Date: Mon, 28 Jul 1997 10:26:42 -0700 From: Doug Burdic <dburdic@presys.com> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2842$foo@default> Subject: Re: Cephalotus
Steve & All,
In my original reply post regarding Cephalotus, I realized that I had
neglected to add that I also include a small amount of Perlite in the
media.{Sorry!} (Hummer suggested 25% Perlite in his own terrarium mix)
The total amount I used probably came out to be maybe 5%. I may be
wrong, but it seems to me that the inclusion of this would be more
necessary if the pot was continuously watered from above, thereby
causing a 'compaction' of the media as opposed the tray watering system
which is "usually" recommended for this species....of course I could be
totally wrong but it sounded good didn't it? :)
Regarding temperatures: Indeed my greenhouse gets even hotter than I
previously mentioned (100 degrees F.) and over 120 F. at times as does
Paul's. In nature while the vegetative parts of most plants get full sun
and high temps, there is usually a large temperature variation between
the ambient air and soil temps, so I try to keep the pot itself shaded
from direct sun....full sun on the plant itself doesn't seem to hurt and
does in fact help bring out the anthocyanin and other pigments in the
leaves.
Transplanting Cephalotus: Like most CPs, I would never suggest
transplanting them during the active growing season, but one can get
away with it if he/she is lucky. Better though to do this in the winter
months.(Upon arrival of Mr. Hummer's 'Giant' Cephalotus via mail at my
house, I repotted it and placed it in my greenhouse and was shocked to
see the leaves shrivel up by the next day....I immediately put covered
it with a plastic top and placed it in direct shade and gradually
acclimated it to my conditions and it is now thriving..near tragedy
averted.) When you asked if my plants which are not used to having high
root temps were exposed higher soil temps in your greenhouse might
experience detrimentental acclimation shock...good question. Given that
they are now well established with a good root system , a very gradual
acclimation for the first few weeks would probably result in them doing
fine. It's the sudden shocks that kill them usually. Once again, I too
am no Cephalotus expert, but am using 27 years of growing experience
with cps as a general basis for what I say here. I've never seen these
plants in the wild, but I would assume that since Cephs are low growers,
they are sheltered a good part of the growing season by native grasses
and other plants which would lower both the amount of sunlight they
receive and root/air temps as well.
As far as the daylength these plants are subjected to, I seem to recall
somewhere back in my horticultural training in school that there is a
finite light saturation point reached after a certain measurable photo-
period. Any additional light after this point would not increase the
size of the pitchers, but would perhaps be beneficial in enhancing the
pigmentation development of the leaves(?)....Been a long time and I
could be wrong about that since I've not studied current photosynthetic
research...somebody please correct me if I am.
Well, good luck with this plant Steve and all who are growing it. Take
care.
(Disclaimer: Again, I am no Cephalotus 'expert'.)
Doug
Doug Burdic
dburdic@presys.com
========================================================================
steve steve wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> Im not an expert with cephs but I have a few and would like to add my
> two cents worth to the thread (which I am enjoying following).
>
> I have experienced the sudden collapse of C. follicularis after I
> bought a very healthy looking one and brought it home. I kept it as I
> keep the others but after a couple of weeks it just seemed to give up
> life. I suspect that my conditions were significantly different to
> those that it had been in previously and that the environmental shock
> was the cause of its demise.
>
> Doug Burdic said that he uses the 1:1 sand/peat mix, so do I now and
> it seems to be OK. However he also said that the roots shouldnt get
> too hot. Some of my cephs are in black pots in the sun so I guess the
> roots get pretty warm, as must Paul Temples in the greenhouse at 130F.
> If Doug took his plants that are not used to having warm roots and
> exposed them to those conditions, I wonder if they would suffer then?
>
> Also there has been some discussion of Mr Hummers giant cephs. I have
> had some contact with him and he seems a nice chap. In one of his
> letters he discribed the *giant* as the fastest growing clone that he
> has seen. Perhaps this speed of growth is the explanation of its giant
> status.
>
> One of my cephs is now three years old and is happily living in a
> terrarium. It is still small but has a profusion of the flat,
> non-trapping leaves this year and is just begining to form pitchers
> again (I noticed this morning that it had become infected with D.
> capensis seedlings - anyone want a couple? :-).
>
> The Hummer *giant* form appears to have a more open habit and seems to
> be growing quite quickly. I keep it in about 1/2 an inch of water in a
> 3 inch high pot. Over this I have put a clear, disposable drinking
> beaker to keep the humidity as high as poss. I will have to wait to
> see if it becomes a true giant (anyone fancy trying to induce
> polyploidy?).
>
> Last point in response to Paul Temples question about daylength. Does
> the ceph recieve 16hrs sun in the wild? I wondered this and produced a
> day-length graph for Albany. The maximum day-length appears to be 14.5
> hrs and a minimum of 9.75 hrs. So the day length in many of our
> terraria is not *natural* but then you are back to the question of
> whether the day-length is the critical factor in the plants
> distribution. It may grow better in conditions with longer days but is
> restricted by the local availability of wetlands etc. Its never a
> simple relationship but it is some thing that I would like to do some
> more work on. Anyone know any refs. relevant to CPs?
>
> Cheers
>
> Steve
>
> _____________________________________________________________________
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