Re: CPin the desert

Michael.Chamberland (23274MJC@MSU.EDU)
Thu, 06 Jun 96 19:34 EDT

> >well! Taller-growing plants like D. capensis, D. binata, and Byblis
> >tended to get a bit fried in summer, but most of the temperate and
> >tropical rosette species thrived and produced intense coloration.
>
> As I live in Phoenix and am finally getting to the point that I will
> have to start pushing some of my own plants outside, I have a couple of
> questions. Can you tell me specifically of 2 or 3 rosette speciecies
> that THRIVED? I tried a pot full of D. adelae. I put them in the
> shade to get them used to the summer heat (110F+ already). After a
> week the glands all dried up. Then the leaves started to show a slow
> loss of turgor. After three weeks the newly forming leaves started to

I'm surprised D. adelae lasted that long! :-)

Don't try D. adelae, prolifera, or schizandra outside in AZ. They're all
delicate shade-lovers. I had good luck with D. aliciae, capillaris,
intermedia, natalensis, spathulata, and others of that design.

> I have a D. peltata being sent to me and I also had thought of growing
> this plant outdoors. Any suggestions on compost mixes and pot sizes to
> stay away from? What would you have experimented with further? Perhaps
> I can save some time by learning from your past efforts of what didn't
> work for you and try something else.

Well, I've forgotten exactly what I was using. For the above I mostly
used a sand & peat mix (remeber these were extras I stuffed into any
kind of available mix). For the pygmies and tubers I used more
sand and perhaps some vermiculite along with peat. I also put these
plants in tall pots made of plastic drinking cups. I supposed that these
didn't want to be as wet as the temperate and tropical Drosera, and also
I supposed the tuberous ones wanted deep run for their seasonal tuber
production. The tall pots and sandy soil may have left them too dry,
though obviously they weren't really dry or they wouldn't have lived
at all.

I'd recommend keeping the D. peltata inside while you experiment with
weedier common species like D. spathulata.

Michael Chamberland