Carniverous plants for pest control?

[medi-useA]

This Should have read:

 

Pitcher plants!...What about them...Could they be used to control bugs / if properly shaded and cared for?/ Would they be effective

 

 

:D But Instead I Wrote

 

 

I've just had my first smoke in a long time...for me ...about a week and a half...I use my smoke medicinally and am in the process of getting my first grow in the last 12 months up off the ground. For well considered reasons I'm going to cease hydro and try SOIL Based mix.

 

Part of the process for this changeover is assessing the potential problems for this ( for me ) First SOIL Based mix.

So....Whatever the medium's composition is, it needs good drainage.

Perlite.

I'm going to use a mix of the highest grade products my local hardware/garden/nursery stores.

bagged worm castings

mushroom compost

bagged manures

premium mix potting soil (whatever they have)

 

They have a liquid worm juice in a hose- attached spray pack.

 

They have other stuff as well...see how the funds run..........

 

 

 

[Teucer]

This is certainly an interesting concept.

 

Keep some venus fly-traps or similar with the grow to conduct all-natural pest control.

 

Sounds brilliant in theory. Anyone had any experience with this?

 

You can pick up a pot of this stuff at K-mart for like $5 a small pot already grown.

[nitram]

You will find heaps of informaion on 'biological conrol' of pests.

 

I use other "predatory insects" (ie Mantas & lady birds for spider mites). Mantas can consume 1500 mites a day and is a way of natural control.

You can make purchases online.

 

I'ds think you would find it difficult to cultivate "picture plants" and that they won't attract the right type of pests to consume and if the they would do so at a far too slow a rate. They would be inefficient.

 

 

Nitty.

Edited February 1, 2009 by nitram

[medi-useA]

teucer...good to know about the k-mart thing, I haven't been there in years..they've obviously expanded their range since I last paid a visit!

 

nitram..I did think that pitcher plants and venus fly traps etc...would not be sufficient to help with a bug outbreak. but I figured if they could be accommodated in the growroom they would at least serve as an early warning system...check them out regularly, see what they're attracting and how many...similar to a humidity or temp guage...It doesn't change whats happening so much as gives an early 'heads up' to what's happening on the bug front. If I find a praying mantis around I often put them in my grow in the hopes that they curb any bug problem...I even have a spider I suffer to live in my cab because she serves as a meter to the bug population...lotsa bugs in the web?..then you might have a problem brewing!...working with nature is sometimes a little difficult but it does have its boons.

 

Predatory bugs..I love em!...might try putting a few ladybirds in the room when I find them outside...Gonna be growing in a soil medium next so thought I would put 10cm of perlite as a topping layer on the pots to decrease incidence of badbugs...