The Savage Garden, Revised: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants

by Peter D'Amato

Overview

For fifteen years, The Savage Garden has been the number one bestselling bible for those interested in growing carnivorous plants. This new edition is fully revised to include the latest developments and discoveries in the carnivorous plant world, making it the most accurate and up to date book of its kind.

You may be familiar with the Venus flytrap, but did you know that some pitcher plants can—and do—digest an entire rat? Or that there are several hundred species of carnivorous plants on our planet? Beautiful, unusual, and surprisingly easy to grow, flesh-eating plants thrive everywhere from windowsills to outdoor container gardens, in a wide variety of climates. The Savage Garden is the most comprehensive guide to these fascinating oddities, gloriously illustrated with more than 200 color photos. Fully revised with the latest developments in the carnivorous plant world, this new edition includes:

   •  All the basics—from watering and feeding to modern advances in artificial lighting, soil, and fertilizers.
   •  Detailed descriptions of hundreds of plants, including many of the incredible new species that have been recently discovered and hybridized.
   •  Cultivation and propagation information for all the plant families: pitcher plants, Venus flytraps, sundews, rainbow plants, bladderworts, and many other peculiar plants from the demented mind of Mother Nature.

Whether you’re a beginner with your first flytrap or an expert looking for the latest exotic specimen, this classic book has everything you need to grow your very own little garden of horrors.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781607744108
Publisher:	Clarkson Potter/Ten Speed
Publication date:	07/02/2013
Edition description:	Revised
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	115,932
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.10(d)

About the Author

PETER D’AMATO has been growing carnivorous plants for nearly forty years and his nursery, California Carnivores (CaliforniaCarnivores.com), houses the world’s largest collection of carnivorous plants. D’Amato is cofounder of the Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society and he lectures on the subject nationwide.

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Preface
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Excerpted from "The Savage Garden, Revised"
by .
Copyright © 2013 Peter D'Amato.
Excerpted by permission of Potter/Ten Speed/Harmony/Rodale.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

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Table of Contents

Preface
Introduction: What Are Carnivorous Plants?

Part One
The Basics of Cultivation
Soils * Water * The Water Tray Method * Pottery and 
Containers * Natural Light * Dormancy * Artificial 
Light * Feeding Your Plants * Fertilizing Carnivores * Carnivorous Plants as Pest Controllers * Pests and Diseases 
 
Part Two
Where to Grow Carnivorous Plants
Growing Carnivorous Plants Outdoors *  Bog Gardens * Windowsill Growing     Terrariums and Tanks * Greenhouses 
 
Part Three
The Plants AND HOW TO GROW THEM
The Venus Flytrap   
The American Pitcher Plants         
The Cobra Plant       
The Sun Pitchers     
The Sundews
The West Australian Pitcher Plant
The Dewy Pine
The Rainbow Plants
The Butterworts
The Bladderworts
The Tropical Pitcher Plants
Other Savage Plants from the Demented Mind of Mother Nature
      
Appendices
Acknowledgments
About the Author
Photography and Illustration Credits
Index

Editorial Reviews

"If you're a carnivorous plant aficionado, you will love the book. If you're new to these plants, you too will become hooked."
—Chicago Tribune

"Discusses each species in detail—from the well-known Venus flytrap to dewy pines and rainbow plants. Ample color photos show an amazing range of form, texture, and color. Don't miss the last chapter, 'Other Savage Plants from the Demented Mind of Mother Nature.'"
—Columbus Dispatch

"The most comprehensive guide to this unusual plant world."
—Sacramento Bee

"A bible for growers."
—San Antonio Express-News

From the Publisher

This long-awaited revision of an award-winning title is sure to entice more hobbyists into the world of carnivorous plants (CPs). Well indexed, the book is primarily a directory of the most popular insect-eating plants with details on their history, habitats, habits, and cultivation. But D'Amato (owner, California Carnivores) intrigues and entertains by recounting a false 1878 report of a man-eating tree, the plots of several horror movies, and information on important CP enthusiasts. He startles readers with rich descriptions of plants from around the world, more than 200 photos, and revelations that CPs lurk in sidewalk cracks of American cities and suburban lawns in Australia. Lengthier than the original, this revision includes numerous plants that have only recently been identified, cultivated, or registered. It has updated comments on conservation and innovations in matters such as lighting, fertilizer, and pest control. The final chapter discusses additional "savage" plants, including some aquatic carnivores and plants considered carnivorous in certain life stages. The book does not touch on the specialty of growing carnivorous fungi as does Wilhelm Barthlott's The Curious World of Carnivorous Plants, a larger format title with a bibliography. VERDICT Highly recommended for anyone fascinated by carnivorous plants.—Bonnie Poquette, Milwaukee

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