venus flytrap.
What is it? Venus fly traps are the nasty little
plants with a tast for flys and other unfortunate
insects who may happen to land on them. They
are native to the swamplands of North and
South Carolina.
How do I look after one? Flytraps grow well in
high humidity, moist, and poor soil. Put your
flytrap in a deep (approx. 10cm) pot or container so that the roots have room to
grow. Place the plant in an area that gets approximately 6 hours of sunlight a day
(but don’t let it get too hot), and where there are a lot of flies (they can survive on a
couple of insects a month). In spring, give it plenty of water and sunlight. In the
colder seasons you will need to keep it away from the window at night if it gets too
cold. Through these cold seasons, they go through a dormant stage, where some
traps may die, and the others will have slower reaction times, so keep your venus
flytrap warm during this period!
aloe vera.
What is it? Aloe vera is a succulent plant
with many medicinal properties of soothing
and healing. It is used in many cosmetics,
claiming to be rejuvenating.
How do I look after one? Aloe vera can be
grown indoors or outdoors, however, direct
sunlight can be too harsh for it. If you are
keeping it outdoors, make sure to protect it during frosts, as this will freeze them.
Ensure the pot has good drainage and is kept in a good quality, coarse mix-soil.
Allow the soil to become relatively dry before watering. If you are going to remove
leaves, the cut leaf will not grow back, but will heal quickly. Choose the leaves
closest to the bottom, as they are the most mature.