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Post by hcarlton on Mar 23, 2012 3:24:38 GMT
Hello all, I am wondering, what are other people's experiences from Flytrap Care Store? I recently purchased a mountian darlingtonia and a H. minor, and while the Heli is doing well, my Cobra lily has seemingly rotted all the way through, save for the leaf tips. It is in a small terra cotta pot, with a mix of perlite and sphagnum as soil, kept just moist throughout, and I am attempting a growing of live sphagnum on top. Any ideas?
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Post by coldcoffee on Mar 24, 2012 7:57:55 GMT
My experiences with flytrapstore have been very positive. I have only lost a couple of plants from them but I do not think it was their fault. I think it was a combination of bad weather and weakness in the cultivar- neither of which I can attribute to the company. Regarding the Darlingtonia- they can be a pain sometimes. How are you growing it? What's your soil mix and how are you watering? Darlingtonia lives near running water and reportedly does not do well on a tray method. I top water mine periodically and am using a soil mix of equal parts peat, perlite, pumice and orchid bark. So car it it is doing very well. Please keep in mind though I have only had it a couple of months so I am more or less describing how I am experimentally growing it. Previous attempts have not been good. This new attempt is proving very very promising so far
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Post by ajmiller on Mar 31, 2012 19:22:46 GMT
I can't speak for that specific vendor, only suggest growing tips.
I recall reading somewhere that many CPs do not like clay pots. They retain and leech mineral content that will kill root systems. Especially if you're reusing a terra cotta pot from another plant.
For sure you'll have to water more frequently, which will lead to algae/mold growth that will also take out your plant.
I've had good success with a plastic pot for near 2 years on mine, going to need to repot soon as it's finally growing a 2nd rhizome and expanding out. Soil is equal parts peat, perlite, and some sand/gravel. Incidentally, I've only ever tray watered mine. Can't wait to finally split one.
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Post by coldcoffee on Apr 1, 2012 3:30:04 GMT
Just an update on mine (since I mentioned before this was a new attempt), so far so good! My Darlingtonia is doing very well and is even sending up a flower stalk. It should be opening within the next week or so- I will post a picture when it does. Now, getting through the hot CA summer is going to be the real challenge! By the way, hcarlton, I just realized in my first post I asked what your soil mix was but now see that you had already posted that(In fact you pretty much answered all of the questions I posted...). Sorry for missing that That must of been one of my late night, lack of sleep posts or something...
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Post by ajmiller on Apr 2, 2012 16:28:41 GMT
coldcoffee,
Just remember, low humidity requires partial shade on these guys in the heat.
Post a photo of the flower when it opens!
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Post by hcarlton on Apr 2, 2012 21:03:16 GMT
If you use distilled water or rainwater, and the pot is in it's first use, they are usually great for cool-root loving plants and such. However, it would appear the cobra is completely gone, and I'll have to look for a replacement when I get the money. Any suggestion on how to to successfully germinate seeds and keep them alive? Mine always die.
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Post by coldcoffee on Apr 2, 2012 23:04:33 GMT
If you use distilled water or rainwater, and the pot is in it's first use, they are usually great for cool-root loving plants and such. However, it would appear the cobra is completely gone, and I'll have to look for a replacement when I get the money. Any suggestion on how to to successfully germinate seeds and keep them alive? Mine always die. I have not had the best luck getting them going from seed myself. Then again, what killed my seedlings last time was fungus. Lately, with most seedlings I have been starting, I have been spraying everything with sulfur based fungicide after sowing. In know pinguiculas do not like this, not sure about Darlingtonia. I have some seeds that are about done with their stratification, I will try this and post my results.
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Post by coldcoffee on Apr 2, 2012 23:05:47 GMT
coldcoffee, Just remember, low humidity requires partial shade on these guys in the heat. Post a photo of the flower when it opens! It was just about open a few nights ago, I will check again tonight and post a photo either way (if I do not forget... which tends to happen...)
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Post by coldcoffee on Apr 3, 2012 5:47:17 GMT
As promised! Attachments:
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Post by coldcoffee on Apr 3, 2012 5:48:29 GMT
Pretty cool flower huh?! This is the first Darlingtonia flower I have ever seen! (In real life at least...)
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Post by ajmiller on Apr 5, 2012 0:49:13 GMT
very beautiful, expect it to open further? How large is the plant itself? Mine is about 6" around, but no flowers or anything yet, just about 1" size pitchers.
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Post by hcarlton on Apr 5, 2012 17:40:35 GMT
Plants have to be a pretty good size before they flower, and in good condition, too. This means regularly pitchering, and with pitchers averaging over 6 inches to a foot tall, with the annual big ones as well.
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Post by coldcoffee on Apr 6, 2012 5:30:44 GMT
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Post by coldcoffee on Apr 6, 2012 5:31:50 GMT
very beautiful, expect it to open further? How large is the plant itself? Mine is about 6" around, but no flowers or anything yet, just about 1" size pitchers. This is the first time I have seen a Darlingtonia flower in real life. All of the pictures I have seen suggest it does not open much more. Now, to try and pollinate it! (Evil grin...)
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Post by coldcoffee on Apr 6, 2012 5:34:21 GMT
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