Flowering Utrics

From: Loyd Wix (Loyd.Wix@unilever.com)
Date: Fri Sep 11 1998 - 05:07:14 PDT 

Date: 11 Sep 1998 13:07:14 +0100
From: Loyd Wix <Loyd.Wix@unilever.com>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg2980$foo@default>
Subject: Flowering Utrics

          Dear Andy and Art,

          I grow a number of Utrics some of which flower for me
          regularly, others not. Of the species you mentioned I have
          no problem in getting U.reniformis to flower now, however I
          had owned the plant for about 2 or 3 years before it started
          to flower regularly. I grow two forms of this species, a
          large clone with flower spikes 1m+ tall and a smaller clone
          with correspondingly smaller inflorescence (I think this is
          the plant in Slacks IEPAHTGT book amongst others
          incorrectly labelled as U.nephrophylla). I grow nearly all
          my plants in greenhouses so there are seasonal differences
          in temperature and light (not the case if you are using
          terrariums). The U.reniformis plants usually lose their
          leaves in winter, and with the large clone the first sign of
          life is the emergence of flower spikes in the early spring.
          This has been an odd year in the UK and for the very first
          time the plant is putting out a flower at this time of year.
          By contrast the smaller clone has only ever flowered for me
          in the Summer. I disturb these plants as little as possible
          and grow them in the black plastic slatted baskets used for
          growing water lilies. These I line with sphagnum and after a
          time the Utrics will grow through the sides of the basket.
          The baskets constantly stand in water during the growing
          season but allowed to get somewhat drier in winter.

          In my experience you may need to wait a couple of years
          before these plants start to flower, but when they start
          they appear to be reliable. I wonder if the relatively
          constant terrarium growing conditions may prevent flowering,
          particularly as day light or perhaps seasonal temperature
          differences may be the trigger for flowering. However I have
          not seen flowers on any of my U.longifolia (yet!), though I
          have seen flowering specimens in other UK collections.

          Kind regards

          Loyd

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