Re: Introduction

Robert Allen (Robert.Allen@Eng.Sun.COM)
Thu, 25 Feb 93 09:33:34 PST

>>I read about this list in rec.gardens and knew I *had* to subscribe.
>>My name is Tom Markson and I have been growing CP for about a year. I
>>guess my first CP was a venus fly trap which died when I was 13 or so.
>>I'm sure almost everyone on this list had a similar experience.

Indeed. Welcome!
>>
>>About D. Coccicaulis: It doesn't appear in any of my books. Does anyone
>>have any information on this plant? I just got it a few days ago and I
>>have no idea even what type of Drosera this is, where it's from, etc.

Recent discussion on this group has indicated that this is
almost certainly a form of D. natalensis, if I recall the gist
of the discussion correctly.
>>
>>Are there other people growing Nepenthes in an apartment
>>[non-greenhouse] setting? What other varieties? Any lowland
>>varieties?

Most of my Nepenthes (I have mostly hydbrids, and young plants to
boot) live in an indoor terrarium under lights. I tried N. gracilis
outdoors for a while last summer, but it refused to pitcher, or even
grow much. However I have been growing N. ventricosa outdoors since
last spring, even during the winter. Here in Palo Alto we've had a
few nights down to 32 deg. F., and the plant is still doing OK.
Some leaves have gotten black spots, but the plant is still growing
and producing pitchers. I haven't watered it much at all, to keep
fungus at bay. It's inside an acquarium I have outdoors, which I
try to keep covered at night, so it probably hasn't gotten down to
32 deg., but I'm sure it's gotten VERY cold out there. 'come spring
I will probably try some Nepenthes hybrids I have outdoors.

Currently I'm trying to manage my collection in the meager growing
space I have. Since most of my growing is outdoors, I'm going to
have to concentrate on plants that can survive there. I've lost a
few plants this winter to fungus (anyone have clones/parts of D. X
California Sunset available?), but I expect many to come back when
the weather warms up. I plan on experimenting with mass plantings
in spring. I have one 30 qt. bog garden which is doing fantastic,
particularly compared to some single-potted plants I have, which
leads me to believe that a large amount of surface area, and lots of
root room, is healthier for the plants, particularly in terms of
temperature control.

Robert