VFT Infestation/Disease ?

Carlstrom_Rick (Carlstrom_Rick%P-AME-HQ.CCBRIDGE.SEAA.mrouter@seaa.navsea.navy.mil)
4 Apr 96 13:09:00 EST


I have had a problem, and I hope someone can help. I have always
had problems with VFT. They seem to do well then all of the sudden
start turning black quickly. There is no apparent root-rot. I water
with distilled water or collected rain water. They are planted in a
50/50 mix of peat and sand.

A few weeks back during what appeared to be a quick die-off of one
pot of VFT I strayed them with a fungicide called Bonomyl (no not
Benomyl). I then sprayed with a wide specrum insecticide that I
diluted. (I used this insecticide before for scale insects, it works
but causes some leaf damage, especially on Darlingtonia). To my
suprise three new traps have been produced that have reached maturity
without turning black. I can only guess that one of my two treatments
eradicated something that was infecting or infesting the plants. Now
all I need to do is track down the initial cause. Here is where I
need help.

Is there any fungus infection that would cause this with no obvious
"fuzz".

Could this have been caused by very tiny mites. I noticed small
dots, not more than about .1-.2mm in diameter on the new growth. The
dots never seem to move and I can't tell if they are simply specks of
dirt of something nasty infesting the plant.

I would like to avoid this problem in the future. I have another
pot of 4 VFT that are growing very well and do not want the disease or
infestation to spread.


RICK