Date: Fri, 15 May 1998 15:04:59 -0400 From: BREWER_CHARLES@ecomail.damneck.navy.mil To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg1667$foo@default> Subject: Re[2]: Darlingtonia soil change
Jay and All,
I know Darlingtonias can be a royal pain in the "hello", for folks
who live in warmer climates, including me. I grow these plants just
fine until the day temperature start staying around the 90's. This
usually takes place around the end June through August. When I start
seeing the plants getting stressed from all the heat, I up root them
and put it in the refrigerator for about three months. In other wards,
I reverse their growing season.
As for soil, I do re pot my Darlingtonias yearly using the basic soil
mix I use for Sarrs and VFTs. This is a combination of peat/sand. More
peat then sand. I also use a large pot to grow Darlingtonia in. The
larger pot helps to keep the soil cooler, allows me to extend their
growing season. I was thinking about digging a hole in the ground, in
a semi shaded area and planting the pot into the ground in hopes of
keeping their root system cool enough to carry them through the hot
summer. I have already set aside a plant for experimenting with. If I
notice that this plants starts to suffer from the heat, I will just up
root it and into the refrigerator it goes until fall.
Reversing their seasons has caused another problem, Natural Food. I
compensate for this by misting the Darlingtonias twice a week with
half strength fertilizer. I do this after the sun goes down to prevent
the pitchers from getting burned, then continue my twice a day misting
program with fresh water. I do not consider my Darlingtonias to be the
worlds biggest, but they are healthy and growing strong and that's all
I care about. Hope this helps,
Charles Brewer
Virginia Beach, Virginia
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