Question
On most of the perlite I bought from you guys turns yellow? Is this maybe fungus? Would neem help solve this problem. It seems that only the top perlite is yellow. Also I was wondering how you make hybrids with venus flytraps.(example: the piranha venus flytrap.) Is it as complex as a pollinating sarracenia.

Answer
Hi Robert,

I checked my perlite, both among my tropical and temperate plants.  I don't see any of them turning yellow.  It's doubtful that it's fungus since fungus won't grow on perlite.  They grow on organic matter, like peat moss and plants.  Without knowing how you're keeping your plants, I can't offer an explanation.  But it's likely a benign discoloration.  As long as your plants are growing well, I wouldn't worry about.  Just monitor your plants.

I'm not sure how the piranha was created.  The original plants was produced by another grower who has disclosed his process.  Some of the varieties we see today, however, are natural mutations.  The clamshell is an example of a natural mutation.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin