Growing in a greenhouse has some advantages and disadvantages. One thing that I miss about growing outdoors is that my plants don’t feast on bugs as much compared to when I was growing outdoors. Now – I do leave my vents open, and insects do manage to find their way in. So my plants do eat — a little bit. I will be playing around this season with fertilizer as a supplement (like MaxSea…) but in the meantime I wanted to try something else this year. I thought it would be fun to let the plants do what they were meant to do. Catch their own food! A huge special shout out to Scott Creary, Entomologist of IPM Labs (http://ipmlabs.com), as well as Ryan Georgia of Native Exotics (http://nativeexoticsonline.com/) for introducing us. Thanks guys! I had contacted Scott and purchased about 10k fly pupae. Yeah. Ten. Thousand. Fly. Pupae. Yummy! A nice little box arrived and this is what was inside:
10,000 fly pupae. In a beautiful green mesh bag. Brilliant presentation! 🙂
OMG!!!
I just placed the pupae on small trays all around the greenhouse and over the course of the week, they eventually emerged. And eventually got eaten. I only go to the greenhouse a couple times a week, so I wasn’t there to witness the flies emerge. Yes, I did notice more flies in the greenhouse, however I knew plants were doing their job as I would find scenes like the below at a much greater frequency that what I am normally used to seeing.
First victim that I saw. Resistance is futile.
Later that week, I noticed early on that the plants were starting to catch prey.
(Reflected as the darker areas in the pitcher base above.)
…And, the Sarracenia were not the only ones having all the fun! The other carnivores were also having some fun too. More traps triggered on the Dionaeas, a few stuck to the Drosophyllum, and the Drosera were also having fun!
The Tank. It is lined with something shiny. Because I like shiny things. And the light makes the plants happy. Yes. Also, notice the 10″ x 20″ trays with the fluorescent egg crate cover that I trimmed over those trays. Excess water drains into the trays after I water the plants, and the crate keeps the plants from sitting in the water while that drainage water contributes to the the lovely humidity in the tank.
Cephalotus follicularis
From the 
Speaking of hanging things, I have a recovering Platycerium coronarium that didn’t like how cold it was getting in the greenhouse, so I moved it here. Seems to like it as it’s putting out new growth.
Pinguicula mesophytica bloom.
A young Nepenthes hamata pitcher.
Left: young Nepenthes hamata pitcher. | Right: young Nepenthes burkeii x hamata pitcher.
Drosrea regia vs. moth.
Nepenthes singlana Tujuh x hamata – Red Hairy Form… Beast!
Nepenthes singlana Tujuh x hamata – Red Hairy Form – check out the red/orange fuzz! Sweet!
New pitcher recently opened of Nepenthes singalana Tujuh x hamata – Red Hairy Form.
New pitcher recently opened of Nepenthes singalana Tujuh x hamata – Red Hairy Form – a closer shot of the same pitcher above.
I did a few Heliamphora divisions and some reside in the tank and are adjusting quite well! This is Heliamphora heterodoxa x minor. The older pitchers look crappy but the new pitchers are coming up quite nicely.
A recently opened pitcher of Nepenthes robcantleyi! YEAH! I’ve had this for years and it has never really grown well for me. After moving it into the tank, it immediately let me know it was happy with these new conditions.
Nepenthes robcantleyi. Ugh, that peristome tho. So magnificent. I can’t wait for this baby to put out larger pitchers! The whole pitcher will color up as it gets more mature. Seriously love this plant.
Here’s what I use for some air movement inside the tank – an Evercool computer fan. I currently have one on the left side of the tank but I’m planning to add another on the right side for better air movement.
The Nepenthes/Tropical house.
Nepenthes lowii x campanulata
Nepenthes thorelii x aristolochioides
Nepenthes “Eglantine”
Nepenthes burbidgeae x platychila
Nepenthes – Poi Dog Hybrid
Nepenthes Poi Dog – Maxima Hybrid
Nepenthes platychila – new pitcher steadily growing.
Young pitcher of Nepenthes densiflora x glandulifera
Nepenthes ((eymae x (stenophylla x lowii)) x x trusmadiensis)
Nepenthes spectabilis x singlana
Nepenthes jamban – check out the pitcher in the back.
Another angle of Nepenthes jamban – you can see the slug a little better in there.
Nepenthes “Enigma”
Had to throw a bromeliad up in here… (A type of Aechmea, not sure what the species is. You bro experts let me know what it is!)
Dormancy: Sarracenia oreophila
Sarracenia alata – maroon throat
