update on VFTs from Triffid Park

[Flytrap]

As our growing season comes to a close, a quick update on the progress of plants we ordered from Triffid Park (Australia).

I've checked with my BC colleagues on their plant status, and we all concur that the switch in seasons (we're in the northern hemisphere, and TP is in the southern), had some ill effects on our plants.

I lost all my sarracenia minor okeefenoke giants, as did Kim over here We also lost 99% of our pscittialata hybrids too. The S flava var. rubricorpora came through nicely.

27 different VFT forms were ordered between us, and in my collection, almost all were shocked with stunted growth and deformities. A number of them were sending up floral stalks in late summer. I think they would have all come through, except that I had a terrible botrytis mould infection in the "quarantine" tank they were in. Because of this, I lost a number of nice VFTs , including 'big trap' . I noticed that the forms that were cultivated for it's "red" colour - eg, pink venus, akai ryu, 'Red-green', 'Red-Purple', 'Fine tooth x red', 'Long Red Fingers', 'Red Piranha', 'Royal Red', and 'Clayton's Red Sunset' fared the worst.

I think the red genetic (?) marker in these forms are more susceptible to fungal and mould then other forms.

In all, I lost 11% of my VFTs due to the mould infestation, but I don't think it was due to the nursery ...but from my unsterile growing conditions. I think the disease spread from a daddy long leg bug that was captured by one of the traps... it seemed to be the epicenter of the disease spread.

By spring 2008, I will be able to trade a few of the more vigorous varieties, including 'bristle tooth' and 'Dutch delight'

I'll post some photos later.

David

[Rick Hillier]

Hi David,

Hang in there until the next growing season... I have several of those you named on the "deceased" list. I will make a few pullings from each of the cultivars that I have and should have them rocking by next spring. It will feel good to be able to see that you get a few nice surprises as you have done for me in the past

>>> Rick <<<

[lloyd]

Too bad about the losses.

[vraev]

Sorry about the VFT losses D. I don't know why....but I seem to have a similar problem with my adult VFT's. The cuttings look good..but the adults are in some sort of pain. I have to still figure it out. But, too abd that the growing season is over.

[Rick Hillier]

VRAEV: It might be that it's past the adults bedtime. My adults don't look the greatest either, but I'm waiting for a rare weekend when I'll have time to make divisions before putting the parents down for their winter slumber.

[Flytrap]

rhillier said:

Hi David,

Hang in there until the next growing season... I have several of those you named on the "deceased" list. I will make a few pullings from each of the cultivars that I have and should have them rocking by next spring. It will feel good to be able to see that you get a few nice surprises as you have done for me in the past

Rick

Thanks Rick that's very generous of you! I'll trade you some bristle teeth and others that made it through.

Here's a pic of some of the mouldy vfts :








And the dead bug that started the infection:


The mould sure spreaded quickly. It took about a week for all of this devastation to occur. I guess it was pretty stupid of me to had restricted air movement within the glass container... making it ideal for mould to spread.

[lloyd]

Looks pretty sad in there.

[vraev]

you got to see this. This typical is insane. I mean it only makes those THIN long leaves..but sturdy..not like the floppy red dragon. It has made this one good leaf just a week ago....



I don't know why or how but thats it. THIS ONE LEAF in the past 3 months when it suddenly started making shock traps. I don;t know whats wrong..but see the deformed traps?









A surely wonderful plant that can do wonders if it grows well:


By vraev at 2007-05-24

well...I am waiting for next spring to see if this one and the adults in total make the dormancy. If not...I got to figure somehting out. its not enough to grow VFT's...you should be able to grow them the full cycle. I still haven't figured that out yet.

[Flytrap]

Here's a photo a month back, when they were happier looking:




...but the good thing is that my older VFTs, (plants from earlier collection) are doing well. And colouration at this time of year is really nice:

[vraev]

WOW D! I love that full red one. Insane plant. I seriously don't know whats wrong with mine. From now I am going to to lighter in the media. I bought more orhid baskets which I plan to use to plant ALL VFT's in one. Basically a VFT BOWL.

This time I will be going light. I will use bark, perlite and only have peat in like 50% or lower. SO far I have been going at 70% peat +. The adults aren't liking the root conditions down there. THe only one having fun is the dentate. Irony eh???

[jonnybee7]

I used to have trouble growing these things too, lost quite alot of them to mold, until i figured out that they really didnt need as much humidity as i thought they did. I stopped growing them in an enclosed terrarium and they are doing great. Soil is 50% peat and 50% washed sand. Ive had them growing steady for close to 1 1/2 years, though i want to try and give them a break this winter. even though hawaiin botanicals told me they didnt give their VFT's any dormancy at all. They said the traps just might be smaller if you dont give them a break. Personally, i dont know yet, as i havent tried.

[Syble]

such a shame that you've had such high losses! i know first hand how quick that can get out of hand. It slips my mind how i lost them but I remember having a decent sized VFT collection at one point, fortunately I sent offsets out to a few members as now the main plants have all gone the way of the dodo.

Why not butcher whats left of the heavily infected plants? I had a "giant" vft that was mouldy when I got it dieing back quick, so I cut back hard to healthy tissue and planted that up and have a set of 7 I think? may have traded a few off? Can't hurt if you're gonna loose them anyways eh?
Just a though
Sib