P. 'Titan' Woes

[w03]

Out of all my current pings (P. 'Titan', P. agnata, P. emarginata), P. 'Titan' is the only one that I'm having trouble with. It seems to rot very easily under my conditions. In fact, my last plant rotted, and I made some cuttings, so I had about 10 plantlets. Only 7 of those remain (gave away two, one rotted), and another is rotting from the roots up (however, it is making small root nubs). I don't use the tray system, and since I'm really worried about crown rot, I let the plants dry out until the soil looks completely dry, then I water generously. (Sometimes water gets on the crown, but I try to dry this off, and whatever doesn't get dried by me usually evaporates). I think the main problem is lack of light, but since I let the soil get bone dry, wouldn't this kill fungus? Or, could it be that the weaker plantlets died? One of the rotted ones was pale from lack of light, and the current rotting one is small. None of the larger plantlets were affected.

What is happening?

[Joseph Clemens]

I've been growing tropical Pinguicula species and hybrids for several decades, including Pinguicula 'Titan'. Having tried a large variety of environmental variables, I would say that Light, as you mention, is the single most important factor when growing these plants. I've even kept them without water for multiple years at a time, and as long as I maintained an abundance of light, without high temperatures, they would continue to grow and bloom despite the lack of water. I use cool-white fluorescent lights, and find that a photo-period between 12 and 16 hours works best. To save on electricity I only run the lights two or three days at a time, then turn them off for a day, then back on for another two or three days. So the plants experience regular "cloudy days" without the clouds and it saves me a little money on electricity without any noticeable difference in the plants.

Media composed entirely of non-organic components may also help.

[w03]

About the temps and light:

I can only get cfls right now, is that ok? Also, temps in my area get really high in summer (85-100F).

About non-organic media, would APS work well? I've heard that its great for pings (and I can easily get it at Home Depot).

[gardenofeden]

I would suggest that watering from above will exacerbate crown rot issues; so, water from below, but you don't have to stand in water, just give them enough to absorb it within half hour or so, pour away excess. If they are dormant you don't need to water at all.

[sdcps]

You need loose airy soil, dry conditions, and lots of light. Majority of your soil should be perlite.

[w03]

Thanks, sdcps. The problem has been solved now. (By the way, I always use a lot of perlite in my ping soil. Actually, it is hard to see any peat at all unless you look really closely).

BTW, thanks for the tip, gardenofeden. I think that solved most of my crown rot problems.

[rocketcaver]

Let me know if you need another start os P. titan. I'll be making some leaf pullings this spring.