Re: Introduction

Barry Meyers-Rice (barry@as.arizona.edu)
Sat, 15 Jan 94 09:48:59 MST

>Barry--You're absolutely right about the greenhouse extremes. This winter
>has been mild, so I have not run the heater. The temperatures have rarely
>dropped below 50 F. During the day, the temperatures in the greenhouse soar

A Max-min thermometer is a very important thing for you to think about buying.

>80s this week. I have a small swamp cooler and a fan. The greenhouse is

Is your cooler giving you enough air changes? I think that for optimal
efficiency, a swamp-cooler (also known as evaporative cooler) should be able
to pump enough air into your greenhouse to replace the air three times
each minute. At least that's what I've read.

***************

David Crump of North Carolina called last night and gave me some information
that I thought might be of interest. He has a lead on some _Aldrovanda_.
Apparently, some Japanese concern has contacted the Pietrapaolos who contacted
David. These Japanese have some _Aldrovanda_ and wish to trade it for some
rare plants, namely _U.asplundii_, _U.campbelliana_, and _U.quelchii_. I told
him that Tom Johnson (on this list) has some _U.asplundii_ to trade. I don't
know if money would be acceptable instead of _Utrics_ in this trade, but if
anyone is interested, David's phone number is 704-399-3045 (he gave me the
ok to publish that).

I will not vouch for the business or environmental ethics of any of the
people in the above chain, although I have traded a few plants with David
pleasantly enough. The Pietropaolo nursery apparently engages in certain
activities I do not condone, involving wild plants, shovels, and plastic bags.

I think David was surprised when I didn't get all excited about _Aldrovanda_.
My low amount of interest is because this plant is very hard to grow. My
understanding is that if you can't grow suspended aquatic Utrics well, don't
even think about _Aldrovanda_!

David also told me that very shortly after fertilizing his _Heliamphora_
with Miracid, they all died. I have heard this story a few other times.
DON'T FERTILIZE YOUR HELIAMPHORA! At least, not with Miracid!

Barry