My web page

[sarracenia]

I have finished up a little web page of most of my pictures. Thanks to Dreamweaver, otherwise, I had no idea what I was doing. Just click the WWW link at the bottom of the post.

 

[Rubra]

I love the (rubra x oreophila) x purpurea red ruffles

Nice plants!

 

[jimscott]

I looked every one of them. Beautiful plants! I can see why chose your forum name. Ever think of getting a sundew or a butterwort, though? I spied one VFT in the background. You must have every combination and permutation of Sarracenia hybrid out there! my favorites are the crosses containing purpurea - the deep red coloration. Good growing!

 

[sarracenia]

Thanks for the comments. I appreciate them. I do have some VFT's, and actually a ton of sundews that just kind of grow like weeds, not that I remove them or anything. I think there's filiformis, capensis, rotundifolia, capillaris, intermedia in there for sure, maybe a few others.

 

[jimscott]

Obviously, you are showcasing the Sarrs.!

 

[Tropics]

Like Jim, I looked at every one of your photos.  The variety was mindnumbing.  I wonder what kind of conditions you grow your plants in – where you live, whether the plants grow outdoors or in a greenhouse, what kind of medium you use, how you water the plants, and anything else that might be useful.  I could make some guesses, but like someone said, it is better to keep your mouth shut and be thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.

 

[sarracenia]

Quote[/b] (Tropics @ Sep. 15 2004,6:56)]I wonder what kind of conditions you grow your plants in – where you live, whether the plants grow outdoors or in a greenhouse, what kind of medium you use, how you water the plants, and anything else that might be useful.  

I grow them all in pots with sphagnum peat and perlite, probably around 60:40, but I don't measure it out or anything. I used to use pots with no drainage holes, but I have since gradually been transferring to pots sitting in plastic saucers a few inches deep. I find that you have to water them less that way. I pray for rain all the time, but when mother nature doesn't cooperate, I use water from Wal-Mart, the self-filling machine they have there. I have had no problems using that water. At 33 cents a gallon, it's not bad, but it can add up quick during dry spells.
They've predominantly grown outside. I used to live in Missouri, so occasionally I'd move them into the garage when it got especially cold. I kind of had a rule if the forecast called for temps not to rise above freezing for more than a couple of days, I'd move them in. I think one winter in MO, they stayed out all winter, another winter I remember putting them in around thanksgiving, and they didn't come out until Feb. Last year, I lived in VA Beach, so they were outside all winter. A few times it got down to 18 at night and everything survived, even seedlings that had sprouted that year. I moved to NW WI this past spring, so this will be my first real winter. I'm a little nervous, just about the length of the winter. I'll be putting them in my basement as soon as the weather turns south, hopefully not until Nov. I doubt they'll be able to come out until around April. I hope that's not too long for them. My wife is in charge of the greenhouse at the University here, so my seedlings will spend the winter there without dormancy.

I guess I've had good luck so far, although light conditions are not perfect where I live now. During peak summer, they get only 5-6 hours of sun, but it has rapidly fallen as we get closer to fall. Probably about 3 now. Just enough to stay healthy I think. We're hoping to buy a house in a year or two at the most, and I will make sure we have a spot for them where they get a ton of sun. Will most likely get a greenhouse too, as I am going to seriously start breeding these guys and probably start a little online store.

I think the one thing I've learned is that these are tough plants, despite the specialized requirements. I used to curse our dog if he even started poking his head around them. But now, nothing really fazes me. I have a purp x (psitt x rubra) that has been picked on especially hard by squirrels. i don't know how many times I've found it dug up, but it's still sending out leaves. also, for as wet as they like it, i've found them surprisingly drought tolerant, so-to-speak. i tend to get lazy watering them, especially during hot spells where it seems i have to water them every 3 days. on several occasions, i've found whole plants wilted over, and while the leaves die, the plant stays alive. i've only ever lost one plant, and that was when I was gone for a week in Hawaii to get married. I had a co-worker come and water them twice. He did everything correct as far as I could tell. i got back and found that plant dead. not sure why that one died, but oh well.

hope this helps some of you. i don't consider myself an expert or anything. just lucky, so far.

 

[Tropics]

Thanks for the information.  It helps to get tips from someone who has had great success.  Good luck in your new homw.  I hope your plants (and you) make it through the winter.