Re: Dormancy (Cephalotus)
Gary (garko@sfsu.edu)
Thu, 21 Nov 1996 12:30:34 -0800 (PST)
I've been growing my Cephalotus for the last four years in a gallon jar,
which has spent the winters outside in my windowbox. Winter temps in my
area (San Francisco) range in the 50-60 degree range with lows in the
40's, and very occasionally dipping into the 30's. The zone I live in
(according to Sunset's Western Garden Book, which subdivides the coastal
zones according to micro-climates) is 17. My plants have remained green
and leafy throughout the winter and each year have shown a steady increase
in pitcher size and growing points. I confess to having forgotten to
cover the jar during rainstorms and have come home to find the plants
submerged beneath several inches of water, which I just tip out. But this
doesn't seem to harm them. The only time of the year that seems to be
hard on the plants is during dry, hot weather. In the late winter, I plan
to divide the plant up, simply because it's spreading out too big for the
jar. Also, the traps on the leggier growing points seem to remain in a
juvenile state, while the big mature traps sprout from the underground
rhizome. I assume they'll stay this way until the leggy branch topples
over and sets roots farther away from the parent plant. Comments anyone?
Anyway, it seems to me that winter dormancy for Cephalotus is not an
issue.
Gary