B52's!

[agar]

Hats off to Henning Von Schmeling, who's bred one heck of a vigorous plant here, these plants are barely *one* year old, yet I've actually had two of them flower!

Many of the plants have traps already exceeding 30mm (~1-1/4"), with even larger traps expected later in the summer/fall. Not too shabby for mere "babies";-)

Growing conditions haven't been as good this year, with dry weather, and the old greenhouse on it's last legs. Still, the 'B's are noticibly more vigorous and grow larger traps than any of the other VFT's in my collection.

They are also starting to "color up" in the new greenhouse, although, I've seen them with trap interiors and even teeth turning a dark marroon color under flourescent lights during Feb/March. Experimentation may determine if it's the spectrum of the T5 lights and/or the 18 hr/day photoperiod that made the difference on the previous crop.

left tray


right tray


new transplants


closeup


My VFT growlist:
www.connerscarnivores.com/dconner_growlist.html

[Steve D]

I just wanted to post a note of appreciation for David Conner's efforts--

It's nice to see David's website up and running now--

connerscarnivores.com/

David is doing all us Venus Flytrap lovers a real favor by micropropagating (tissue culturing) several outstanding clones from plant material obtained from the original plants that the cultivars were named from, including the 'B52' (world's largest traps to date) and the 'Justina Davis' (a true all-green, anthocyanin-free Venus Flytrap).

Both the 'Justina Davis' and 'B52' Venus Flytraps I bought from David a few months ago (I bought 4 of each) are doing absolutely great. The B52s do already have the largest traps for plants of their (young) age compared to any others in my collection, and the 'Justina Davis' plants are a beautiful lime green with not a trace of red anywhere.

Thank you David for utilizing your experience and expertise in propagation in vitro to offer clones of these outstanding plants to enthusiasts.

-Steve

[agar]

Thanks Steve!

I've worked vary hard on propagating these plants, and they are by far more vigorous than any other variety I have in cultivation. Thanks ultimately goes to Henning himself, and to Dr. Barry Rice for introducing me to Henning. Hopefully interest in these cultivars, and those sold by you and other reputable dealers will help mitigate collection of native wild plants.

Here's a photo of some 'fused tooth' cultures I hope to make available in the next few months. Aren't they cute?


agar

[Not a Number]

Von Schmeling certainly came up with a winner. I can't believe how quickly this cultivar grows. The 'B52' I got from you in April is producing a flower stalk already.

This is more evident in the second photo (click on thumbnail) - different lighting angle. BTW: the dates on the label you sent with the plant are 12/30/06 and 061019-25.

[jm82792]

I want to take a college tc class maybe to do a carreer.
Nice B52s !!!!!! I will order when you get some other cps
online.

[venusflytrapfreak]

I just want to say that I had purchased a 'B52' from David Conner and I was so impressed!! He had sent it in 2 days from CA to Fl.!!! I expected some small VFT, but to my surprise it was just booming with growth and looked like several years old!! I also got little pups so now I have 4 more plants!!! I have them planted in peat/sand mix in a large pot and just hope they get their rest here in Florida!! We are finally getting a cold front on Monday with nights low/high 50's ..
I recommend looking at David Conners website!

[Hikenyura]

Im lucky, the guy comes over to BACPS meetings and I got one from him.

[venusflytrapfreak]

That is GREAT!! The flytraps were so healthy!!! I was impressed! Yes I agree with you that Carnivorous plants are addicting!!! They seem so science fiction and amazing!!! Do you have luck in growing them in your area? I moved to Fl. from Va. and this is the first season I am letting my flytraps over winter outdoors in Fl. and it looks like we are finally getting some cooler air starting Monday!!! YEA!! Hope they get enough rest!

Ricky

[wallsg7]

Hi,what are the parent plants of b52?

Thanks

Gary

[Brian Barnes]

Here's one of Mr. Connor's plants i aquired from him a while back. GORGEOUS plants indeed! Enjoy! Bri.

Hmmm....let's drop a fly in...this one! ;D

Ooooopen wide!

[av8tor1]

another of David's awesome VFT's, his B52 clone has become my most colorful and most prized Dionaea...



how can you get much nicer then that ;D

thx David,
Butch

[Brian Barnes]

Great shots, Dave! Right down to the trigger hairs... Brian.

[agar]

Re: 'B52' parentage

I received 2 specimens of 'B52' in 2005 from Henning, after being put in touch with him by Barry Rice. Henning never elaborated on what 'B52' was, nor where it came from, however, here's what I learned from discussions with Barry:

Henning's Dionaea breeding program produced a superior first generation specimen with large traps which he selected, and designated 'A2'. In my understanding of Henning's naming convention, this was the second plant in this first generation of crosses (parentage unknown). Among the second generation of crosses was another even more superior specimen Henning designated as 'B52', which he submitted for cultivar registration in 2006 by Barry Rice in his new book 'Growing Carnivorous Plants'.

I contacted Barry today (12/21/07), and here's his response:
"When I was writing my book, I used the opportunity to look for cultivars that people might have wanted to have published. I contacted Henning von Schmeling and asked him if he wanted any plants to be listed in my book. He suggested two plants, one that he called "A2" and the other that he called "B52." My memory of the naming convention is what David wrote, i.e., "A2" was individual #2 in a set of seedlings from a first generation, and "B52" was the 52nd plant in the second generation. But I don't recall further details of the relationships between the A and B generations (sorry). Some time earlier, Henning had sent me specimens of the "A2" and "B52" plants, and having cultivated them I could see that they were indeed both very good growers with large traps. However, I couldn't see any significant difference between the two clones, at least not different enough to merit naming them both. Since "B52" was, in my own cultivation, a little bigger, redder, and more vigorous, I named that one. Henning said that this plant had already been given to a few people, so to avoid confusion I continued to use the name 'B52' instead of calling it something more amusing, like 'Rock Lobster' or whatever (although, damn, if I had thought of "Rock Lobster" at the time I might have used it!"

You can see photos of A2 on my (Barry's) web site (http://www.sarracenia.com/galleria/g154.html). It's a nice plant but not anything really spectacular.

I hope that sufficiently answers your question, as the only person who knows more about it is Henning himself.

P.S I also have a specimen of 'A2', and even a young seedling in vitro, recently germinated from selfed seed taken this fall from the "mother" 'A2'!

agar

[brad]

The parent VFT plant of all Henning's Giant VFT, is a special VFT he obtained from Rob Gardener.

I am passionate collector of VFT. I contacted Henning several years ago because I knew he was a long time grower of VFT and also maintained a special VFT collection. He told me about his VFT propagation program. Of the VFT he used, the best progeny, came from the best plant which was Rob Gardener's VFT. The progeny were robust just like Rob Gardener's plant. These became the stock of Henning's Giant VFT program.

Rob Gardener's VFT is one of the best VFT I grow. It is truly a special VFT.

Brad
Ventura California

[agar]

Thanks for the input Brad. You are probably one of a few handful of VFT enthusiasts that have been able to acquire specimens of Henning's bred VFT's, and have actual knowledge of their origin.

So how does Rob Gardener's giant VFT's compare with Hennings (if you happen to have specimens of both of reasonably the same same age)? No offense intended, but the 'B52' dominate my greenhouse as far as size and robustness.

drosera5150 and av8tor1's 'B52's look great! I especially like the vivid complementary red/green colors in the upper part of avator1's photo that seems to befit the season! drosera5150's photos show more of what I see currently in the traps - a dark "Royal Violet" color. Very nice guys!

agar