hal
Full Member
Posts: 19
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Post by hal on Dec 15, 2008 23:29:26 GMT
I received a P. moranensis and P. "weser" by mail a few days ago. They were really soggy and floppy when I got them - like really old wilted lettuce. It's almost as if they froze during shipment, but the Sarracenias that came with them look fine. I have potted the Pinguiculas loosely in a 2:2:1 mix of peat, sand and perlite. I have watered them with distilled water. I'm keeping them on a cool windowsill and allowing them to dry a bit. The shipping instructions said to give them 4 more weeks of dormancy. One was in flower. They both look like they may have their summer leaves. As I understand it the winter leaves should be small, succulent and stubby? As far as I can tell the leaves are (were) flat and broad and thin. So far the plants have done nothing other than dry out a bit. I'm figuring that perhaps all the original leaves will die away and something new will grow. I can't see the leaves reviving with the state they're in. Any tips for helping these guys pull through?  |
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Post by jimfoxy on Dec 16, 2008 17:13:58 GMT
It's almost as if they froze during shipment, but the Sarracenias that came with them look fine. Sarracenia foliage will withstand much colder temperatures than Mexican Pinguicula before it suffers any damage. It sounds like they did freeze during transit; a real problem for posting some plants at this time of year. That 'wilted old lettuce' look you mention is exactly how they go if severely frozen. Depending on conditions, they may form the tighter rosette foliage you mention, they may not. Both P. moranensis and P. 'Weser' grow big, open rosettes. My fake P. 'Weser' has never formed a tight Winter rosette. I think you're absolutely right. Moving a plant from the conditions it has been used to, putting it in the post and then potting it up in conditions that might be very different can be very traumatic. I've had plants arrive where the main plant dies but, luckily, leaves have fallen off in the post and I have been able to form new plants from those. As long as the new growth at the centre of the rosette looks healthy and not frost damaged I would think you should be ok. The conditions you intend sound ok IMHO. If the centre of the rosette has turned all floppy then you may be in trouble and I would be inclined to contact the vendor if it dies. Experienced vendors should not be sending out frost susceptible plants at this time of year by inappropriate methods. |
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hal
Full Member
Posts: 19
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Post by hal on Dec 16, 2008 18:46:58 GMT
Thanks, Jim,
Over the past few days it's become obvious that the leaves are rotting. I can't really see a live crown in the middle and don't want to disturb them too much to try and find out.
Should I treat them like it's spring? Warm and wet to try to get new growth? Or keep them dryer and cooler so I don't stress them? I'm thinking that if there is any life left in them it might fade away during continued dormancy so it would be best to try a full-on revival.
I've taken photos of them for the vendor and will ask for a credit if they don't pull through. They were packed and shipped well and guaranteed, but I think the postal service must have ignored the shipping labels and kept them somewhere cold for far too long.
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Post by jimfoxy on Dec 17, 2008 12:12:31 GMT
I'm thinking the same way as you. Any way to promote new growth at this stage might be a good thing. Are you able to post a photo?
I think that the most important thing with changing conditions is to do it gradually. But it is usually very difficult to know what conditions the plant was given (light, temperature, humidity, water) before being sent to you. Some middle road might be best. A bit of extra lighting, if you have it, would probably be a good thing for growth, as well as a bit of water and warmth.
Keep a lookout for Botrytis mould on the dead growth. Good luck!
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