Re: VFT didn't make it.

From: Chris Teichreb (cjteichr@sfu.ca)
Date: Fri Jun 25 1999 - 10:15:09 PDT


Date: Fri, 25 Jun 1999 10:15:09 -0700 (PDT)
From: Chris Teichreb <cjteichr@sfu.ca>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg2317$foo@default>
Subject: Re: VFT didn't make it.

Hi Jay,

        Unless you get your vft from the store when they first come in,
they invariably go downhill and can die in the hands of even an expert
grower who comes to the rescue. I'd highly suggest obtaining a plant from
one of the cp nurseries listed on the web. You may end up paying more
with shipping, but it'll be worth it in the end. You'll have a healthy
plant which has a much better chance of surviving. Plants I've bought
from growers always do much better than nursery rescued ones.

        Another possibility is that your plant went into shock, if you
bare-rooted and repotted it. When mine do this (if I'm transplanting, I
don't really bother with any extra protection afterwards.), I simply cut
off the dead traps and within a couple of weeks, new ones are being
produced.

        Finally, did you make sure to wash the vermiculite before using
it? It can be high in salts, so that could be a problem.

Good luck!

Chris

 On Thu, 24 Jun 1999, Jay wrote:

> I posted over a week ago about buying a mini-terrarium that contained a
> VFT, Pitcher, Ping, and Sundew with moss only. After reading the very
> excellent response, I followed the instructions the best I could; giving
> each plant it's own pot with the appropriate potting. I ended up putting
> the VFT in a peat/vermiculite mixture where the plant promptly turned black.
> This is my 5th VFT in the past 10 years, and they all die within 2 months.
> The nearby greenhouse said that is typical for the VFT. What am I to do to
> establish a beautiful healthy plant?
> Jay
>
>
>

**********************************
Chris Teichreb
Department of Biological Sciences
Simon Fraser University
Burnaby, B.C.

cjteichr@sfu.ca
**********************************



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