Question
After a two-month "babysitting" routine, my 100+ Venus Fly Trap tissue culture specimens have MADE IT -- they are finally getting Green and Larger by 100% -- Thanx to your advice!

I am ready to remove the plastic covers and allow the plants to go from 100% fluorescent lighting 14 hours/day to indirect sunlight near a sunny window.

My Questions:

1. HOW LONG per day (sunlight?

2. Should I continue to cover, or increase the amount of water?

3. Do I need this "NEEM" oil you have mentioned several times, and Where can I find it? I ordered some from the Internet, but it never arrived.

4. Finally, how soon can I put these plants outside in the elements (Zone 8)?

RON

Answer
Hi Ron,

1) The 14-hour daylight cycle is appropriate.  While your plants are under the cover, use only fluorescent lights.  Avoid direct sunlight at this time.

2) Acclimate your plants to lower humidity by leaving a small gap in your enclosure.  Use something to prop up the corner of the cover.  Just leave an inch gap.  After 5 days, prop up another corner and wait five days.  Keep doing this until all four corners are propped up, and wait another five days.  After that, you can safely remove the lid altogether.  Keep the water no more than half way up the pot or liner.

3) You should be able to find Neem oil at your local garden center.  Lowe's and Home Depot have it.  Use Safer?brand.  It's not absolutely necessary to use it, but using it reduces the risk of fungal infection while the cover is over the plants.

4) If you have the space in your home, keep your plants indoors until next spring.  Plants coming out of tissue culture often remain in the seedling stage much longer than plants grown naturally from seed.  By keeping them indoors and the climate fairly consistent, you will reduce the time they spend in the seedling stage.  Next spring, acclimate them to outdoor growing.  In the following winter, let them experience their first dormancy.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin