> From: svergara@pacific.telebyte.com
Greetings All.
Davids post on indoor VFT growing.
>Topic No. 10
>
>Date: Thu, 18 Apr 1996 10:18:03 -0400
>From: DAVIDDOG@aol.com
>To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
>Subject: Re: CPD685 - VFT resting
>
><snip>
> I have seen comments regarding the "requirement" of a winter rest period
>before, both on the digest and in print, and have never thought to mention my
>experience in my years of growing VFT under lights. I usually shorten the
>duration of light to 12 hrs. in Oct. and grow them drier during the winter.
>They respond with flatter, greener winter leaves but have perfectly
>functional traps and occasionallt catch an ant or a fly in winter with no
>apparent problem. In fact, mine grow right though the winter and usually
>flower normally in Feb. or March - often they flower twice in spring. The
>plants are huge.
><snip>
>Does anyone know if VFT are induced to dormancy by short days, low
>temperatures, or both?
>
>Regards,
>David O. Gray
>
After reading this post it brought to mind a problem that I think many
growers (of all plant genera) are guilty of doing. We tend to think
that either everyone else already knows about this or does it this way.
Or worse, they may think that because they are not a "professional",
that this bit of information if unimportant. Well.....as a longtime
professional horticulturist I know that many great techniques have come
from individuals who have learned some tricks from their experiences
with their particular plant group.
Perhaps even more troubling is the problem of secrecy. I have found
this most troubling when attempting to understand the efforts of some
historical plant breeders (one of my titles) who would either
deliberatly mislead or kept coded records (if any written records) that
later workers have yet to decipher.
Back to Davids specific post regarding VFT.
I too have always accepted the literature on VFT's requirements of a
cool dormancy. I grow all mine outside in the ground very well here in
the Puget Sound region of WA. It would be very important to establish
an indoor growing protocol so as to save from needless death the vast
majority of VFT's that are sold in grocery stores, florists and
nurseries.
To some specifics questions (to David and all other indoor VFT growers)
When you say "dryier" do you mean keeping them just barely moist?
What growing media do you use?
What is your humidity like? Many homes are near deserts, %RH wise, during the
winter.
What temperature? Steady or does it drop at night (when lights are off)?
What kind of lights do you use? How far from the foliage?
How many years have you kept a plant using your techniques?
His last question regarding induction of dormancy, temperature or
photoperiodically induced is important.
Sorry for all the specific questions and the long post. It is just that
as I am involved in education programs and construction of informational
sheets I like to be able to present detailed information regarding
alternative cultural protocols. This is particularly important if it
means providing individuals with techniques that will greatly improve
their first attempts at cultivating CP. Failure at ones first attempts
to cultivate a plant often means little future interest or the
propagtion of myths that such-n-such is difficult to grow.
Thanks for reading all this!
Best wishes,
Scott Gregory Vergara
Horticultural Consultant
svergara@pacific.telebyte.com
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Scott Gregory Vergara
Horticultural Consultant
Botanical Resources
P.O. Box 669
Burley, Washington 98322-0669 USA
360.876.4620 voice & fax
svergara@pacific.telebyte.com
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