FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Good morning all.
Recently I discovered that some of the traps on my DC-Xl look deformed. On one morning I found what looked to be small webs at the base of my plant. I had a fight this summer with aphids (1st and 2nd generation). At that time, neem oil wasn’t doing the trick, so I used orthene (accidentally opening it in my house) about a month ago. I gave them a dose of neem oil again yesterday, but I’m wondering if this is something different that I may have to approach with a new strategy. Attached is a pic. Many thanks for any advice!

if you seeing webs its probable spider mites. The deformity might be an adverse reaction to the Orthene. If you worried you could repot them in fresh moss.

Thank you for the response. I had a feeling it was spider mites. I think I will repot and cleanse the moss.

No need to repot for spider mites, even if you repotted you would still have spider mites.

Honestly it don't look like spider mites to me though. Looks like something is eating your traps. I never worry about that sort of thing myself.

I did find that the New Zealand Moss that I had in my pot was covered in a green, slimy substance (fungus?). It was only on the top layer. Looking at my other older plants it was there as well. It was only on the top layer (all in a six-seven inch pot), so I went on a purging spree today of removing the old green top layers and replacing them with fresh NZM. I did go ahead in repot the DC-XL. While cleaning off the old moss, I found the layer of moss that was under the rhizome to have turned a dark brown (almost black). I am learning as I go, and appreciate all the advice I have received.

That is just algae, its harmless. You will pretty much always have algae as long you grow inside. You might want to think about moving the plants outside, they don't do well inside long term and for most not even short term.

I appreciate the advice. They are outside plants. Have had them outside for almost a year now (southern GA).

If they are outside and getting at least 6 hours of sun I wouldn't worry about the little bit of algae you get.

Mine are outside 24/7 too and they still get some algae under the plants where the sun don't reach.