Date: Mon, 20 Dec 1999 21:37:14 -0800 From: "Andrew Marshall" <andrewm@olywa.net> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg4217$foo@default> Subject: Amy's plants
> > Hi Amy,
> > Here is my thoughts, based on your information, and putting together
> > what else I have read here on this subject.
> >
> > > I didn't move them into the house very recently; probably about 2+
months
> > > ago. They've been doing fine until now.
> > They were doing fine *in the house* until now? What changed? Have
you
> > started running the heat more? Forced air electric heat is *very* dry
and
> > will kill quickly as is mentioned (Hi Mike). Gas heat, especially if
the
> > plants are too close to the heating outlet and getting the draft will
also
> > dry out the leaves, despite the plants being in water.
> >
> > > I moved them near a windowsill. I have them sitting on some shelves
near
> > > a bright window. I would think they would get plenty of light.
> > On the windowsill, or just nearby? Light levels even in the
brightest
> > window areas tend to drop off rapidly as the plants are moved back from
the
> > actual windowsills. To us it may look bright, but what do we know? We
are
> > not plants.
> >
> > > Well, our house stays pretty much 70F all the time. I'm not sure about
> > > the humidity. My dad said it's probably about 30, but he said that's a
> > > guess. I'll bring in my humidity thermometer and see what it reads.
> > > Perhaps humidity is the problem... 30 is awfully low.
> > > We only have about 10 hrs. of daylight.
> > Certainly check the household humidity, at least around the area of
your
> > plants. Terrariums are great for keeping humidity high. At times *too*
> > high, as some here will attest. Your daylength sounds ok, sort of. My
> > nepenthes seem to borderline (trap production not at it's best, but
> > certainly still trapping) around this length.
> >
> > > I asked my dad what our tap water was like, and he said processed city
> > > water. Is this harmfull to the plants?
> >
> > Is it soft or hard (ie what is the ph?), is it acidic or alkaline?
has
> > it chlorine, flouride or calcium carbonate in it? Ask the city water
dept
> > about this. They are happy to tell you. For chlorine, let it sit
overnight
> > for flouride... not sure what to do. For calcium carbonate, don't use
it.
> > Get rain water instead. You want your water soft and acidic, as you
know.
> > City water is often either hard as nails, or soft, but buffered way up
there
> > to keep it from corroding the pipes. The big question is this, is it
the
> > same water you have been using all this time with *no* ill effects?
> >
> > > Sadly, it's alot. These are the ones that are dying, and their
symptoms:
> > > D. adelae (wilting),
> > Needs high humidity and warmth. Should not be sitting in water, at
> > least not deep water at this time of year.
> >
> > > D. aliciae (shriveling),
> > Humidity perhaps?
> >
> > > D. paradoxa (wilting),
> > Needs more heat and more light perhaps? Also not sitting in deep
water.
> > I have only been successful with this species out of the petiolaris
group,
> > and I am sure it is as much luck as anything else. Some one please
chime in
> > here and add at least two cents worth.
> >
> > > 2 D. slackii (one is turning totally black, and one is turning brown
at
> > the
> > > edges of the leaves),
> > Sounds like humidity
> >
> > > a cehphalotus (turning black),
> > Should not be sitting in water, otherwise is adaptable enough it
> > shouldn't die off in your conditions unless it is getting a draft from
> > somewhere and drying out on top perhaps?
> >
> > >a .5" baby flytrap
> > > (rotting clear away!) ,
> >
> > SHould not be sitting in water at all, and should be outside getting
> > dormancy requirments filled.
> >
> > > some Nepenthes (leaves are shriveling, and
> > > pitchers are turning black),
> > Unless it is N. mirabilis, it shouuld never be sitting in water.
Sounds
> > like root rot combined with low humidity.
> >
> > > P. prumiliflora (leaves turning brown at the
> > > edges),
> > Should not be sitting in water, roots rotting most likely, and if
the
> > humidity is low, this will finish it off.
> >
> >
> > >Some Utrics (livida, sandersonii, and Dichotoma x subulata. These
> > > are shriveling, despite soaking in water),
> > Sounds like they might be getting something in the water or else, if
it
> > is top growth dying, then humidity is the problem most likely.
> > Are your plants sitting over a heating duct by chance? Often for
> > reasons I have never understood, heaters and heating ducts are placed
right
> > under windows, allowing a good bit of the heat to go right out the
window.
> > Most people don't even notice this unless it is pointed out, but take a
> > look. Many a good window ledge has been spoilt by the poor (IMHO)
placement
> > of heating equipment such as ducts, registers, radiaters etc...
> >
> > > etc. etc. See - lots of my
> > > plants are dying!
> > Well, don't panic! :-) Between us all, I am sure we can figure
out
> > what is causing it and maybe save the collection as well. Send me a
list
> > privately of what was lost.
> >
Best wishes
Andrew
> >
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