Venus Flytraps as a pest deterrent?

Okay, so maybe I'm just a total loon for bringing it up, but how feasible would it be to plant a few Venus Flytraps in an indoor garden when signs of thrips, whiteflies, fungus gnats, etc., may be present?

At first, I was toying with the idea of adding them directly to the soil, since they develop short root systems...but they have a tendency to become poisoned by excess nitrogen. But how about planting them in a separate container in the middle of the other plants?

I feel that they'd be more effective than traditional insect assassins, like ladybugs. Ladybugs are great for destroying mite colonies, but aren't quite as effective when the insect invaders spend much of their time in and around the soil. I've noticed that they prefer to hang out on the leaves, as opposed to the soil itself. Being that Flytraps use a sweet smelling nectar-like substance to draw prey in, I figured they would be more effective in drawing insects away from the cannabis plants, and into the Flytrap's jaws of death. They do require a dormancy period in winter, but I also figured this could be bypassed by a continual indoor spring-like atmosphere.

Am I a total loon for wanting to try this? :jointsmile:

i don't think it would work. but thats just my opinion.

I've read that flytraps do best in high humidity environments, which could be detrimental to your cannabis plants in the long run. The possible mold issues alone would make me cringe.

flytraps need to be wet and kept out of direct sunlight so i dont think they would like it too much.

... that's too bad, while not practical, he still had a cool idea ... would be fun to toke up and watch the fly-eatin' begin ! ... and, CONGRATULATIONS !!! for the 'most original question' I have seen in a long time !! ... +REP to you ! :thumbsup: ... :jointsmile:

Haha! Thanks IR!

Ah well...it was a shot in the dark. Maybe I can find a strain that will tolerate lower humidity better, then I'll give it a shot. Until then, I'll drop the idea. I don't want them to suffer from an unfavorable climate.

Thanks for the feedback everyone.

Under the cover of one of your bushy plants, in its own container (that i'm sure you would have to cover every now in then, while it may not be as effective as chemicals, it would be a nice experiment, something i'd be willing to try.

My response may have seemed kinda short and rude, i apologize i was drinking heavily at the time. Thumbs up for an awesome idea, thumbs down to reality not agreeing with your awesome idea.

It's cool, no offense taken. :thumbsup:

Maybe I'll get a few Flytraps going outside of the growroom, and just try to train them to tolerate lower humidity in a windowsill, or on a porch. Either way, I'll take good care of them, and figure out what makes them thrive...then, should the opportunity arise to test the idea, I'll give it a shot & post the results.

Hopefully I'll just have the chance to grow and care for a new & exotic plant...and won't ever need them to go to town on bothersome pests. I'd rather there be no pests in the first place.

Be good, everyone!

there's other predatory plants, that 'pitcher plant' comes to mind ... don't know what their environment requires ... :jointsmile:

The pitcher plant puts off a God-awful oder that you do not want in your house. That is unless you like the smell and taste of rotting yak flesh. That's what attracts the insects, so it is only for insects that eat rotting dead flesh.

I think that with a little effort it would be quite possible to put some venus fly traps into your grow. You would just have build some shade for them, and maybe put some water all around them, or figure out some other way to keep them humid. Automatic fogging system that comes on several times per day, or all day. Nozzles right next to the fly traps. The only draw back is, even though it could keep many pests in check, I would bet my 5th nipple that it would not stand a chance against the two spotted spider mite.

That's not a bad idea, Opie. But I'd be a little hesitant to add anything to the room that would potentially raise the humidity, like a fog machine...but I'm sure I could figure out a way to surround the Flytraps with water. The heat from the HID would probably be enough to evaporate enough of the water to keep just the Traps humid.

...and although I can't speak from personal experience, I can't imagine that rotting yak flesh would be too appetizing! I guess the Pitcher Plant idea will have to be put on hiatus for a while. :jointsmile:

Thanks for the reply.

yeah dude thats what i did when i grew one on my window sill
works well cause the fly trap attracts insects to it

dont put the flytraps UNDER the lights, just off to side where the reflected lights can get to it. however, i do not think mites like the things that are used to attract FLIES to the flytrap....

The vast majority of pests that bother cannabis don't have any reason to leave the direct vicinity, even the actual SURFACE, of the plant. The entire mite life cycle takes place on the plant, and the thrip life cycle is closely confined as well- there is a winged stage but you're not going to knock back your population with carnivorous plants. If you like the idea of IPM, just order a sack of ladybugs, who will actively hunt and eat your pests.

uuh, will a flytrap eat ladybugs, :p?

id suggest choosing the ladybugs tho for natural things, or peststrips cuz apparently they rock

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stinkyattic

The vast majority of pests that bother cannabis don't have any reason to leave the direct vicinity, even the actual SURFACE, of the plant. The entire mite life cycle takes place on the plant, and the thrip life cycle is closely confined as well- there is a winged stage but you're not going to knock back your population with carnivorous plants. If you like the idea of IPM, just order a sack of ladybugs, who will actively hunt and eat your pests.

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Yeah I think ladybugs are clutch for killing the eggs, but I like the idea anyhow!