FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

hi guys!

well momma had a few extra bucks so she bought me this Butterwhort from the local nursery. i told her she may have saved it from the "death cube", she just looked at me funny! lol





i have it sitting out under the umbrella on the pool deck, its bright out there, but not in direct light.

so i question is duz this thing like deep roots too like VFT's? maybe like same care, just better draining soil and no direct sunlight? should i cut its flower stem too for right now?

Timmer wrote:so i question is duz this thing like deep roots too like VFT's?

No, Pinguicula have almost no roots at all. You could grow them in 1 inch of soil if you're able to keep it from getting too hot (more soil stabilizes the soil temperature).

Timmer wrote:maybe like same care, just better draining soil and no direct sunlight?

Yes, better draining soil and no direct sunlight is better for Pinguicula. Otherwise, their care requirements are almost identical.

Timmer wrote:should i cut its flower stem too for right now?

I certainly would.

It looks nice! Congrats for the good bargain!

Btw, what is this often-mentioned Death cube? I can't figure it out from any context I saw it in.

Xterms wrote:Btw, what is this often-mentioned Death cube?

Many wholesalers sell Venus fly traps and other carnivorous plants in small plastic cube or cylinders, which many people refer to as "death cubes". The cube or cylinder help protect the plants during shipment and when they're on the shelf from poking fingers. They also help the plants keep from drying out. However the humidity is nearly 100% in the cube, which is great conditions for mold. Also, if placed in direct sunlight, the cubes become an oven! Thus, the term "death cube" was coined because there are so many ways for the plants to die in them.

Often, big department stores like Wal-Mart, Target, and others don't understand how fragile/temperamental these plants can be and just stick them in a death cube, thinking it's ok.