Houseplants identified

[MJIthewriter]

Got a houseplant, but not sure what it is or the care it needs? Here is a good place to start.

[margypops]

Do you mean a plastic bag ?

[MJIthewriter]

When treating bugs, it helps to put the plant in a bag and spray it in the bag.  I just saw that tip on  the morning news at work and that reminded me..still reminds me, I need to do that with our outdoor plants. I hurried up after work and put as many as I could in the garage to keep them overnight. Tonight it will freeze. I think it is too early but oh well..that's MN weather for you.

You may want to handle with gloves to prevent hives this time.

[margypops]

I still have those bunny ears, and they are still black looking with white bits, they are lovely cactus its a shame, I did get some stuff last year to spray them and it seemed to work so I must do it again ..I come out in hives if I forget to wash hands after handling even the pots ....

[margypops]

yup it was mealy bugs I have treated them but I have found out I am allergic to them LOL

[MJIthewriter]

Sundews or Butterworts would be a better choice over Venus fly traps.  Venus fly traps require full sun, a very humid environment, kept very wet, and need to go dormant over the winter (but they can't be taken outside that time!) WI winters would kill them for sure. Basically you have to duplicate a NC bog atmosphere if you want them to grow. I've had no luck with them. However I do have a sundew and a butterwort that are still living even after I got them over a year ago. The sundew is doing better. It grows into a big clump of little plants and can take over like a weed.

Make sure to water them only with distilled water. They don't like chlorine. None of the carnivorous plants like tap water for that reason. Make sure to keep the soil wet at all times. They live in bogs as their natural habitat.

Here's a site I find helpful for carniverous plants:
http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html

[888mom]

I want to get my hubby a venus fly trap or some other carniverous plant for christmas... are there other types of carniverous plants that are easy to take care of?  And will they survive inside the house?

[margypops]

I will see if I can get a pic thanks MJ

[MJIthewriter]

Do you have a picture of the "cotton" stuff? Could be mealybugs if they were found in certain areas of the plant.

[margypops]

Need to ask a question I have some Bunny ears , quite a few, I noticed in the summer that 2 or 3 were turning black, I dont know why I googled but still didnt find out any information, they are such lovely plants , they did get some white 'cotton' stuff on them, I think that may be normal.Any ideas.?

[Dazon50]

I am going to try transplant some of the plants you left here so they can some "stretching" room....aaaaah!!!  Will let you know when mission accomplish.

Time to get the clippers out....feel like the grim reaper here!  Chop chop before the first snow comes & no one wants to be out there!!!

:-((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((

[MJIthewriter]

I think it will be neat too. Now I'm just trying to send a suggestion to medhelp support, in hopes they can update to allow people to post images with their replies. If not, then we may have to go the way of uploading a photo to your profile, then linking it here.

[Dazon50]

This is neat!  We can take pictures of the unidentied plant & post it, using our budding photography skills.

:-))))