Re: quick question on keeping carn. plts alive
Clarke Brunt (clarke@brunt.demon.co.uk)
Tue, 25 Apr 1995 22:42:03 +0100
Regarding Edward Bennett's questions (funny how many people are on
both the CP and the CACTI_ETC lists - do we all grow a few orchids as
well - I do!), I would think that most people don't have their plants
in any sort of enclosure at all (except for those requiring high
temperatures). Unless perhaps you are growing in an air-conditioned
room, then standing in a water tray should be adequate, and I'm sure
they appreciate the extra light and ventilation and insects! Of the
species you mention, Pinguicula vulgaris is frost hardy and should go
dormant in Winter - mine are kept outside (but sheltered) in the UK.
Sarracenia purpurea is supposed to be frost hardy as well. Drosera
capensis and Dionaea muscipula are happy with cool (but probably not
freezing) Winter temperatures, so basically you don't need to protect
any of these too much.
Maybe some people's tap water might me OK, but I think the problem is
dissolved salts which will not dissipate with standing - the things
that give a white deposit when the water evaporates. Boiling will
convert bicarbonates to insoluble carbonates which precipitate out,
so this might be an improvement. Persistent watering with tap water,
and its subsequent evaporation will cause the salts to accumulate in
the soil, which might become alkaline. Everyone says this rots the
peat in the soil, and is fatal to the plants - I haven't tried it -
we get enough rain water here in the UK, though supplies can be a bit
short in Summer.
--
Clarke Brunt (clarke@brunt.demon.co.uk)