You are here:

Carnivorous Plants/cephalotus follicularis uk

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/10/2011


Question
i got one of these great cp last year and it seems to be about to send up a flower stork is it like Dionaea? that is to say best not to let flower? any help would be great many thanks ps it is in a large pot with 6 fully grown traps it gets morning sun and is also kept out side here in the uk all year round with protection from winter extremes

Answer
Hello Kevin,

I have several Dionaea that are flowering now, one that has flowered for four years consecutively without problem. The key is getting the plant what it needs to survive and thrive, then natural functions of the plant, like flowering, occur without difficulty. It sounds like your Cephalotus follicularis is doing fine and likes the environment you have provided it enough to flower. As long as it gets what it needs and keeps growing normally, you will not have to fix what is not broken.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.