Wild Adventures with Steve: Pitcher Plants Eating Dinner

[froggirl0]

What happens if you drop your camera in there? P.S I`m glad you planted those plants, you take very good care of them. And the beetle looked funny when it was failingly trying to get out of the pitcher plant. I just planted my pitcher plant today and i didn`t know that they were almost extinct!!

[0guerrilaz0]

Did anyone else laugh at the didgeredoos?

[tom123216]

.. the nectar doesn't come from the rim it comes from the underside of the hood and it is a trumpet pitcher i thought you were talking about the slender pitcher..........

[silencedknight]

damn nature, u scary.

[FerretBaron1]

I've got a question:

What happens if a human puts his or her hand or any other body part inside the "mouth" of a pitcher plant?

Does it burns? Nothing happens? Or something else?

Please reply, this question was itching me for years.

[Series520]

@FerretBaron1 I'm not sure, but I'd guess that it wouldn't hurt the human. If the contents were acidic enough to hurt a human, they'd probably hurt the plant, too.

[afcwinners]

does the plant not suck the bug dry of blood with the little spike things and then digest it

[shortiecanbrawl]

Carnavine uses acid!

Its toxic!

Thats super effective!

[bigbowlowrong]

@shortiecanbrawl

The "acid" in the plant is not toxic.

If it weren't for all the decaying bugs, you could easily drink what's in there.

[Kidkiddy1]

at 2:48 its also not apart of nature for you to angle the plant so he cant escape. He couldve lived or atleast lived longer. But thx for putting up the video. I'm rlly interested in these plants. And you had some great angles of them.

[Darksider009]

im going to order one of these plants

[SheShezzz]

shudder, my grandma had a plant like that hanging in her bathroom and i almost put my hand in it

[OfficialLilQuan]

where do i get a pitcher plant...

[CrazyTranslator]

Man, I envy your garden! Wait... I'm going to the plant shop now.. xD

[totodile493]

Only if you leave it in there for hours, you could get a rash.

[jaronhall]

go victreebel!

[TrufflePop]

Seriously? A pokemon reference? What are you, 9!?

[snakesteve68]

Pokemon...didn't you mean Star Wars...get your facts straight before you comment on videos. No I am not 9, I am 41 and I happen to greatly enjoy Star Wars, super heroes, video games AND all things real and natural such as pitcher plants. I can see the connections to nature that creative people like George Lucas use when they write their stories. One of the reasons that epic stories such as Star Wars, LOTR and now Avatar are so popular is because of their deep connection with nature.

[TrufflePop]

I was talking to jaronhall >_> . Get [i]your[/i] facts straight before you comment.

[snakesteve68]

My bad.

[God0fWonders]

@TrufflePop dude dont hate snakesteve68 your watching his video have some respect

sick video man!

[mxzes137]

@snakesteve68 tell him steve dave.

[popyking9]

haha i have a venus fly trap its so kool i saw it catch a moth once

[Killerspider762]

nope

[TayaMango]

the inside is also filled with downwards spikes preventing them from climbing up :)

[free2bfierce]

"No, i'm not gonna help them because this is the way of nature. This is how things are." That is correct. Although I would like to think if a human was in trouble, he would take action. lol. Anyways, Father God... we stand in awe at the work of your hands! How can someone see these beautiful DESIGNS and STILL deny your existance?

[kyddoemiko]

My neighbors are from Sri Lanka and they tell me when you have a sore throat they would drink the water from a green nepenthes. Who is to say what works in one place wouldn't necessary work some where else. Mean while back at the ranch

I personally go and make appointment with my doctor.

Keep the videos coming ,

Kyddoe.

[MrHappyjuice923]

u sound native american

r u...

[snakesteve68]

nope...irish:-)

[WhooCaresssss]

What is the name of the white insect in its mouth in the begining ?

[Killerspider762]

Doomed a horrible death.

[0zema]

does anyone else me think that the background music if kinda annoying?

[snakesteve68]

no.

[speedboarder87]

It's a silly question, which usually doesn't get answered, but could I ask what this song is?

[snakesteve68]

Earth and Sky by Sapien

[SchoolofLuke]

Have you tried to drink the pitcher fluid, if so what does it taste like?

[xXKentoXx]

It tastes like Pitcher Plant Digestive Ezyme

[snakesteve68]

Nope, never have--but before the pitcher opens it is clean and safe to drink. In Indonesia the natives call the larger pitcher plants there "Monkey cups" because of the thought that monkeys and Orangutans will rip the tops off and drink the "juice"...but I think this is just a tale not based on fact.

[crossbones1100]

when u feed a pitcher plant how come the insect cant escape?

[Kirov1234]

it seems like they have wax inside its disgusting if you put your finger in it

[killerzombie163]

waxy coating wont let the insect grasp the wall to climb. and the liquid would prevent fliers from leaving.

