Stereotypical newbie VFT probs

From: Kate Collins (Collins@uidesign.se)
Date: Fri Sep 19 1997 - 08:24:58 PDT 

Date: Fri, 19 Sep 1997 17:24:58 +0200
From: Kate Collins <Collins@uidesign.se>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg3601$foo@default>
Subject: Stereotypical newbie VFT probs

Hi all -

I've been lurking around for a while, but as this is my first actual
post to the list I suppose I'll introduce myself. I'm 23 with a
degree in biology (specializing in botany), working as a computer
programmer (that's life). I've worked with plant pathology, plant-
insect interaction and plant-microbe symbiosis. This is my first
attempt to grow CPs - I've piddled before but rather ineffectively.

Anyway, so I figured I'd start with the (surprise!) VFT, as I haven't
really seen any other CPs for sale around here (haven't looked too
hard). I potted it in peat and water it diligently (with distilled
water). It has been growing like crazy and has just sent up a
flower stalk. The only problem is - it seems to be slowly dying and
I'm not sure why. Here are a few possibilities:

        1. Too little light
        2. Too low humidity
        3. Onset of dormancy
        4. Stress due to flowering

I wouldn't think the leaves would DIE from flowering, wouldn't the
plant just stop growing for the most part? The biggest problem is
that it really doesn't get much direct sunlight - especially since
I live in Sweden and day length is decreasing rapidly. However,
I've had the plant in the same place (~20 C) for 2 months now and
the leaf death only began a week ago. This reasoning applies to the
humidity argument as well. Is this just dormancy? Should I clip off
the flower stalk? Any suggestions are welcome -

/Kate Collins

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