Last year I crossed Sarracenia rosea “Big Mama” with pollen from Sarracenia purpurea “Tina.” (Tina was the pollen donor daddy here.) I was going for a large purpurea plant – massive like “Big Mama” with the pale color of S. purpurea “Tina.” I was also thinking it would be nifty should any of the throat splotch pattern transfers over.
Well, the first real looking baby pitcher of the cross finally opened! It’s still too early to tell if Tina’s yellowish pale color will remain, or if the throat splotch will appear on some clones, but so far first pitcher is looking good. The other seedlings haven’t put up any pitchers of defining characteristics yet so stay tuned!
This last weekend I had a chance to attend the 2013 BACPS (Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society) Show and Sale. Saw lots of amazing plants as well as fellow enthusiasts who have become great friends throughout the years. It was also great to connect with a few new people that I’ve been in touch with online and now finally had a chance to meet in person. I got the impression that they thought I was stranger in the flesh. Yeah, I probably am.
Here’s a few photos from the day! (You can also view on Flickr.)
As an added bonus, here’s some video from the day too! I figured this was a great opportunity to *finally* start a Youtube channel and give this video blogging thing a shot. It’s kinda rough, but it’s a start. Dahlia came along and gave me some help and encouragement to shoot around a little bit. She started her channel as well! If you want to check out some mixed media art, visit her channel: Makita Studio! It’s something a bit out of my comfort zone as I’d rather be behind a camera. Not in front of one. Anyway, We’ll see how this Youtube thing goes. Mosey on over and check out my Pitcher Plant Project channel! Leave comments below on what you’d like to see and I just *may* upload a few more vids… 🙂
Since Jeremiah was in town and wanted to check out local collections, I was glad to have him, Fernando Rivadavia, and D’Aryt Jov Fränk over at my spot the following day. I was just one of his many stops here in the SF Bay Area. Jeremiah is a legendary grower and runs the Colorado Carnivorous Plant Society. He also partners with Leilani Nepenthes in an effort to make some beautiful and high quality plants available.
Jeremiah and DJ: An honor and a pleasure to have been able to meet you! Thank you for coming by and gracing the greenhouse with your presence. Fernando: Keep weeding. 🙂
An amazing weekend full of impressive plants and great company. I’m glad to be part of such a great community of incredible and talented individuals. I certainly wouldn’t be able to make it this far without them. Happy growing everyone!
Awwww! Isn’t it cute?! Here’s a young plant only a month old or so. I’m feeding it some dried bloodworms for additional sustenance. Yummy! This little seedling sprung up from one of the seeds that came from this colossal beast. Three have sprouted, but only two have survived. One of the seedlings died after throwing up two leaves for whatever reason, and the remaining two look good. This is the larger of the two seedlings. One thing I’m going to do when I transplant this is put it in a larger pot than it’s parent was in. (Yes, you can transplant Drosophyllum but you have to be very careful not to disturb the roots!) As you can see in this post the roots were pretty cramped. I think it died because the roots got stressed/shocked during one of the hot days and I didn’t keep it as wet as it should of been that day. Anyway, the circle of life starts again and I’m glad that these genetics are still alive and well.
My Darlingtonias have been off to a slow start this year. I’m guessing in part because I’m keeping them on the shadier side of the greenhouse – where it’s cool. If I move them in the middle, they may burn as it can get mighty warm in the sun. They love light, I know… It’s making me miss outdoor growing where I could have it cool and sunny all day. I should probably throw a couple Darlingtonia out in the bright/hot area there to see how they fare. It’s friggin’ June — and while some of the Sarracenia pods are already ripening – the Darlingtonia are only throwing out their new pitchers …now. Oh well. Better late than never…
Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’ x (flava var. rubricorpora x leucophylla) – clone 15
I was going through some photos from earlier this year and found this angular beast. The photo was taken back on 27 April. Kinda late, I know. Had to share though… This peculiar plant has got some crazy angles going on! The cross was done by Dr. Travis Wyman and I started germinating the seed I got from him back in 2008. Phil Faulisi’s creation – S. ‘Reptilian Rose’ has a clear influence on this plant. The spring pitchers on this plant so far are typically the largest and exhibit some of the craziest angles. Pitchers later in the season are a little shorter, but still showcase a little bit of the angular peristome. Sweet.
If you know me, you know I can’t get enough of the anthocyanin free plants! Here are a few up and coming green seedlings. Some are a result of breeding with anthocyanin free recessive plants (those plants with that hidden mutation that suppresses anthocyanin production) with other AF plants. Others are just a result of straight AF breeding lines. Fun stuff!
Sarracenia (leucophylla x purpurea heterophylla) x leucophylla AF
The parentage of this plant consisted of one AF recessive plant, and one AF plant. One of the surviving seedlings from this cross turned out to be AF, while the other clearly exhibits the presence of anthocyanin.
Sarracenia (rubra ssp. jonesii AF x minor var. okefenokeensis) x “Green Monster”
The parentage of this cross also consists of one AF recessive parent, and one pure AF plant. I’ve had a couple plants sprout from this batch, but this was the only survivor. I’m glad it turned out to be AF.
Sarracenia mitchelliana AF x “Green Monster”
This cross uses pure AF parentage – S. mitchelliana AF and S. “Green Monster” which is another anthocyanin free plant.
Sarracenia moorei, AF
S. leucophylla AF X S. flava ‘suspicion’
Both parents of this cross are AF resulting in AF progeny.
All photos/images posted on this blog are the sole property of The Pitcher Plant Project (unless noted otherwise) and is protected under US copyright law. Do not use, print, download to hard drive, or copy any image from this blog without prior permission. If you like it, link to it. Thank you.
Blog warning: I am not a plant expert. No freekin' way. I just love growing these plants and sharing what may or may not work for me. I consider myself a student - always learning, and always growing, sharing what I learn along the way!
The plant material I distribute is propagated by me. I have not, and do not collect field specimens for propagation, for sale, or for any other purpose. I do not sell plants or seeds that have been field collected by me or my contacts to fill plant orders.
Last year I crossed Sarracenia rosea “Big Mama” with pollen from Sarracenia purpurea “Tina.” (Tina was the pollen donor daddy here.) I was going for a large purpurea plant – massive like “Big Mama” with the pale color of S. purpurea “Tina.” I was also thinking it would be nifty should any of the throat splotch pattern transfers over.
Sarracenia rosea “Big Mama” x purpurea “Tina”
