Purpurea ssp. venosa

[kahnli]

I've been growing Sarras for five years and haven't encountered this...

My purp's flower bud grew maybe about a half inch and then stopped and began producing pitchers. It's in a greenhouse and gets loads of light and is grown in LFS. The conditions have not changed. Otherwise, this plant (and all others) seem healthy.
What gives?

 

[RL7836]

I've had this w/ recently transplanted Sarrs or plants that are not healthy in some way. Is the plant potbound or...?
All the best,
Ron Lane

 

[Bugweed]

Ron, my sarrs are not potbound or repotted. I have had about 6 flower aborts on several plants. My heterophylla jonesii was sending up a scape, and it stopped dead at 1". Been three weeks, and no movement of any kind. Why they abort is probably a survival move for whatever reason on the part of the plant. Purely speculation, but an interesting item for study.

 

[kahnli]

An interesting item for study indeed...

 

[RL7836]

Quote[/b] (Bugweed @ April 11 2005,10:46)]Why they abort is probably a survival move for whatever reason on the part of the plant. Purely speculation, but an interesting item for study.

I agree. I've also had this happen when a plant sends up 2 flower stalks. One of them just sits there for the season after growing only 1". The other grows and flowers normally.

It's almost like the plant says Oops - I've changed my mind...

All the best,
Ron

 

[SarraceniaScott]

I had this happen on a S. leucophylla 'Tarnok' this year. I was so bummed... it would have been my first.

darn plant was just playing "Psyche!" with me!

 

[kahnli]

Wow, I didn't even realize the controversy that my post would stir up!
I think the plant has the right to choose to abort its flower... geez.

 

[Alvin Meister]

A period of cold weather can make the plant think "Oops, better not!"

 

[Bugweed]

Good point, Alvin. It has been unseasonably cold here this early spring. Others didn't seem to notice and sent up some killer scapes. S. alata, black pubescent gets pollinated tomorrow.

 

[Alvin Meister]

I had a white flowered alata abort its flower last year. It came out far too early and so aborted. I was a bit miffed, but luckily it has three this year, all doing well. Can't wait to see the white flowers!

 

[Bugweed]

Me either! So remember pics when they pop, Alvin!

 

[homer]

Quote[/b] ]My heterophylla jonesii was sending up a scape, and it stopped dead at 1"

I inspected my Sarracenia yesterday, and numerous S. flava flowerstalks were dead/dying at 1-2" as well. Could be 2 things in this case: 1) the dry weather - I haven't watered them lately, and they weren't in trays (until yesterday) OR 2) the colder weather. I live in Western Washington and this Spring has been on the cooler side so far this year.

Otherwise, the plants are doing fine.

-Homer

 

[FlytrapGurl]

Wow, this is new. My D. adelae was sending up a single flower stalk, like, last month, and it stopped at about 5 inches and there hasn't been any change for almost a month.