[snakesteve68]

You do not have to feed them--they feed themselves by luring the food items to them with nectar and color. The insects cannot escape because the inner walls of the pitcher are smooth and waxy and have downward pointing hairs that prevent escape and the fluid has wetting agents which help to pull down the insect so it will drown faster.

[NuclearCruiseMissile]

those hornets, wasps, and yellowjackets will sometimes eat their way out of the pitcher

[tatumd666]

cool video man

[snakesteve68]

thanks

[User274073]

if you helped the wasp it would have stung you.

if you helped the moth it would have eaten your petticoat.

[taufikmama]

THANKS FOR THIS VIDEO :) but its so disgusting eeeee

[Kalashniikovv]

Lmao " no i'm not gonna help him because... that would not be the way of nature." ahaha good stuff

[alysmini]

hey thanks for posting this very educational! learned a bit about pirchers in this. goes to show youve got something to learn everyday! poor bugs lol but thats natures way of life.

[JDOfPivot]

XD again, I comment before I watch the whole vid, but ironically the purple pitcher plant doesn't look all that purple from the other kinds I've seen o_O

[JDOfPivot]

We used to have one of these in my back yard D: I was like three when my dad murdered it, I wanted to let it grow huge T-T

[kittymunch22]

stupid moth LOL

[pgtv69]

is that toxic for humans to eat??

[jmlapinay3]

dude the wasp is struggling to get out but the moth is barely doing anything!!!!

[whitecollarcriminal]

it doesn't mechanicaly eat the insect. It chemicaly digests them.

[JamesTBond007]

it may have been in there longer than the wasp. So it may have been low on energy by then.

[chainsawz]

moth: oi wasp, get your big ass outta my face!

wasp: darn it, its just too slippery!!

moth:okay, but just make sure you dont fart

wasp: oky dokey

[DarkPhantomMelody]

Chainsawz-

Wait, no its more like this:

Moth: Oi wasp, get your big arse out of my face!

Wasp: What?!! It's not my fault that we both got caught in this death trap!!!

Moth: Whatever, if you pass gas, I hope I'm dead before then so I don't have to smell it!

Wasp: Shut up!

[bizzle246]

HELP THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!

[snakesteve68]

Why? THis is part of natures way. The plants must eat too.

[bizzle246]

really i woundt have ethir i just wanted to see how long it took 4 sum1 to reply.

[DarkPhantomMelody]

Right.

If I'm correct, I believe that these grow in the Florida Everglades?

[Pslpng2]

are these plants dangerous 2 ppl?

[snakesteve68]

Not at all...unless you are the size of a bug and fall inside.

[tummielvr]

It took him a long time to notice there were two insects in the plant

[snakesteve68]

That happens to all of us sometimes...

[Cybagruff1]

im growing one of these!

[snakesteve68]

COOL!

[demonslayer112223]

*solw* ommm nnoomm nnnoomm noom

[Morlok16]

wiuuuuuu niuuuu muuuuu nooooo

[princeiboi7]

i have a pitcher too but just wanna ask sumfink my pitchers growing fine however i just got it a week ago and they had no water under the plant nor was it wel watered i think anyway i got it home put sum water under it cutt of sum dead pitchers and found that there was NO fluid in the pitchers AT ALL what shud i do?????????

[snakesteve68]

They like to be damp or in standing water depending on the species. The plant will draw water up into its pitchers from its roots--it was probably just dry. Also, never pour water into the pitchers--it could kill the pitcher or the plant.

[supaflywilkins]

some pitcher make ther own liquids and others use collected rain water to mix with there liquid.that is why some have lids and others dont

[ilovedoors2]

it looked like the wasp was purposivly killing the moth inside there

[EsotericDesi]

Thanks for this VERY VERY VERY Informative video...

[aMnAgSeSl]

wow this is a very interesting video.. i learned alot from it.. thanks for uploading this video..

[19Duran67]

Thank you for this video clip. My son is learning about pitcher plants in his homeschool curriculum and this was a great clip to watch!

[snakesteve68]

No problem at all. I am here to teach all who are interested about the wonderful world of nature that is not only beautiful, amazing and unusual but also our sole provider of life on Earth. Check out my main page for much more on all kinds of nature related subjects from pitcher plants to box turtles to snakes and trees. Take care, Steve

[Ana13Ana13]

you constructed the bog????? i love those sarracenias....

Carnivorous plants are truly amazing, thank you for uploading this videos!!!

