Various
/G=Loyd/S=Wix/OU=1890CHPI/O=TMGB.URC/@LANGATE.gb.sprint.com
Thu, 1 Jun 1995 08:20:00 -0400
From Loyd.Wix@URCGB.SPRINT.COM
1. Wilting Sarras - another possible cause is the conditions
over winter. I have noticed this as have other friends in
the UK. Typically inorder to reduce the risk of fungal
disease, the plants are grown quite dry over winter. If the
conditions are too dry then some damage/death of the root
system occurs. When the plants spring into growth, they get
so far before the damaged root system cannot keep up - hence
wilt occurs. Another possibility for everyones
consideration.
2. Cephalotus diet - my plants catch lots of snails - not
the big 'fry them in butter with a dash of seasoning and a
twist of garlic' kind - small snails approx 4mm in diameter.
My S.purpureas and psittacinas also catch allot of these
too. I do not know where they all come from but these little
snails never appear to do any damage to the plants - perhaps
they do not get the chance.
3. Polypompholyx/Utricularia - several weeks ago one of us
made a comment regarding no one growing these plants because
they are annuals (sorry I just can not remember who posted
the original message). My 4 plants of U.multifida have just
started flowering - a nice shade of pink with a gold palate
surrounded by red - well worth growing indeed. I got my seed
from the UKCPS seed bank, it was donated by an Australian
member and was apparently wild collected seed. The flowers
of each plant although uniform in colour are all subtly
different in flower shape - this realy adds to the appeal of
these plants even if they are annuals!
4. U.pubescence - I have allot of flowers this year, and
most of my plants are growing with the pots in only a few
mms of water. Each pot that is flowering was taken as a
division last year - and I have noticed this in previous
years that only recently established or repotted plants of
this species flower. If you do grow this with a very high
water level/ slightly submerged, this causes the leaves to
be held above the compost on stalks rather than being
pressed against the compost as when growing under drier
conditions. This way the leaves look like small green
toadstools!
Regards
Loyd