So what is it about plants that bite and hold an appetite for something more substantial?

Join us as we partner with the Australian Carnivorous Plant Society to explore the botany and cultivation of carnivorous plants.

In this one day course participants will learn about the many fascinating species, their cultivation and care.

You will acquire knowledge about the different specialised methods of propagation and take home your very own beasts propagated in class!

This course will cover:

– Trapping mechanisms, demonstrated using specimen plants.
– Where to observe carnivorous plants locally.
– Cultivation requirements of different species, with reference to their native habitats.
– Hands-on application of seed, cutting and division propagation techniques by participants, to produce material that can be taken home.

Morning tea and lunch will be provided.

About the presenters

The course will be led by members of the Australian Carnivorous Plant Society, based in Adelaide.

Carnivorous plants have been a life-long interest for Mike Perkins, Nick Collins and John Yates who maintain large collections in their back yards and have gone on expeditions to observe wild carnivorous plants in remote South-East Asia.

Plants are also part of Mike’s, Nick’s and Phil’s ‘day jobs’ (organic chemist at Flinders University, cereal geneticist at The University of Adelaide and owner of a landscape design/construction company, respectively).

John has developed a pipeline for in-vitro propagation of carnivorous plants in his home laboratory and has contributed to conservation surveys. Elliot Reader is one of our younger members, with an interest in all things from the natural world, and a particular fascination for carnivorous plants.

COVID-19

The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, volunteers and staff remains our highest priority and, in preparation to welcoming our programmes, we are implementing new COVID-19 compliant protocols to offer an enjoyable experience for all participants while minimising the risk of COVID-19. Measures include:

– Participants must not attend if they are unwell and/ or exhibit any COVID-19 symptoms.
– Group sizes have been kept small to ensure physical distancing can be adhered to while not impacting on the quality of the learning experience.
– Participants and staff must practice good hygiene before, during and after sessions.
– Extra cleaning regimes will be in place before, during and after each session
– Participants must maintain physical distance (1.5m) from each other and staff.