Re: S. purpureae color

Kristin L. Mott (klmott@planetx.bloomu.edu)
Tue, 20 Feb 1996 11:28:48 -0500

Brandon,

> I, like many, am one of the less (non)vocal of the group, but
>have finally found cause to make my presence (or ignorance) known. I'm
>fairly new to CP and have only a few S. purpureae, VFT's, and Drosera.
>My question is what influences pitcher color? I have had my Sar. for
>three years now, it is doing well, but is the greenest purple pitcher
>plant I have laid eyes on. There isn't a purple blotch, vein, or speck
>on the thing. It is, and has been, growing in a terrarium with my VFT and
>Drosera where it gets regular photoperiods from a gro-light bulb. There
>is fairly high humidity in the summer, meaning it can fog the sides of
>the glass, and I keep a good inch to two inches of water in the bottom of
>the tank. Any help or explanation for this would be appreciated.

Presumably you don't have the purp. ssp. heterophylla, so I would guess
it is not getting enough light? My plants turn deep maroon or develop
heavy venation in natural light, especially in the fall. Have you ever
tried growing any of them outside. That is where I find they do best.
After all, that is where they evolved in the first place. Perhaps you
could elaborate on the type of bulb (incandescent/fluorescent) and what
you define as "regular photoperiods" Also, how far from the bulb/s are
the plants? Perhaps your plants just don't have it in their genetics
to develop that much color (not completely lacking anthocycnin) in the
first place? Where did they come from?

> As a side note, after three years of not doing it, I put my VFT's
>through a dormant period this winter. One is coming out, but is in a
>pure peat soil. Should I repot it now? They have been waning sadly in
>the past year, but I'm hopeful that it was due to the lack of dormancy.

I have seen lots of vft's in the wild, and the ones that look the best
were in areas with lots of sand. They are still wet but have drainage.
I personally grow all my vft's in 50/50 peat sand.

As far as whether or not to repot your plants, sometimes just the
change of growing media perks the plant right up. Perhaps salts/minerals
are building up in the mix? What type of water do you use?

Hope this helps. Take care & keep on growing,

-Tom- & Krissy