Question
Hi there,

My name is David and I am jointly affiliated with the Biology and Ecology/ Evolution department at Rutgers University. I am currently working on phylogenies based on morphological measurements and DNA analyses on Dionea muscipula. Although this work may lead to breakthroughs in evolutionary trends I am actually interested in the growing aspects and adaptations that Venus flytraps have acquired through its evolutionary history. Naturally, this is something that needs to be observed and not based on lab samples.

Through the University I was able to get in touch with a very reliable carnivorous plant nursery in Maryland?one that Rutgers has been using for quite some time. They sent me an immature Akai Ryu, maybe a year or so old (grown under ideal conditions with little stress).  I抳e had it for a little under a week now. Before I care for a bunch of specimens for my observations I wanted to make sure I can handle and care for one.

Recently I抳e noticed some of the traps turning black. Normally I would shrug this off as nothing because I do see new traps developing. However, I抦 concerned as a new grower and would like to know if anything I抦 doing is wrong before I start my research.  The black traps I抳e cut off and left part of the petiole桰 do believe that the petiole might still be going under photosynthesis and may still be providing vital energy for the plant as it was probably under some stress during shipment. I keep it outside on a patio sitting in a saucer of pure rain water. The soil I used is a 1 part Hoffman Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss to 1 part Hoffman Horticultural Perlite. The soil is always kept damp.  I periodically take temperature readings from the soil as I do believe bog plants have a constant flow of cool water that passes through. Recently in NJ we抳e been having a bit of a heat wave. The average temperature for the week was about 96 or so with high humidity.  I抦 concerned that maybe the plant wasn抰 acclimated for such immediate warm conditions. I do believe that the nursery was growing these plants outside so I didn抰 feel the need to go through and acclimating process. However, I抦 starting to think that maybe I should have. Naturally I抦 also concerned with fungus or disease but I don抰 think that抯 the problem. I抦 trying to avoid pulling it out and checking the rhizome. This plant has probably been through enough stress as it is.

I hope this information was adequate. I would appreciate any advice you can provide for me.  I抳e heard some great things about your website and I know a bunch of Rutgers faculty that use it religiously.

Thank you


Answer
Hi David,

We're flattered to hear that many of your faculty use our website.  That's quite a compliment.

Now, make yourself a big glass of cold iced tea and sit down and relax with your new plant.  Everything your doing sounds fine.  Since Maryland and New Jersey are going to have similar weather this time of year, the only transition the plant would be going through is from the shipping and transplanting.  From what you said, I'm assuming the plant was shipped bare root, so it will take it a little while to adjust to the transplanting.

You didn't mention what size pot you used.  Depending upon the size of the plant, it should be in a 4-6 inch pot.  During hot weather keeping direct sun off of the sides of the pot is a good practice.  Soil overheating for long periods can be problematic.  White pots also help minimize this.  The leaves are just fine with this weather.  96 degrees with 100% humidity would be a normal summer day in Wilmington, NC in their native habitat.  Here in Oregon we get our best growth during hot spells.

The only other advice I would give would be on the soil mix.  When you purchase peat moss be sure to use peat that is packed in bales and not small bags.  The small bags are notorious for having either added fertilizer, or fertilizer contamination.  Red Dragon (Aki Ryu) flytraps are about the most sensitive cp we know to minerals and fertilizer.

We'd love to hear more about the research as it progresses.  Let us know if we can be of any other assistance in your horticulture or plant needs.


Good Growing!

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