Post-Move Collection Updates

Drosera pulchella 'White Flower'

Moving (and summer) has been a traumatic experience for some plants, while other plants, like the Drosera pulchella above, have shrugged off the experience. My new conditions are radically different for many plants. Outside, the Sarracenia and Dionaea now experience night time drops to the low 50s (F) and afternoon temperatures up to 85 (F), alongside direct sun from earliest morning to mid-afternoon. Previously, temperatures ranged from mid 60s (F) to 95 (F), with direct sun only for about three or four hours a day.

Nepenthes reinwardtiana 'Red'

Indoors, most of the lowland plants, like the Nepenthes reinwardtiana 'Red' above, have largely shrugged off the move (although I think my beloved, yet stubborn Nepenthes bicalcarata x ampullaria has kicked the bucket). The only exceptions have been the few plants I dragged out of tanks for a day for the NECPS fall pre-show. None of them were pleased with that experience (though the public was). 

For the most part, my lowlander's experience is still high humidity and warm. The highlanders, however, many of which are not in terrariums, have suffered greatly, both because June and July saw wickedly hot temperatures (damaging many of the growing tips before I could afford an air conditioner just for my plants) and the shock of a move.

Nepenthes gaya Buddha

Happily, I did have a number of trades come directly into the new conditions (trades which, among other plants, included this N. gaya Buddha). All of those are suffering the post-shipment shock, meaning all have lost the beautiful pitchers they had when they came to me. Nevertheless, they all look very happy.

Nepenthes boschiana

Ryan Georgia has also sent me a number of plants post-move, including this beautiful freebie, an N. boschiana. Since moving, I've developed a highland tank which experiences temperatures only up to 75 degrees (F) during the day and a temperature drop as near 50 degrees (F) as I can make it at night. In contrast, my lowland tank can reach up to 85 degrees (F) during the day (though I try to cap it at 80), and a night-time drop to the mid 60s. I've also increased the number of light hours for my indoor plants by a couple. I'm planning on increasing them again after they've adjusted for a little while because I'm starting to see much more vibrant coloration on some plants.

NECPS Nepenthes 1

I also have seen the first pitchers on the couple Nepenthes cuttings I picked up at the,NECPS January meeting. Since that time, I've rooted the cuttings (which I'm almost certain were from the same plant, this plant). Above, you can see the first plant, which has completely baffled me as to parentage.

NECPS plants side-by-side

What is even more baffling, however, is the photo above. On the left is the brown pitcher from Plant #1, on the right is a completely different pitcher from Plant #2. I swear I cut them from the same plant, so I'm at a complete loss as to what happened. Obviously, things got mixed up, but I have no idea how. Odd.

Nepenthes maxima dark x unknown

In my new place, I ran a little experiment with one of my favorite plants, the Nepenthes maxima dark x unknown, my big Nepenthes ventrata, and a Nepenthes spathulata x ventricosa that I obtained at the same time as the N. maxima dark x unknown. The experiment was to see if these plants could survive (or even thrive) outside during summer. The results were not good. The ventrata, which is still outside, is doing well and has colored up nicely. The maxima dark x unknown produced a couple deformed leaves, so I moved it back inside. The spathulata x ventricosa died of root rot. (I'm not sure how it happened, but it was clearly an infection of some sort. I'm keeping close watch on the rest of my plants).

Dionaea muscipula (Venus Flytrap)
Remains of Japanese Beetle Inside Trap

Some of the plants that are doing exceptionally well include everything that was used to being outside, i.e. Sarracenia and VFTs. At my new place, they get much more sun and, seemingly, have captured many more insects. (Oddly, at the old place, they were in trays in grass, with plenty of insects around. Now, they are in trays on concrete steps, and seem to have had greater success capturing insects, even though I see fewer around). The only problem is that the new place has a Japanese Beetle problem, though, so far, those nasty bugs have been content to munch mostly on the flowers and have left the carnivores alone.

Sarracenia x excellens (Sarracenia lecuophylla x minor)

I've even begun to get some excellent pitchers out of some of my newest Sarracenia, including the above Sarracenia x excellens. Considering that the majority of my Sarracenia collection was bought over the course of this summer, usually in lots where sellers were offering a mixed lot of plants, I still don't know what most of my plants are as I haven't seen pitchers yet, but the few I have seen are amazing.

Sarracenia rosea x leucophylla

I have to conclude with a great shot of my favorite Sarracenia hybrid - Sarracenia rosea x leucophylla. And, I'll mention that, while the plants outside are doing well, the plants inside are still having their setups adjusted. So far, I've invested in an air conditioner, cool mister, several temperature probes, a few fans, and some more permanent trays. I can't wait to see how things grow!