Treatment of pests and disease in Carnivorous plants 

American trumpet pitcher plant vs aphids

 

   

 

 

 

  • Mold or fungi can cause diseases on plants or create problems on growing media
  • Prevention is always better than cure thus start with good plant hygiene:
    • Clip dead leaves for a cleaner plant and ensure good air circulation
    • Terrariums in particular can promote mold and fungi growth so keep a close eye on your plants to detect issues early
  • From time to time though, it may become necessary to use a fungicide to either treat an active infection or as a preventative measure especially during wintertime
  • If you're new to fungicidal treatment of carnivorous plants, we always recommend testing the product on a small area of the plant first (or one that you are not afraid to lose) to determine how toxic it will be for that particular plant
  • Apply fungicides to plants during the early evening (out of direct sunlight) to prevent burning
  • When going to the store or plant nursery, learn to read the labels
    • We are not endorsing any specific brand, thus we left out the brand names and mentioned the active ingredient for each instead

 

  • Fungicides tested on safety for carnivorous plants:
    • Sulphur based fungicides 
      • Topical fungicide for general prevention
      • Both the ready mix or powder form works well
      • Good as a preventative measure preparing for dormancy, especially when you'll be keeping plants undercover during wintertime
      • Perfect for propagation trays, seeds and seedlings to avoid fungal growth
      • Has a long residual effect and prevents mold from growing
      • Shake well before use as the sulphur tend to accumulate at the bottom
      • Dry powder sulphur may either be mixed with water as directed or sprinkled over seed trays
    • Neem Extract
      • Topical Fungicide for active infection
      • Organic product that acts as both a fungicidal and insecticidal product
      • Foul odour so spray your plants outdoors
      • Dissipate and wear off a little quicker than sulphur but safe for most carnivorous plants if used as directed
    • Tebuconazole
      • Systemic fungicide for general treatment of infected plants
      • Dealing with plants that are infected such as Botrytis (a gray powdery mold that grows on leaves) and causing damage you may want to consider something a little stronger and systemic
      • Gets absorbed into the plant tissue to limit further damage
      • Toxic in larger quantities so make sure to use as directed and follow the safety precautions on the package
    • Chlorothalonil
      • Topical fungicide for active infection
      • Perfect for cephalotus that has been infected by powdery mildew
      • Generally quite a thick suspension and tend to stay on leaves longer and do not wash off easily thus a earbud may be necessary to treat hard to reach places on the plants

 

  • What to avoid:
    • Avoid copper based fungicides, as copper is toxic to carnivorous plants
    • Avoid bacteria (Bacillus Subtilis) forms of fungicides
      • These are mostly organic and safe to use around people, animals and edible plants, but avoid treating carnivorous plants, especially sundews
    • General disinfectants containing quantaray ammonium or demethyl benzyl ammonium chloride
      • may prove useful for seed propagation trays but this compound has proven to cause severe chemical burn especially on sundews and butterworts

 

  • How to apply:
    • Some fungicides are toxic
      • Always follow the safety measurements as directed by the manufacturer, and mix as directed
    • Sundews are generally very sensitive to chemicals, focus on crown of the plant and try and avoid the sticky dew drops 
    • For other carnivorous plants, spray the plant liberally and ensure complete saturation
    • Pay special attention to the crown of the plant

 

  • General uses:
    • May be used on sarracenia as a preventative measure before winter dormancy
    • Temperate sundews creates a winter bud called a hibernicula that is prone to botrytis attacks during winter time
    • Terrarium plants tend to suffer from mold on the soil that may spread to the plant, use a sulphur based fungicide to treat and limit the spread

** Insecticides & Fungicides are sold exclusively online via our website ** 

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