Originally Posted by Hera

Ooohhh and look at all those hands! This was exciting... and on top of that, she was curious to see how they fared in general as well as in relation to these fine beauties before them.



"Pruning, yes!" Seren replied beaming. "Flesh eaters don't require as much, they tend to self regulate their limbs, but certainly on occasion they could do with a tidy up."



It seemed as though the Ravenclaw girls were on the ball, and most certainly in relation to flesh eaters. "Absolutely, space is vital for these plants, the only exception being such as now when they're so well looked after and maintained in a confined space, they don't need to compete for space and with regard to space, prey." Because that's what space was all about, luring in the prey and hunting its food source.



A generic requirement if any, but it wasn't wrong. Seren nodded in response to Lux's answer. "Of course, particularly if the plants are kept in captivity and sheltered from the rain."



Sunlight! Didn't everyone just feel so much better when the sun was out and shining... unlike what they would be experiencing from now on. "Indeed, sunlight is still important... for some varieties, not necessarily for all," she nodded. The Hufflepuff girl was a dear, so cute with her photography. "Photosynthesis," Seren corrected for her, "and certainly flesh eaters don't often receive all the nutrients they need from their food."



And now this was an interesting point, such capable young men... though Bay's answer was lacking conviction. "You're on the right track Bay," she encouraged with a small smile before turning to the Ravenclaw... former Captain. "That's certainly an important consideration, perhaps more so for those that rely on their root systems as predators, you'll want to select your soil so that it's not too compact and doesn't inhibit them from behaving normally."



Damp? ......... Did she just say damp? While the response was only in part correct - considering the two specimens didn't require such conditions specifically - it was in fact correct for many flesh eaters in general. "You'll find a large number of flesh eaters prefer the damp, yes, not necessarily these, though they wouldn't be hindered by it either."



....

........ Idiots?

Seren considered this for a moment, a finger on her chin and her lips pursed as she thought. Idiots. "I suppose you're right... but that's more a preventative measure for anti-care." Still, she'd pay it. The Prefect received a nod.



Considering a duo of Ravenclaw girls had impressed her with their reponses earlier, Seren was hoping that the duo of Gryffindors would too... and so she looked to Kevin and Zander as they both provided their answers. She nodded, agreeing... "Sun, water, yes ... though some are rather sensitive to it whilst others are quite hardy and self-serving," she mused. Of course, it didn't come as a surprise to her that Kevin had questions, he was rather loud... but appreciatively so. "They do eat flesh," she confirmed with a nod... adding a wink. He ought to wait and see the demonstration!



Oh Merlin. Sweet sweet mother of Merlin.

Seren gave the boy a sympathetic look, had he been off with the fairies this whole time? Or was he just struggling to keep up? ...

"The berries aren't poisonous dear, and plants don't often wear gloves. Though you're quite right, WE do need gloves to protect ourselves." At least he understood that much.



And now would you listen to that? Dental care! The boy was onto something, onto something, though not quite there. "Dental hygiene is so very important, not only for us but certainly for plants too," she agreed with many nods. "Flesh eaters in captivity require dental care, those in the wild, not so much. This is largely due to them accessing more foodstuffs in captivity and the type of food they are usually provided don't have the means to help them regulate flossing." Hairs and reeds and the like.



Benjamin's response was fairly straight forward, and got a nod, Aditya's elaboration also received a nod and a slight wobble on the head. "Yes and no," she added. And then Sophie hit the nail on the head, again. Was it just her, or was the Ravenclaw simply blooming today? "Of course, so those kept in captivity generally benefit from a sprinkling or two of dragon dung fertiliser annually," she confirmed.



The interesting answers kept on coming, and her young Lioness didn't disappoint. Keep animals away from them? ....

"Eeeerr...." she started, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. "It would depend on the animal perhaps," she mused before elaborating on the point. "See, if it's a pet, then by all means keep it away, if it's an animal that could harm the plant, then by all means keep that one away too... but otherwise, well, the plant needs to eat too." It was the circle of life thing, and as hard as it was condoning the death and murder of otherwise innocent animals, the plants life was - in her eyes - more valuable.



Feed it with something? Seren chuckled, "That's generally the idea," she replied, shaking her head in amusement at the non-answer.



Such considerate little Claws they were, were they not?

Seren beamed, her features enough to express her delight in their answers. "Of course, you're both correct," she agreed out loud. Particularly appreciating Kyroh's example. He was a sweet boy.



