xr280xr wrote:TampaTraps wrote:
Are ALL insects harmful to VFTs or could I be dealing with a cohabitant?
If all insects were harmful, VFTs wouldn't exist, since they eat insects! But no, some insects will hangout on or around your VFT without harming it. The most common of these are probably springtails, fungus gnats, and spiders. Spiders are wise to the fact that bugs are attracted to VFTs and will build webs around them, and sometimes even across the traps. It's usually small spiders that are successful with this because they're small enough to navigate the traps without triggering them and being eaten! With the exception of fungus gnats, if you don't see any damage, they're nothing to worry about. In the case of fungus gnats, they won't harm your VFT, but they might be a sign you're keeping it too wet, which can be harmful.
HAHA, now that I look at my question, that did sound kind of silly
Ok, great. I'm new to this and need as much help as possible.
I think I have successfully got mine growing and one actually caught a fly for the first time! Should I be worried about the plant eating TOO much?
I'm kind of getting off topic here, but how much water is too much? I'm using New Zealand long fiber sphagnum moss and the breed is a B52 clone. I got the small traps about 2 months ago from eBay user joelscarnivorousplants. I'm using a 3" diameter net basket sitting in a 3" tall 10"x6" rectangular Tupperware. It's hot here in central Florida so I do have to fill the tupperware almost daily, but I only fill it about 1/3 the way up the pot. Sound correct?
A Couple more things:
-Will direct hard downpours of rain hurt my VFT? We have crazy downpours sometimes here in Tampa.
-When should I consider transplanting to a new pot, and when I do, how well do VFTs take to their new homes?
Sorry for all the off topic from insects, but I'd be posting in 4 different sub-threads with these questions...
Thanks!