[shadow8660]

Hi SnakeSteve, We live in Springfield, MO (not your tropical location) and came across a hanging pitcher plant. It has done very well over the summer with many shoots. It has out grown it's basket and we want to replant it... We're not sure what kind of soil, any help would be appreciated. Also where can we get the pitcher plantsthat grow up from the ground... Thanks

Bob

[snakesteve68]

Sounds like a variety of Nepenthes--a tropical Pitcher Plant from Indonesia. For the soil google Nepenthes soil mix and you should find ideas. Also, be sure you bring it indoors in the winter and keep it's humidity high. For native pitchers search in your local greenhouses or online for Sarracenia species such as the Purple Pitcher and the Yellow and white-top pitcher plants. Before you buy pitchers you need to study up on their growing requirements.  Good luck.

[snakesteve68]

Hi Bob, I just found your reply...sorry so long in responding. I use a mix of 75% peatmoss (w/o fertilizer), 10% sand, 10% orchid bark. Seems to work very well. Terrestrial pitchers can be found at several nurseries but you can also try my friend Darwin--I will send you his info privately:-)

take care,

Steve

[ferritay]

1:55 you made a wise choice.

not only is it the way of nature but that wasp would've most likely stung you lol

[PlatinumRESS456]

You must love plants as much as I do, snakesteve68! I loved your video. Great commentary.

[snakesteve68]

Thank you! Yes, I love plants, animals and all of nature.

[UnknownZerggling]

so the goo inside the plant is very toxic and burns? its like the digestive system of the body and i guess its really bad if you touch it :P

[snakesteve68]

The "goo" isn't harmful to humans but if you are a bug...watch out!

[xseshun]

Superb markings on your sarracena. What climate do you have? Good commentary. Thanks Snakesteve68.

[snakesteve68]

Yes, they are beautiful. I live in a temperate, mountain climate around 3000 feet above sea level, usually good rains until recently--drought--so I am forced to water the plants. Thank you for your comment.

[UnknownZerggling]

WHO invented this plant!! its genius!

[snakesteve68]

God, The creator, The Great Spirit, Allah, Nature, Gaia whatever you want to call the force that governs all things...that is WHO invented the wonderful pitcher plant. NOTE: If I left out your deity in the above lineup I am sorry. If you would like your deity's name to appear just post a note and I will add it. Also, deity's appear in no particular order so do not get offended at the order of the deity's. Sour and hate mongering comments relating to deity's will not be posted.

[kittendeathsquad]

the moth looks like it passed away at 1:52

[kittendeathsquad]

wonder if george lucas has one of these?

[hyper4lifedude]

not that i would but what would happen if you put things in like lettuce or sherbet?

[snakesteve68]

Lettuce would probably decompose as it is mostly water but sherbet...would probably kill the plant so I don't advise putting anything into your pitcher plants pitcher--if there are bugs nearby they will feed themselves.

[pethcir]

Great commentary.

[TillSummersEnd]

i read in the description that the pitcher plants do not need to move a muscle unlike the venus flytrap. i don't know if you know this but the flytrap does not in fact have "muscles". it's more like when the hairs in the insides of their traps are triggered, energy is used to flush water from one side of the leaf and up the other to "close" the trap. i'm not insulting you or correcting you, i'm just sharing knowledge. sorry if i sounded impolite. anyways, great video! ^_^

[snakesteve68]

Yes, I knew that plants do not have muscles--this is why I put the word muscle in "quotes" so I would not have to explain the entire mechanism...sometimes it is easier to simplify explanations when people of all ages and backgrounds are going to be reading/viewing your information.

[TillSummersEnd]

good point! sorry ^_^

[lafinezt]

THANKS SO MUCH FOR UPLOADING THIS

[wearejusthumanbeing]

what happend if it rains, does water go in?

[snakesteve68]

light rain is mostly shed by the "umbrella" that grows above the pitchers "mouth" but if it does fill up the pitcher will lay over allowing some water to run out.

[oldfella12323]

i put some crickets in my pitcher and i looked down the tube a few days l8er and theres fur down the tube. white fire i think its mouldy i dunno, any 1 got any advice?

[snakesteve68]

Did you use crickets purchaced at a pet store? If so they may have a fungus on them that could infect your plants...it is usually best if you let your plant feed naturally.

[theyip1218]

sarlacc's digest for thousands of years. Thus, Boba Fett found a way out. (yes, he got out of that thing)

[rejectedwolf]

Is that ur yard? Sweet.

[doctorspankluv]

Where can I order one?

[lillielovell]

WOW...i love it a lot oh and thanks for teaching me !!

[teresadenise]

neat stuff, I'll be looking for one at the plant store for my backyard.

[pwnslayerss]

i want one of these!!!!

[MasterMistro]

i had a venus flytrap-it died

i had a pitcher plant-it died

i now have a sundew- i'm taking extra care of this one

[Axelgear2006]

Sad but true. Survival of the fittest... Poor moth...

[stormfur2]

You have very nice plants (by the way, the first ones are Sarracenia leucophyllas, second are S. rubra, and third is S.purpurea.

[Ferret2YourFace]

thanks for teaching me. i always wondered how they work =]