Date: Wed, 01 Oct 97 19:56 EDT From: dave evans <T442119@RUTADMIN.RUTGERS.EDU> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3808$foo@default> Subject: Re: Darlingtonia seed
Dear David,
> I live in the Southern US where we have long hot summers and want to try
> to develop a clone of Darlingtonia that will tolerate hot weather. To
> that end, I have prepared a bog and want to seed it with lot's of
> Darlingtonia seed in hopes of getting a strain that will survive our
> summers. I, of course, would like to hear from other cper's who have
> tried to do the same and will gladly take advice.
Ah, it's great to hear of such ambitions! I want to do the same,
but I think it will take some genetic engineering to get robustly
growing plants in Alanta. I've had dozens of clones of Darlingtonia
all die and I'm down to two. One is a seedling from out of about 180,
but oddly, it was winter that killed most them. The other is an adult
I traded from a grower on the west coast (thank's Ron!). The adult
should be flowering size and must have a bit more tolerance to heat,
though it does suffer quite a bit throughout summer. I doubt even
this one could survive your longer summers, but I'll be bringing it
inside for the winter and perhaps it will flower. If so, I'll be
sure to send you some of the seed - at least this plant is still alive
so that must say something good about it's genetics. :)
> The bog is set up in a shaded area that does not get direct sunlight and
> has live sphagnum moss on the surface.
Have you read the Darlingtonia articles in the CPN? I don't recall
the volume # off hand, but I can look it up if you want. There are dis-
criptions of Darlingtonia's natural growing areas and they don't much
resemble the types of bogs Sarracenia grow in. Flowing water *and*
cool/cold root temps both seem needed for strong growth (or any growth,
for that matter) in the wild.
I think New Jersey's summers are too warm for them and our winters
too cold. Darlingtonia seems to be truely adapted to it's west coast
environment as a plant of moderate temps. So, David, at least your
winters will be more to their liking. ;)
Oh yeah! Almost forgot about the D.capilaris. I can't say for sure,
but considering that D.cap can be found in the Carolinas, I doubt you'll
have trouble keeping them outside though winter. I've tried D.binata,
D.capilaris and D.capensis - none of these can survive in my bogs. Yes,
I planted them out in the spring a they became quite established and
large (deep roots) by the fall. The D.binata even made a half-hearted
attempt at a winter-bud but that didn't help. You should able to grow
D.hamiltonia as they can survive for a couple years up here (as
Christoph Belanger reported) before failing.
This year I'm trying D.peltata. The particular strain I have
(thank's go to a different Ron for this one) never stops active growth,
so I reckon the wetness of my bogs won't do any harm. Let's see what
they think about winter. It might not be a good experiment though, I
have only a couple seedlings in the bog.
Good growing,
Dave Evans
P.S. I wish Darlingtonia seed would come by the pound. That way,
if there is heat resistance out in the species, it could be found
so much faster. A pipe dream, I know, but a nice one.
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