Bloomin' Sarracenia's

Carlstrom_Rick (Carlstrom_Rick%P-AME-HQ.CCBRIDGE.SEAA.mrouter@seaa.navsea.navy.mil)
25 Sep 95 13:50:00 EST

Hi.

My name is Rick Carlstrom. I live in Alexandria Virginia. I have
been growing CP for about 7 years now. I mostly grow S. purp., S
flava, S minor, D. muscipula and D. californica.

In the past few weeks I have observed something unusual with my
Sarracenias. Most of my Sarracenia's are several years old. All but
one are grown indoors. Last year I attempted to create a dormancy
period by lowering the daily photoperiod to about 8 hrs. I also
blocked the heat vent which lowered the temperature to the mid fifties
at night. This method seemed to work. All plants ceased growth and in
May two of my S. purp. and an S. minor produced flowers. Here is my
problem. All of my Sarracenia are now producing more flowers. Even
the S. flava that is planted outside! According to all literature I
have read these are spring blooming plants. Is this late summer bloom
unusual? Did the August drought have anything to do with it? Most of
all, is a late bloom like this unhealthy for the plants?


Thanks
Rick