Re: Trip to Europe

drosera@gnu.ai.mit.edu
Sun, 19 Jul 1992 00:47:20 -0400

>I first started growing CP's when I was a teenager, and after about a 20 year
>hiatus, I have started a small collection. I have about 40 plants from
>most of the major groups (Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Drosera, Dionea,
>Darlingtonia, Pinguicula) which I have obtained for the most part from
>Peter D'Amato at California Carnivores. Last year the plants were
>grown under a 500 watt metal halide light, but I moved the plants
>outdoors this year (they seem to like it better outside - better color,
>more vigorous growth.) I live in the East Bay (Oakland,CA), which has
>a temperate climate - cool summers and mild winters (freezing
>temperatures are very rare.) The water supply here

In my opinion, anyplace where palm trees can grow outdoors has a tropical
climate. I'd like to live in a place where cold weather lasts less than
6 months out of the year for a change.
I live in New Albany, Indiana by the way (close to Louisville, Kentucky).

>is apparently very low in mineral content, so I use water straight out of the
>tap, although I was advised to change media after a couple of years - so far
>so good. The Nepenthes are grown in a small plastic covered frame, but

I just collect rain water. If the eaves are kept clean, the rain water seems
to look fairly clear as it runs down from the roof and into a bucket.

>everything else is out in the open.
>
>I've become curious recently about tissue culture, and am wondering if any of
>you have any experience with propagating CP's with tissue culture. Any
>references or anecdotes would be great!

I know Bill Carroll has a lot of experience in growing and propagating CP
in-vitro. I have a small booklet that gives various techniques for orchid
propagation by meristem culture. A similar technique should work for CP.
I heard Nepenthes can be propagated in-vitro with tendril cuttings.

The listserve has recently been changed to a new machine. You can send
the messages "help" and "index cp" to the address "listserv@opus.hpl.hp.com"
and you should get info on listserve commands and a list of files available
by request (includes past messages and a list of CP species people in the
group grow). The address "cp@opus.hpl.hp.com" is for writing messages to
the entire group.

Robert, I think it was you who asked how big P. cyclosecta grows. My biggest
plant that flowered recently measures 6 cm.