QuestionQUESTION: Hello, I am thinking about buying a number of pygmy sundew gemmae online, and I am concerned that they will not be able to stand the shipping process. I live in Hawaii, which adds a number of days to whatever shipping option I choose.
What is your esteemed opinion on the matter?
ANSWER: Hi Justin,
They will do just fine. We've ordered from the Czech Republic and had gemmae arrive looking good with most of them growing. It takes much longer from there than it would to ship to Hawaii if they are coming from anywhere on the mainland. Just be sure to sow them right away on peat or standard peat/perlite cp media. They are different from seeds, and have a shorter lifespan.
Out of curiosity, where do you live in Hawaii?
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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QUESTION: I live in Hilo (on the east coast of the big island). The place that just had about 20 inches of rain in the last 24 hours, and is flooding like crazy :D (at least i dont really have to worry about getting water for my precious insectivores)
ANSWER: Hi Justin,
Sounds like your city is living up to it's reputation as the wettest city in the U.S. We were there a year ago November; rained every single day. It's still my favorite area of Hawaii.
Have you ever been over to see Sam Estes at Lelani Hapu'u Nepenthes Nursery in Pahoa? He has some of the most jaw-dropping Nepenthes I've every seen. We feature several of his exclusive hybrids through our website.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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QUESTION: Nope, : / I tried to contact both him and Kim and Barbara with "Tristan's Carnivorous Plants", and didnt have success either time.
Another question: Ive been trying to mix my own potting media for sowing Drosera capensis "Alba" seeds, and I'm having troubles with the sawdust-like processed sphagnum peat moss. Because of its fineness, it washes away with watering quite easily (So far ive only tried it with dry mixed ingredients) Would wetting the processed peat moss prior to mixing it with perlite help the peat clump together and stay in my pots?
AnswerHi Justin,
That's too bad you haven't been able to contact either one of them. Did you just send e-mail? I've known Kim since he and Barbara lived here in Oregon near Tillamook. We visited them last time we were there. He still has carnivorous plants, but he doesn't do much with them anymore. He's much more into tropical fruit trees now. Sam, if you contact him by phone, might be willing to schedule a visit. It helps if you plan on buying some plants. Owning a nursery myself, I can tell you it is a hassle sometimes to have visitors over and have an hour or more of your time taken up during a busy work day with no sales to show for it. Give it a try however. It's the most impressive Nepenthes collection I've ever seen, and that includes places like California Carnivores.
For your peat moss, definitely get it wet before using it. We mix our ingredients dry then add water and work it with our hands before using it. Peat doesn't like to absorb water at first, then it begins to soak it up. Also, if you have your plants outdoors, it will help if you use a mix of peat with small sized crushed lava rock. Use equal parts. Since you get so much rain this will help keep the media from washing out. A layer of the rock on top of the pots will help deflect the rain and help with watering also.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
