Recovering D. Capensis

MALOUF@ESTD.NRL.NAVY.MIL
Fri, 6 Aug 1993 8:39:43 -0400 (EDT)

A month or so ago I posted a cry for help, regarding my D. Capensis
plants which seemed to be dying of unknown causes. Many of you
replied with very helpful suggestions.

I am happy to report that both of the stricken plants are starting
new growth from the roots. I and my friend took the advice of
repotting the plants with some of the larger roots near the soil/
air interface. In fact, I allowed some of the roots to protrude
from the soil. There are now green buds developing leaves in
a few locations along the roots. My friend reports similar
success.

Thanks very much for your most helpful advice! Now, maybe I can
obtain additional advice for a different problem?

I obtained two small Cephalotus plants from Peter Pauls about
six weeks ago. I planted them in finely ground peat moss, in
a large tray that also contained two Dioneae and some D. Intermedia.

The entire arrangement was placed outside in partial sunlight, but
this also left it susceptible to attack from some nocturnal
creature (probably a racoon). I found the tray thoroughly
tilled one morning, much to my annoyance. The Dionaea have
since been transplanted to individual pots and are recovering
slowly, and the D. Intermedia have been reset in the tray and
are also recovering.

I couldn't find the Cephalotus plants for a week, until a
thoroughly dug through the peat in the tray. The two plants
had been buried, and when I found them I reset them in the
soil. (The arrangement is now inside our porch, away from
marauding racoons). I've read in previous postings that
Cephalotus doesn't like to have its roots disturbed at all.
Does anyone have recommendations for nursing these plants
back to health?

Perry