that one little "death cube" - over a hundred, I guess.