Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 4/7/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hi,

If I grow my Heliamphora, in full sun in an area wich has nights that fall bellow 16°C during the hottest months, is thw humidity important? Relative humidity in those days may be as low as 20%, these days are of about 25-30%...

Also, do you by any chance sell plants to hotels?

Oh, before I forget, if I have a Drosophyllum, during the raining season, should I let it out side, or should I protect it from excesive rain?

Thanks, Alonso

ANSWER: Hi Alonso,

As long as you can protect the pot from direct sun (placing it in a larger pot that surrounds the plant pot and leaves an air space works great), that should work.  You'll just have to observe your plant and see how it does in the lower humidity.  Be sure to do lots of top watering.  You also will get the natural rise in humidity at night.  As an example, ours are in a greenhouse that is totally open during the summer.  Our humidity is regularly 20-50%.

We sell plants anywhere in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  We currently don't sell international since the paperwork and red tape is very involved and expensive.

For your Drosophyllum, it depends on how much rain your getting and temperatures.  Think Spain and Portugal.  I've left ours out during the summer in the rain, and they bounce back after after a shower with a vengeance.  New mucilage is produced quickly, and they seem to catch many bugs right after rain.  Just be sure the pot isn't sitting in a tray so it can drain freely.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: OK, so if I stay in any hotel in the southern US, I shouldn't have any problems?

Also, you say that Darlingtonia (mountain) can tolerate soil temperature as high as 27°C. I know water cools down the soil a great deal if I have them siting in water (just a quarter of the way up the pot), how cooler will the soil be than the air surrounding it? I live in an area where it usually doesn't het hotter than 32 or 33°C, althoug the highest temperature recorded is of 36°C. If the soil rises above 27°C will my plant die or go into shock or does that happen only when the soil temperature rises above 27°C regularly?

Thanks

ANSWER: Hi Alonso,

We can ship anywhere in the U.S.  Just be sure to ask the hotel desk how a package should be addressed to make sure it gets to you before placing your order.  This is probably a very common situation for business travelers.

With your Darlingtonia it's key to not have them sitting in water.  It creates better evaporation and cooling that way.  You should either plan on watering daily during hot weather, or put them on a drip system.  Although it's generally true that Darlingtonia losses can be high when they are too warm for long periods of time, our research is alluding to it being a little more complicated than that.  From a couple of incidents we had last year I'm becoming more convinced that warm soil conditions don't kill the plants directly, but encourage some kind of pathogen that kills them.  This is very similar to tomatoes being attacked by pythium fungus.  It's quite possible that the fungus is inhibited by both live sphagnum moss that creates a very low pH, and soils in areas where the bedrock is Serpentine.  Serpentine releases high levels of magnesium and chromium that are toxic to many plants and fungi.  Most Darlingtonia grow in Serpentine soils.  As a result of this we've begun treating our plants with Tricoderma harzaranium, a beneficial fungus that attacks pathogenic fungi.  We've used it on Cephalotus and Drosera regia with great results.  Here's a link:  http://www.territorialseed.com/product/130/s

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi,
OK so, I went to the web page but they don't say about the instructions other than the quantity, but how should I put it? as if I were watering the plant from the top? Also, how often should I use it? only once, several times or once every month or so?

Can I use it on Drosophyllum?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Alonso,

You have to go to the manufacturer for that kind of information.  Here's their website:  http://www.bioworksinc.com/products/rootshield-wp.php

You could use it on Drosophyllum, but there's probably no need to.  It's problems tend to be more related to root disturbance and being kept too wet.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com