FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hello, gang!

I was wondering about how one might feed terrestrial bladderworts. I was looking at getting one, since I don't actually have any bladderworts in my collection.

Is there a culture of microbes one can purchase to add to water and then top water with that solution? Or is it all that necessary?

Aaaaand this is the wrong part of the forum.

alecStewart1 wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 10:31 pm Aaaaand this is the wrong part of the forum.

Fixed.

With all my Utrics, I just keep them wet and in good light. Microbes will eventually populate from various sources and be a supplemental food supply.

They love a gross slimy water tray. If you grow any other tray watered carnivorous plants that accumulate algae etc and aren’t super concerned about the utrics invading other pots just pop them in the same tray. They are pretty sneaky about growing out the bottom of the pot and migrating around the water tray though so if you don’t like the idea of them getting into other pots you’ll want to keep them separate.

Bug_cemetery wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 12:49 am They love a gross slimy water tray. If you grow any other tray watered carnivorous plants that accumulate algae etc and aren’t super concerned about the utrics invading other pots just pop them in the same tray. They are pretty sneaky about growing out the bottom of the pot and migrating around the water tray though so if you don’t like the idea of them getting into other pots you’ll want to keep them separate.

Do they eat algae? I've read that utrics like "pond water" but what is that, exactly -- duck poop? polliwogs? or some other nutrient that is absent from sterile RO water...???

The like all of the microfauna that motor around in pond water.

Panman wrote: ↑Thu Feb 15, 2024 1:10 pm The like all of the microfauna that motor around in pond water.

Infusoria. I wonder if they are already in the peat that's harvested from bogs, and maybe scummy water trays allow them to proliferate. I'm traveling at the moment, but when I get back I'll inspect some of my water trays under a microscope. Unless someone else does it first

I just keep mine in my typical mix, keep it wet in the growing season, and they flourish, eating nematodes and protozoa. What they eat is so small it isn't really possible to 'feed' them, only to encourage conditions for their prey. Water trays are useful, especially if you have Sphagnum in them, I have a great growth of U. reniformis in my trays escaped from its pots. I use live Sphagnum to grow this species as the leaves so large the Sphagnum doesn't out-compete it.

Cheers
Steve

Mine live in an aquarium. I had to do something with them last year because I was not able to finish my pond as planned. It has gotten HUGE and I do not even feed it. I am assuming it is eating the aquarium's version of plankton.

andynorth wrote: ↑Fri Feb 16, 2024 9:04 pm Mine live in an aquarium. I had to do something with them last year because I was not able to finish my pond as planned. It has gotten HUGE and I do not even feed it. I am assuming it is eating the aquarium's version of plankton.

did you seed your aquarium with any microbes? are there other things living in your aquarium?

Did not seed with anything. There are some almost dead aquatic plants, pinwheels and a couple bog candles in with it.

andynorth wrote: ↑Sat Feb 17, 2024 1:29 am Did not seed with anything. There are some almost dead aquatic plants, pinwheels and a couple bog candles in with it.

What are pinwheels? I am planning to make a CP aquarium once my tadpoles move out

elaineo wrote: ↑Sat Feb 17, 2024 3:31 am

andynorth wrote: ↑Sat Feb 17, 2024 1:29 am Did not seed with anything. There are some almost dead aquatic plants, pinwheels and a couple bog candles in with it.

What are pinwheels? I am planning to make a CP aquarium once my tadpoles move out

Aldrovanda vesiculosa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldrovanda_vesiculosa

andynorth wrote: ↑Sat Feb 17, 2024 3:34 am

elaineo wrote: ↑Sat Feb 17, 2024 3:31 am What are pinwheels? I am planning to make a CP aquarium once my tadpoles move out

Aldrovanda vesiculosa
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aldrovanda_vesiculosa

oh yeah, that's exactly what i'm wanting to grow! Are yours doing well in the aquarium?