Question
QUESTION:       I have a Sarracenia x Daina's Delight growing in full sun, but it seems to be confused on the seasons. All that it has produced this year are phyllodia no pitchers. Earlier in that year (late May) I had put it in full sun but then the trees grew in new leaves and shaded it out.  Why is it doing that? It has been growing in fullsun for two monthes.
     I also have a D. capensis "red" and "typical" 6inches under two 40 watt fluorescent lights on a 14 hour photoperiod, but neither have any red piments in their leaves or stalked glands? I s their a problem with how I am growing them?
      When will the  Grow Carnivorous plants Vol. II come out?
Will it have information on growing Heliamphora and Cephalotus (my favorite cps:) on it?
         Thanks for all your help.


ANSWER: Hi Dustin,

In this case, it would be helpful to know where you live.  You see, the white top trumpet (Sarracenia leucophylla) is one of the parent plants in the hybrid, and it has a notorious habit of producing phyllodia when the weather gets very hot.  It's an adaptation to reduce moisture loss during the hottest parts of summer.  As expected, Daina's Delight will also display this habit.  What you're witnessing is completely normal.  The plant will resume normal pitcher production when the weather cools down a bit.

With are sundews, it may be a matter of them being too warm.  This species is native to the coastal mountains of South Africa, so they like lots of sunlight, but cool temperatures.  It's normal to see a slight decrease in dew production during the hottest parts of summer.  The lighting also might not have enough UV light to sustain the dark red pigments.  If possible, grow the plant in natural sunlight.  That's where we see the brightest colors emerge.

Hopefully the next two volumes will be available later this year, and they will cover Heliamphora and Cephalotus.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I live in Memphis TN (Zone 7-8). It is almost always in the 90s during the day here. The odd thing is it has not produced a single pitcher this year.  I am giving it water and full sunlight.  Also I just ordered a Pinguicula laueana from you is there a way to reproduce it via leaf cuttings? Also on your website you say that the coastal form of Darlingtonia is more difficult to grow than the mountain variety. I just recieved some Darlingtonia seeds so I was wondering is the plants tolerance of heat was genetic and passed through to the offspring or wether it had more to do with how it was first exposed.
         Thanks

Answer
Hi Dustin,

Be patient with your Daina's Delight.  You may see quite an explosion of growth when fall approaches, and the weather cools some.

Pinguicula laueana propagates easily from leaf cuttings (pullings).

Since your growing the Darlingtonia from seed weaker seedlings will die off and stronger ones will survive your conditions.  Heat tolerance of this plant is really a fuzzy issue when you delve into it more.  From my own experiences this summer it seems that it is much more sensitive to transplanting than Sarracenia.  It could be that warm conditions set up conditions that encourage certain bacteria and fungus that kill them.  A mycorrhizal fungus may also be involved.  After our recent trip to southern Oregon I started to wonder if Darlingtonia growing in Serpentine soils has to do with Serpentine inhibiting some pathogen that bothers them in cultivation.  It's been shown repeatedly that they can grow in a variety of media, both in nature and cultivation.  So, it could be they don't need the Serpentine for any nutrients, but to create a more favorable environment.  In some habitats, the soil temperature isn't all that cool, yet it does cool at night.

In short, I would say to grow out your seedlings, and see who survives.  Your survivors may survive your climate much better than any particular clone in cultivation.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com