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Post by sarracenialover on Sept 21, 2008 3:00:24 GMT
A lot of sites are saying that cephs should have dormancy, but many can grow it without it. Sooo, what is your stance on giving the plant a rest in winter. I think the plant should only get a summer rest if it is an adult plant.
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fredg
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Post by fredg on Sept 21, 2008 13:02:43 GMT
As mentioned in another post, my plants are subject to temperatures below freezing each winter. It hasn't bothered them yet, even when standing in ice.
I'd guess they'd be dormant at these times
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Post by sarracenialover on Sept 21, 2008 20:51:17 GMT
Yep, just as I have suspected. But I won't allow my plants to rest until they're adults just in case.
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fredg
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Post by fredg on Sept 21, 2008 20:58:10 GMT
I have had leaf cuttings overwinter down to freezing.
Why treat young plants any different to adults?
They don't 'pull up their roots and walk' at maturity
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Post by sarracenialover on Sept 21, 2008 21:08:47 GMT
No, i'm jst worried my plants might die since they have been siffering form lack of water. Now it is really small with one green pitcher and it is not gorinwg right now. I'm trying to be patient right now.
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Post by chloroplast on Oct 30, 2008 19:07:22 GMT
CPLover,
I have never given my Cephalotus a "dormant" period; i.e., temperatures below 50 F. The plants are very healthy and I'm very satisfied with their progress.
I think most would agree that temperatures near freezing are tolerated but are not required for optimal health of the plant. You must be VERY careful not to overwater them when they are this cold.
Cool temperatures (45-60F) and good light will result in a nice red coloration of the leaves/pitchers. If you have a particularly good clone, the entire plant may appear red.
Some speculate that a cold dormancy followed by lower light conditions can enhance formation of very large pitchers in the giant clones, but I currently have pitchers ~5.25 cm on plants that were never given dormancy and I expect larger pitchers as the plant matures.
Good luck with your plants!
Ken
Fred,
"They don't 'pull up their roots and walk' at maturity"
An apt reference to "The Day of the Triffids" ;D
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Post by icemansyr on Nov 30, 2008 7:55:34 GMT
I've never heard of dormancy for Cephalotus. I live in a similar climate to their native habitat and have never experienced dormancy. In the winter time here it never really gets much below the mid-40's. Their growth does slow down in the winter here but I haven't seen the plant completely stop.
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Post by sarracenialover on Nov 30, 2008 21:10:51 GMT
lets call this a "winter rest". the plant actually responds to winter by slowing down and making a bunch of non pitchering leaves.
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Post by kimbruun on Jul 11, 2010 22:09:15 GMT
I assume fredg is growing his cephalotus outside in the UK. Does this mean that cephalotus can tolerate extended periods of freezing? Does it need less water than other CPs?
I am considering growing cephalotus in one of my peat blocks in my bog - I intend to carve out a space in the block and fill it with sand for the cephalotus. Bad idea?
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Post by Aidan on Jul 11, 2010 22:51:10 GMT
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Post by kimbruun on Jul 13, 2010 5:38:58 GMT
Thanks, Aidan! So what you're saying is "some have had success, but it's risky at best"?
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fredg
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Post by fredg on Jul 13, 2010 12:27:36 GMT
I assume fredg is growing his cephalotus outside in the UK. No, they are grown in an unheated lean-to greenhouse, not frost free. Thanks, Aidan! So what you're saying is "some have had success, but it's risky at best"? I think what Aidan is saying is that the winter of 2009/10 was a bad one. You will note that his plant/s is still alive and pushing out new growth , not brilliant for a commercial enterprise like Aidan's but not a disaster for an amauteur grower. I too had two or three plants that lost some top growth, all are pushing up new growth. I think this happening to the plants for one bad winter in twenty seven isn't too bad. I'm sure many plants died because they were brought into warmer conditions over the winter. The Cephalotus which took the bad winter the best is the one in pure live sphagnum, there's something to think about ;D
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Post by Aidan on Jul 13, 2010 19:26:36 GMT
What Aidan is saying, is that I advise against growing the plant in situations where it may freeze for any length of time. While it may survive the experience, there is a damn good chance that it will not or that it will be severely damaged. The photograph in the linked thread shows one of the plants that survived. Numerous other plants did not make it and to this day, those that did remain badly damaged. Would you prefer a 6"/15cm pot like this... ...or like this?
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fredg
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Post by fredg on Jul 13, 2010 22:18:50 GMT
Now that is interesting Aidan. I reread your link and noticed that you got that damage in the winter of 2008/9 not the bad winter of 2009/10. That surprises me as I got none at all that winter. That polytunnel of yours must lose heat fast at night. You're a lot nearer the equator too, not like up here near the arctic circle.
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Post by kimbruun on Jul 19, 2010 7:08:53 GMT
Of course I want a healthy plant, Aidan, but I'm sure you can understand the thrill of having something grow in your garden rather than in a pot. Do you in any way protect your ceph's outside in the winter period?
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