|
CP News / Updates
1 Sept 10 The walk-in terrarium has now been filled with media, and a layer of NZ Sphagnum.
More updates to come soon .. |
|
The Little Garden of Horrors is up again, after a change of host!
The
bulk of this site deals in growing carnivorous plants in the tropics,
especially temperate CPs that require a somewhat more dedicated
treatment in our unrelenting hot weather.
The
study and cultivation of carnivorous plants is a unique and exciting
endeavour. Currently there are more than 600 species, with more being discovered and described each year. Carnivory
in plants is a difficult definition that garners debate sometimes - most
authors agree that plants which have evolved to attract, trap, digest
and absorb animal prey may be defined as carnivorous. Most of them
produce their own digestive enzymes for these purposes, but there are
also notable exceptions such as Darlingtonia, which produces no enzymes
but depends on bacteria to break down their prey. To further complicate
matters, there is a group of plants which do not fulfill all criteria,
and are hence termed as quasi-carnivores, including Proboscidea, Ibicella and even Passiflora foetida, depending on who you ask.
CPs can be found in a diverse range of habitats each with their own ecological niches, which makes it challenging for the enthusiast to maintain a diverse collection growing under the same conditions. The weather here in the tropics is hot and humid all year round, which is heaven for plants like lowland Nepenthes, almost impossible for highland plants like Drosera arcturi, and challenging for temperate species like Sarracenia.
Feel free to look through the site and see how these requirements may be bypassed in a tropical climate, with some minor changes. |
|
