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Carnivorous Plants/defects
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Is it something other than aphids? Am I doing something wrong? I have been using Neem II for the last month and a half, and little progress has been shows to eliminate the pest. I just can't get a nice, straight & normal leaf to form on my flava cuprea, which is looking pretty sad for the middle of the summer. Watering with distilled, 50:50 peat moss/perlite, and in full sun. Is it something in the pyrethrin/neem based insecticide, or some other pest? I just cant seem to find Ortho S.I.K. for a systemic in any stores, so are there any other systemic alternatives? The photo shows somewhat insect damage, with the flava's 2 tallest leaves having already been emerging when I recieved it in the mail. This is also a minor case with my leucophylla to the left.
Hi Ted,
Thanks for sending the photo. Your plants look perfectly normal and healthy. I see new growth, colors are good, and I can even see the Venus flytrap flower on the left. I can see a perfectly normal new leaf forming on the flava in the foreground. What does happen this time of year is Sarracenia flava begins to produce phyllodia, non-carnivorous leaves. They look like flat leaves, or partially formed pitchers. S. leucophylla does this mid-summer to be followed by the best leaves in the late summer or early fall. Otherwise, I don't see anything wrong with your plants.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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Answers by Expert:
Sarracenia Northwest
Expertise
If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!
Experience
With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again. Get the straight facts from the guys who grow and propagate thousands of these plants every year.
Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.
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