Oh not again!
chris raby (chris_raby_at_Indigo__Maastricht@smtplink.indigo.co.il)
Fri, 05 Jul 96 18:32:07 EST
Dear all,
Im looking for some advice on a sick Darlingtonia.
The story so far.
I bought a 2 yr old Darlingtonia 4 years ago.It grew nicely in my
Garden pond,getting bigger each year.Last year the pitchers were 10
inches (25 cms) and the whole plant was about the same across, quite
densely packed. I divided it in the spring of '94 leaving quite a
large clump and a smaller offshoot.
In the spring of '95 the larger clump flowered and was looking good.
I went away for 5 weeks in July and when I returned the larger plant
had started to wither - the new growth withering before the older
growth. Nothing I did could stop it.I lost a nice plant! There didnt
appear to be any fungus however I did find one or two small snails
right in the dense parts. I attributed the problem to this. The
offshoot plant was now quite a large clump as well and so I put it in
a large snail proof bowl of 3 cms of water.
Come spring 96 the remaining plant flowered and everything was looking
good, I kept searching it for snails and found none. I have come home
tonight to find the plant has started to wither. This time I have
divided it straight away. Again no obvious problems can be seen.
The pots that the plants are growing in are large. Compost is 50:50
moss peat and sharp sand.
Anyone got any ideas?
Frustrated
U.K