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Post by Devon on Jun 21, 2010 16:55:35 GMT -5
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Post by petmantis on Jun 22, 2010 13:50:45 GMT -5
Ok, so the original clear plastic container wasn't working out as well as I had hoped - which means I switched it out with a cooler that I modified  I'm trying to make this system as efficient as possible, as I don't want to be changing the ice packs every hour >_< Here are the photos.  The tubing, and the electrical cord for the pump....  Inside the cooler...  water exiting the pot comes drips right back into the reservoir to be cooled and recirculated...  The temperature stays much more constant now that I switched to a thermos cooler - It only went up 0.1 *C in 30 minutes of operation   I'm not sure whether or not this shorter plant enjoys being ''buried'' in the moss - but I'm sure it helps with keeping the leaves cool, since the moss is kept cool by the circulating water.  A shot of one of the darker-colored heads  This had better work... lol. Here are the break-down costs for the setup: 20$ Thermos cooler 20$ submersible pump and tubing 5$ pot 40$ for the 2 plants Styrofoam, live moss and ice packs free  ------ Around 45$ for the setup, without the plants.
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Post by H2O on Jun 22, 2010 20:32:29 GMT -5
Looking good, and it doesn't cost an arm and a leg right? and it looks like you could fit another pot of them on the other side 
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Post by petmantis on Jun 22, 2010 20:43:21 GMT -5
Yup! In fact, there is someone in the SCAPI who appears to have some more Darlingtonia (they already ran out at the Botanical garden), and of course I'm looking into it  With the temperature going up super slowly in this new setup (less than 5 degrees celsius in 7 hours or so), I think I may be able to handle these guys Of course, it's all theoretical, these plants are finicky, and I don't want to resort to growing them indoors, since I really don't have the appropriate lighting system...
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Post by petmantis on Jul 13, 2010 17:38:19 GMT -5
Of course, it's all theoretical, these plants are finicky, and I don't want to resort to growing them indoors, since I really don't have the appropriate lighting system... Well, I'm a hypocrite  I've been growing it indoors for the past 3 weeks in my basement, under a light. Surprise! The plants seem to be doing better, the smaller one pushed another pitcher above the moss, but not the bigger one... When I bought that one, it had a flower starting to emerge from it, but the flower aborted. Since then, I haven't noticed any new pitchers coming from the main growth point, however it seems to be putting all of its energy into 4 stolons, each making 4cm+ immature leaves reaching upwards. I've only had to change the icepacks twice a day, once in the morning and once at night, to keep the soil under 20*C. 
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Post by sekler on Jan 10, 2011 12:55:38 GMT -5
That'S some great growing dude ! Mine are growing from seed as we speak, it's been almost 2 months and a half now that they sprouted ! It's gonna be a long and hopefully COOL journey 
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Post by petmantis on Jan 10, 2011 14:16:54 GMT -5
That'S some great growing dude ! Mine are growing from seed as we speak, it's been almost 2 months and a half now that they sprouted ! It's gonna be a long and hopefully COOL journey  Good luck! My seedling Darlingtonia seemed much less demanding about cool temps than the adults.
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Post by sekler on Jan 10, 2011 15:34:50 GMT -5
You grew some from seeds ? I'm thinking that growing from seeds make them capable of getting more tolerant regarding the temperature than let's say buying some which were grown in the ideal conditions where the plant normally origins.
Do they get pickier as they grow ? I don't see why mine would grow now if later they don't tolerate it !
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Post by petmantis on Jan 10, 2011 16:06:39 GMT -5
You grew some from seeds ? I'm thinking that growing from seeds make them capable of getting more tolerant regarding the temperature than let's say buying some which were grown in the ideal conditions where the plant normally origins. Do they get pickier as they grow ? I don't see why mine would grow now if later they don't tolerate it ! Yea, for about 4 months. Growing from seed may help with the temperature tolerance... depending from which variety (mountain or coastal) the seeds are from. Remember, the seeds must also have been from some pretty temperature-tolerant "parents" for that gene to be successfully passed on in the majority of the seed. I doubt it's worth waiting 5 to 7+ years of babying them. Larger plants = more stability, plus you can always get tons of stolons to propagate from 
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Post by sekler on Jan 11, 2011 16:31:03 GMT -5
Thanks dude,
mine are the mountain type, a bit more flexible on the temperature...we'll see how it goes !
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Post by petmantis on Jan 11, 2011 18:39:32 GMT -5
Thanks dude, mine are the mountain type, a bit more flexible on the temperature...we'll see how it goes ! Neat! Do keep us posted 
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