Was it just her? Or did this Hufflepuff seem a tad nervous about the bushes? Or was it flesh eaters in general?... It saddened her that so many students were frightened of them, and though they were well within their right to be wary of the plants, they were just that, plants... darling, gorgeous, innocent and natural little!big things.

Seren offered her a soft smile, hoping it would soothe the girl somewhat. "Those work... but there's not much harm that can come to one by staying close - depending on the flesh eater of course." She wasn't about to advise them to rub up against and make friends with an Ogreous Oak. That would be laughable.



... ..... As her gaze swept over the gathering of students, Seren had to wonder if they were all coping with being in here. Particularly the quiet ones. Like Agatha.

"Are you alright dear?" she asked, just to make sure. She was still breathing yes? Still in this world?



This boy. Why was he a Claw and not a Lion?! She wanted him in her nest! ...... "I couldn't have said it better myself," she replied, her expression quire serious but more out of awe with the child.



...................................

.....

Okay, there was no mistaking it. This one was petrified. Completely and utterly petrified. Perhaps he ought to be the first one to feed a fleshy today. Hhmm? Yes? That would show him they're harmless.

But no, she wouldn't force him to do anything against his will, that's how accidents happen. One second you're holding out a rat carcass and then next minute you freak and end up losing a hand too.

"Would you like to be kept in a cage?" she asked rhetorically. Plants were not for cages. Ahem.



And if that wasn't an all encompassing response then she didn't know what was.

...

"Yes and no," she started, her lips forming a thin line before continuing. "Some require more care than others, but for the most part they are rather independent and most certainly not like a usual plant." Very different. Very special.



Caleb was perhaps rather blunt with his consideration, "Yes, flesh eaters ought to have a diet consisting of meat..." that was rather essential, and this was confirmed by Marigold too. It was Grayson who seemed to build on that idea quite well. "Absolutely, because they're kept confined, ensuring they have access to prey is essential."



If she didn't know better she'd have assumed he was as fearful of the plants as the other young Slytherin boy... but no, Cutty seemed all too confident with his words to be scared. She was convinced of this.

"By all means, feed until they're satiated and they won't be as likely to want to snack on you - depending on its size and temperament." Some were easier to befriend than others, so it was by no means a blanket policy. "But it's best not to give them indigestion."

"Flesh eaters in captivity are more likely to be conscious of routine, so regular but moderated feeding is advised."


And speaking of...

It was about time to get things moving. Moving along quite nicely.

"The Weigela and Chokeberry are both rather low maintenance, so long as they have access to food. Their predatory instincts are all that is required for them to manage in a garden quite comfortable, but when grown in greenhouses we need to be a bit more accommodating with the food." Because it wasn't as if birds and garden gnomes would get in here very often. Nope.

With a quick gaze around the space and the area they were in, Seren was able to do a head count and some quick mathematics told her all she needed to know.

"Fortunately for us, we've come in time for feeding!" she announced brightly, though waiting to see the reactions of the others... or actually, best not, "but before you start worrying, the more dangerous plants in this greenhouse have already been fed and their meat has been laced with a sedation draught so they won't post a threat to either of you." No... there was just the lesser man-eating ones that might try to take a nibble. But they could handle that, they had gloves on.

"First things first, meat!" she announced, taking a few strides to one of the raised flower beds and pulling out what looked to be an ordinary trunk. A few brisk wand movements later, and the opening of the lid revealed dead rats, steak cuttings and offal. The smell wasn't particularly nice, but it could be overlooked. "Come and take a bit, and offer it up to any of the shrubs and plants in this section only," she noted, indicating the immediate area they were in. "Levitate the meat to it, or throw it, unless you're comfortable risking your hand..." which she didn't advise, because she rather liked her job and would hate for it to be taken from her. "The fanged geraniums, savage sword lilies, pygmy piranha plants, throat latching carnations and barbaric banksia also need a good feed... though you'll need to serve them smaller portions."

Taking a couple of chunks of offal for herself and stepping away from the trunk of meat bits, Seren indicated they could have at it too. "There's no need to be afraid if you don't get too close, and even then, the bushes are what will hurt, the others will only puncture you at best."

OOC: The lesson will continue in 28-39 hours depending on people posting. Have fun with this, tis an experience. Any questions don't hesitate to ask.