#carnivorousplants — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #carnivorousplants, aggregated by home.social.
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Nepenthes progressions 2021-2026
Nepenthes are carnivorous plants under the order of Caryophyllales, making them loosely related to cacti and carnations, but also the other common carnivorous plants like Venus fly traps and sundews. There are many other plants that have learned to eat insects that aren't related though. When this happens, we call the process convergent evolution. Two different species, with the same selective pressures, ended up evolving similar systems to overcome those pressures. Think of bats and birds […]https://garesgarden.wordpress.com/2026/09/01/nepenthes-progressions-2021-2026/
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So, even if some peat (Canadian peat) is allegedly harvested *sustainably*, I'm thinking this article lays out the problems with using #Peat succinctly and without the hype!
#CornellCooperativeExtension - #PeatMoss and #Sustainability
Excerpt: "Besides #overharvesting, #PeatBogs, #Fens and #PeatSwamps are threatened by climate change, habitat and nearby developments that can change the nature of surrounding areas. They are sensitive to disturbance. There is research that suggests that harvesting of peat bogs adds to climate change by releasing carbon stored in these bogs.
"Peat bogs and fens in America are where #CarnivorousPlants, like #sundews, #bladderworts and #PitcherPlants, and #BogOrchids live side-by-side. The acidic nature of bogs/fens and humidity create the perfect environment for peat moss, orchids and carnivorous plants. #Peatlands are also home to other species that rely on their composition. #Turtles, birds such as #PalmWarblers and #EasternTowhees, #snakes and #grouse, to name a few.
"There are alternatives to peat moss that are more sustainable. #CocoCoir is a material made from the fibers of the coconut husk. When dried, it is packaged into bricks. Once re-hydrated, it can be used in garden containers to both absorb water and keep the soil from drying out. It can be used in the potting mix or on top of the soil instead of mulch. #RiceHulls can be used for drainage in container plant pots. Both coco coir and rice hulls are sustainable. Additionally, #compost can be used in place of peat moss. Coco coir, rice hulls and compost can all be used alone or mixed in with a commercial potting mix to make using peat moss more sustainable."
Learn more:
https://cce.cornell.edu/orleans/peat-moss-and-sustainability#SolarPunkSunday #PeatAlternatives #PottingSoil #Sustainability #Gardening #GrowYourOwn #CoconutCoir
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#Sundews' secret to survival: Study reveals how #CarnivorousPlants adapt to #microhabitat challenges https://phys.org/news/2025-01-sundews-secret-survival-reveals-carnivorous.html paper: https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1365-2435.14719
"they alter the density of their leaf tentacles and the uptake of nitrogen from prey to thrive in different #microhabitats, such as mounds and hollows, within #peatland #ecosystems... #plants invest more in carnivorous traits, when nutrients from the #soil are limited and light availability is high"