It's that time of the year again. Yep, that time where it is cold, snowy and freezing outside and even if I were to be able to get down the slope that leads to my greenhouses without slipping up, I'd still be greeted with plants that are in dormancy and are doing absolutely nothing of interest. A theme that will be reoccurring for the next 4 months or so.
Still, it's been a very good year. I made a couple of hundred quid in plant sales, and my YouTube visitor counter is now at the 3.2 million mark! As you'd expect, I will be making more videos and having more updates next year when the plants come out of dormancy. I've re-potted a few of my plants, namely lots of Venus Flytrap Big Mouth's, but that will be it. I simply don't have the room to divide any more. Not until I manage to sell a bunch at least. Here's hoping that happens next year.
You can find me on twitter: @plantsthateat
Until then, to carnivorous plant enthusiasts and people who are reading this blog,
have a Happy New Year!
Showing posts with label venus flytrap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label venus flytrap. Show all posts
Tuesday, 30 December 2014
Thursday, 8 May 2014
We're going liiiiiiiive!
Today is a glorious day.
Ok, its not actually cause it is raining outside, but it is good because very soon, this weekend infact, my business will start up. This is good, because it's been something I've been preparing for for over a year.
After spending so long as a child looking everywhere for even one carnivorous plant, I now find myself in a position whereby I have a couple of hundred to sell. I am starting off locally first. People who live in the area. Friends. Friends of friends etc. Then all being well, I hope to go nationally so I can supply people from all over the country. 'tis all about spreading the happiness and intrigue!
If you want to check out my site, go to www.carnivorous-corner.co.uk. This will provide more information about the plant's I am selling, as well as nice photos (if I do say so myself!), videos of the plants, frequently asked questions, and an introduction to how they all work.
If you want to read my ramblings in 140 characters or less, go to @plantsthateat on twitter. In the meantime, here's a nice macro of a Sundew:
Ok, its not actually cause it is raining outside, but it is good because very soon, this weekend infact, my business will start up. This is good, because it's been something I've been preparing for for over a year.
After spending so long as a child looking everywhere for even one carnivorous plant, I now find myself in a position whereby I have a couple of hundred to sell. I am starting off locally first. People who live in the area. Friends. Friends of friends etc. Then all being well, I hope to go nationally so I can supply people from all over the country. 'tis all about spreading the happiness and intrigue!
If you want to check out my site, go to www.carnivorous-corner.co.uk. This will provide more information about the plant's I am selling, as well as nice photos (if I do say so myself!), videos of the plants, frequently asked questions, and an introduction to how they all work.
If you want to read my ramblings in 140 characters or less, go to @plantsthateat on twitter. In the meantime, here's a nice macro of a Sundew:
Tuesday, 4 February 2014
Now. We. Wait.
I've had a number of people ask me over the last few weeks when I will be ready to sell my plants. The answer is about April / May time because at the moment, they are all in dormancy (as the photos below show).
Repotting is now complete for this year, and I am totalling around 540 plants. I have also tried out some experimenting this year. A few of my Sarracenia's (Pitcher Plants) are nearly 2 ft tall but are in pots so small that the root's are sticking out of the holes in the bottom. Not only have I put them into a larger pot, but the pot's I have put them into are several times the size. I am hoping this encourages them to grow even taller and maybe even max out their height (1.2 metres) within a couple of years.
Also worth noting that I won't be selling my plants internationally. They will be strictly UK only. Plants are not allowed to be posted to the EU, and the expensive posting price to the US simply isn't worth it. Besides, you US/Canadian lot have a greater variety of plants with easier access over there :)
Repotting is now complete for this year, and I am totalling around 540 plants. I have also tried out some experimenting this year. A few of my Sarracenia's (Pitcher Plants) are nearly 2 ft tall but are in pots so small that the root's are sticking out of the holes in the bottom. Not only have I put them into a larger pot, but the pot's I have put them into are several times the size. I am hoping this encourages them to grow even taller and maybe even max out their height (1.2 metres) within a couple of years.
Also worth noting that I won't be selling my plants internationally. They will be strictly UK only. Plants are not allowed to be posted to the EU, and the expensive posting price to the US simply isn't worth it. Besides, you US/Canadian lot have a greater variety of plants with easier access over there :)
Labels:
carnivorous,
compost,
dormancy,
pittcher plant,
plants,
repot,
sundew,
venus flytrap
Saturday, 28 December 2013
It's the dormant time of the year again...
I hate this time of the year. Yes its cold, often damp, probably soon to be snowy and icy and the days are far too short. To top that off though, carnivorous plants go dormant until about March/April time and currently look.........a bit crap really. In Spring, they will once again form new traps and stand colourful and tall and ready to help diminish the insect population.
Until then though, I am continuing to work on the new website. And by "work", I mean of course telling the designer what I am after! All being well, it will be up and running by next spring and I can start selling some plants. Not just via the website though, but also, perhaps even more importantly, through car boot sales. I enjoyed being at the Caythorpe Gala this year (or last year if your reading this in January!). It was a good opportunity to talk to people about these plants and also to put my finger on the pulse of what people were after and interested in. One of the best examples being that although venus flytraps are the most well known plant, it was the Pitcher Plant's that generated probably the most interest for people.
I also found out this year that Venus flytraps, or any plants for that matter, can't be posted internationally to Europe. I put a group of 6 flytraps on ebay, setting the, erm, settings to make sure only people from the UK could buy them. Somehow, the winning bidder was from Latvia. I didn't really bother questioning how it happened in spite of my specific settings, but instead set out to post it to his/her country, curious as to how much it would cost me in postage.
I took the parcel to the post office, and the lady said "do you mind me asking what is in the box?". I told her "oh, nothing too expensive, just a few venus flytraps". "Oh", she said. "You can't post them to Europe". Low and behold, she gave me a leaflet containing the 7000 item categories you're not allowed to post abroad, and the 3 items you are. I apologised to the ebayer and refunded him/her. Was feeling slightly crushed that being an international seller of these plants went out of the window though. Still, this mean's that I will be completely focused on the national sales for these plants and frankly, I can't wait!
Until then though, I am continuing to work on the new website. And by "work", I mean of course telling the designer what I am after! All being well, it will be up and running by next spring and I can start selling some plants. Not just via the website though, but also, perhaps even more importantly, through car boot sales. I enjoyed being at the Caythorpe Gala this year (or last year if your reading this in January!). It was a good opportunity to talk to people about these plants and also to put my finger on the pulse of what people were after and interested in. One of the best examples being that although venus flytraps are the most well known plant, it was the Pitcher Plant's that generated probably the most interest for people.
I also found out this year that Venus flytraps, or any plants for that matter, can't be posted internationally to Europe. I put a group of 6 flytraps on ebay, setting the, erm, settings to make sure only people from the UK could buy them. Somehow, the winning bidder was from Latvia. I didn't really bother questioning how it happened in spite of my specific settings, but instead set out to post it to his/her country, curious as to how much it would cost me in postage.
I took the parcel to the post office, and the lady said "do you mind me asking what is in the box?". I told her "oh, nothing too expensive, just a few venus flytraps". "Oh", she said. "You can't post them to Europe". Low and behold, she gave me a leaflet containing the 7000 item categories you're not allowed to post abroad, and the 3 items you are. I apologised to the ebayer and refunded him/her. Was feeling slightly crushed that being an international seller of these plants went out of the window though. Still, this mean's that I will be completely focused on the national sales for these plants and frankly, I can't wait!
Labels:
britain,
car boot,
carnivorous,
dormancy,
new,
pitcher plant,
plants,
postage,
sundew,
uk,
venus flytrap,
website,
winter
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)