Hello to all,
Even though the title might bring a lot confusion I always wanted to bring this topic to discussion. The common knowledge is that serracenia and all North American pitcher plants require some type of dormancy to follow the natural rhythms of growth, flowering, seed, dormancy only to have the cycle repeat itself year after year. The process as far as everyone knows requires a gradual change in photo period and temperature. However I am a firm believer that some other factors take place that are not reasonably explained. Here is were I want to lead the discussion. I am no botanist and will like to invite anyone that knows more about these plants than me. Here is where my two cents count. I have always loved CPS and have a very nice collection in my home city of Miami. I grow some serracenias there also however every winter I have to go through the painstaking process of out rotting, cutting, and storing these plants in the refrigerator so these plants can survive. The photo period is correct however the temperature variation is not enough to make the plants thrive come south florida "spring". Everyone is probably asking, yes this very normal. so it is. Now lets jump to where I work.
I work for a construction company in Bogota Colombia. So why is this important you might ask? Colombia is very close to the equatorial line meaning that the photo period is relatively 50/50 (12H Daylight/12H Dark) Bogota is 2600M a.s.l or 8530 feet a.s.l an altitude that in some parts of the US will be perpetual snow year round. Bogota and most all of Colombia has a 6 month dry period and 6 month wet period this varies from year to year but it is more or less the norm. You might find that this is all very informative but what does it have to do with serracenia? Well I actually do not know how it relates, but I grow serracenia in Bogota. And they thrive. I have a 5 year old "Dana's Delight" with 30" tall pitchers or more a 4 year old "scarlette belle" and a 4 year old Purpurea can't remember exactly which one. The funniest thing is that I never have to uproot them. They flower at strange times of the year (usually following the wet/dry seasons) they are vigorous sending out new pitchers weekly and slowing down following the wet/dry seasons. One fact I forgot to add is that the hottest temperature of Bogota on a sunny day is about 78-80F and the lowest temperature is around 45-50F. These are year round temperatures. with 60 to 80 RH.
So I ask all. What the hell is going on?
Is it a question of year round temperature? the altitude? RH? a combination? something else? because the simple notion of the seasons and photo period gets thrown out the door.
A picture says a thousand words so I will attach some using tapatalk from my phone following this post.
Even though the title might bring a lot confusion I always wanted to bring this topic to discussion. The common knowledge is that serracenia and all North American pitcher plants require some type of dormancy to follow the natural rhythms of growth, flowering, seed, dormancy only to have the cycle repeat itself year after year. The process as far as everyone knows requires a gradual change in photo period and temperature. However I am a firm believer that some other factors take place that are not reasonably explained. Here is were I want to lead the discussion. I am no botanist and will like to invite anyone that knows more about these plants than me. Here is where my two cents count. I have always loved CPS and have a very nice collection in my home city of Miami. I grow some serracenias there also however every winter I have to go through the painstaking process of out rotting, cutting, and storing these plants in the refrigerator so these plants can survive. The photo period is correct however the temperature variation is not enough to make the plants thrive come south florida "spring". Everyone is probably asking, yes this very normal. so it is. Now lets jump to where I work.
I work for a construction company in Bogota Colombia. So why is this important you might ask? Colombia is very close to the equatorial line meaning that the photo period is relatively 50/50 (12H Daylight/12H Dark) Bogota is 2600M a.s.l or 8530 feet a.s.l an altitude that in some parts of the US will be perpetual snow year round. Bogota and most all of Colombia has a 6 month dry period and 6 month wet period this varies from year to year but it is more or less the norm. You might find that this is all very informative but what does it have to do with serracenia? Well I actually do not know how it relates, but I grow serracenia in Bogota. And they thrive. I have a 5 year old "Dana's Delight" with 30" tall pitchers or more a 4 year old "scarlette belle" and a 4 year old Purpurea can't remember exactly which one. The funniest thing is that I never have to uproot them. They flower at strange times of the year (usually following the wet/dry seasons) they are vigorous sending out new pitchers weekly and slowing down following the wet/dry seasons. One fact I forgot to add is that the hottest temperature of Bogota on a sunny day is about 78-80F and the lowest temperature is around 45-50F. These are year round temperatures. with 60 to 80 RH.
So I ask all. What the hell is going on?
Is it a question of year round temperature? the altitude? RH? a combination? something else? because the simple notion of the seasons and photo period gets thrown out the door.
A picture says a thousand words so I will attach some using tapatalk from my phone following this post.
Last edited:
