perlite and evergreens

Barry Meyers-Rice (barry@as.arizona.edu)
Fri, 25 Aug 1995 15:23:04 -0700

There were a few comments on how I use a perlite top-dressing...
Recall I live in the desert, and the sun in my greenhouse is intense. I
minimize unwanted radiation absorption (which would result in heating the
pots) but using white pots, white trays, and often a white top-dressing in
the pots of temperature-sensitive species. Often I use silica sand, other
times I use perlite. You will have to replace this layer from time to time
as tannins from the peat stain it. I certainly recommend it for Darlingtonia
and Heliamphora.

>Well, I doubt I am a specialist in these questions (perhaps Dr.Barry could
>tell us more) but I think you are possibly (probably) not wrong. Evergreen
>seems to be quite a correct opposite of deciduous. _Sarracenia purpurea_ is
>AFAIK not normally deciduous. However, it tends to form different leaves

OK, my cage has been rattled. It is true that ``evergreen'' is the
common term that is an antonym to ``deciduous'' (as I know from usage,
and as I verified with my dictionary). But a problem is that it is also
a term used for some conifers, so it carries a strange connotation when
talking about herbaceous plants. I find it is best to stick with the
terms ``deciduous'' and ``never loses its leaves'' (!) to avoid this
issue.

Barry