Tag Archives: Pitcher Plant

Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’ x ‘Adrian Slack’ Update

Sarracenia 'Reptilian Rose' x 'Adrian Slack'
This is just a quick update to follow up on this previous post. The first pitcher of a 2010 cross I did between S. ‘Reptilian Rose’ and S. ‘Adrian Slack’ (parent plants in the photo above) opened up not too long ago. This is only one of the four seedlings that survived from that group. It is still a young plant, but the characteristics of both plants can be seen in this one. The angular lip is there, so is the influence of the color and form from S. ‘Adrian Slack’. I am hoping that the jagged lipped characteristic intensifies as it ages, or shows up even stronger in the other 3 seedlings. The other plants are sending out new pitchers as well and should be opening up pretty soon. So far, I kinda like this one!

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Sarracenia 'Reptilian Rose' x 'Adrian Slack'
Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’ x ‘Adrian Slack’

Sarracenia 'Reptilian Rose' x 'Adrian Slack'
Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’ x ‘Adrian Slack’

Sarracenia 'Reptilian Rose' x 'Adrian Slack'
Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’ x ‘Adrian Slack’

Oreo Goodness

Various S. oreophila clones startin’ to party…

Sarracenia oreophila
Sarracenia oreophila

Sarracenia oreophila
Sarracenia oreophila

Sarracenia oreophila
Sarracenia oreophila

Legacy Unfolding

A rising legacy has begun to unfold. This is the select clone of S. ‘Leah Wilkerson’ x ‘Adrian Slack’ – a cross that Brooks Garcia created in 2008.

The word “legacy” can refer to a gift, or something of value passed on from one generation to another. For now I am calling this plant Sarracenia “Legacy” and the name is derived from a combination of factors. S. “Legacy” commemorates the individuals for which the parent plants are named after, as well as their work with the furtherance and cultivation of this majestic genus. “Legacy” also pays homage to the influence that the parent plants have, and will continue to have, on Sarracenia cultivation for generations to come. On a more  personal note, the name also pays tribute to those who have inspired my botanical endeavors. I’ve learned so much from so many – and I am deeply thankful for the botanical vision that has been passed into my life.

As the season progresses, the hood and upper portion of the pitchers will fade to white. This creates an intense and vibrant contrast with the throat splotch that darkens to a deep red as the pitchers mature. Below are a couple of photos capturing the S. “Legacy” unfolding.

Sarracenia "Legacy"
Sarracenia “Legacy”
S. ‘Leah Wilkerson’ x ‘Adrian Slack’ – Select Clone
Cross by Brooks Garcia

Sarracenia "Legacy"
Sarracenia “Legacy”
S. ‘Leah Wilkerson’ x ‘Adrian Slack’ – Select Clone
Cross by Brooks Garcia

Smurf’s Six Petals

As I was working in the greenhouse yesterday, I came across something pretty unique. For a while I’ve been eagerly awaiting S. “Smurf” to bloom so that I could see how those weird genetics would play out with some of the other plants. I know that some think it’s a plant for the compost heap. After all, it is a freak. I, on the other hand, kind of like this plant’s odd character. (See photos here for example.)

At first glance, I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. However, I noticed something different as I began to harvest the pollen. Not only is this plant an oddball in foliage – it’s a bit of an anomaly when it comes to the flowers too. Smurf’s flower has six petals. It also has six stigmas. Furthermore, the style is funk-tified with grooves and slight frills on the edges. Sarracenia flowers typically only have five petals. (See flower chart for parts reference, here.) Time will tell if the flower and pollen prove fertile.

I do not know if this is petal count consistent with the other Smurfs that are out there, or if I just have a Smurf that had some sort of identity crisis and decided to do it’s own thing this year. Of course, there is a possibility that this is a one off occurrence and that it could grow a “normal” flower next year. My other S. “Smurf” divisions have no bloom this year, but it would be very interesting to compare if I had more blooms next year. If anyone else has a S. “Smurf” in bloom, please let me know your findings; would love to hear from you!

Sarracenia purpurea "Smurf" flower
Sarracenia “Smurf” – 18 March 2013
Upon my initial observation, I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. When I went to harvest pollen, that’s when I noticed the flower was a bit different.

Sarracenia purpurea "Smurf" flower
Sarracenia “Smurf” flower – 18 March 2013

Sarracenia purpurea "Smurf" flower
Sarracenia “Smurf” flower – 18 March 2013
This plant truly has a unique style. Yeah, double entendre intended.

Friday Flower Buds & Fresh Foliage

Happy Friday everyone! Here’s a few shots of Friday flower buds & fresh foliage to kick off the weekend. Enjoy!

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Sarracenia alata - Covington Co., AL
Sarracenia alata – Covington Co. AL

Sarracenia leucophylla "Juju Lips"
Sarracenia leucophylla “Juju Lips”

Sarracenia leucophylla 'Tarnok'
Sarracenia leucophylla ‘Tarnok’

Sarracenia cuprea  - MW Best Clone
Sarracenia flava var. cuprea – MW Best Clone

Sarracenia mitchelliana, AF clone
Sarracenia mitchelliana, anthocyanin free clone

Sarracenia leucophylla - Franklin Co., FL
Sarracenia leucophylla – Franklin Co., FL

Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) - Oudean Clone x 'Adrian Slack'
Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) Oudean Clone x ‘Adrian Slack’

Sarracenia flava var. ornata - Bulloch Co., GA  x Oreophila -Alabama
Sarracenia flava var. ornata – Bulloch Co., GA x oreophila – AL
Cross by Mike Wang

Sarracenia 'Schnell's Ghost' x 'Adrian Slack'
Sarracenia ‘Schnell’s Ghost’ x ‘Adrian Slack’

Sarracenia "Tapestry Sister" x (flava x willsii) Triffid Park Clone
Sarracenia “Tapestry Sister” x (flava x willisii – Triffid Park Clone)

Sarracenia 'Godzuki' x (rubra x oreophila) x flava v. rugelli
Sarracenia ‘Godzuki’ x ((rubra x oreophila) x flava var. rugelii)

Sarracenia oreophila
Sarracenia oreophila

Sarracenia leucophylla, Anthocyanin Free CloneSarracenia leucophylla – anthocyanin free clone

 

Sink Bog Project

A sink bog. I’ve been soo itching to make one of these things. It all started after seeing Jared Crawford’s super awesome Carnivorous sink at Flora Grubb Gardens. Eventually I would want to do a whole crazy tub garden just like the one that Sarracenia Northwest put together. (Check this video out!) And speaking of bathroom fixtures, I still want to see Paul’s “very VERY bad idea” come to fruition. Heh heh! Anyway, last month I picked up an old sink that was left over from my uncle’s bathroom remodeling project. It was a perfect fit for this little bog I’ve been wanting to put together. Dude, it’s always fun up-cycling/re-purposing things.

Sink Bog Project
The sink is placed on these empty crates for now. I may end up switching the crates out for something else, but for now this will do.

Sink Bog Project

I didn’t have a stopper to plug the sink, so instead I grabbed some left over greenhouse plastic and used that to partially line and kind of clog up the bottom of the sink. A rock or screen would of probably worked too, however I wanted this container to be able to retain more water so that I wouldn’t have to water it that much.

  

Before I fill in the sink with the potting media, I made sure to plug up the sink’s side overflow drainage hole with a little bit of sphagnum moss. A screen would also work here. I then fill the sink up with my media of choice. I use a rough 1:1 mix of peat/perlite. Sometimes peat/sand. Use whatever you’re comfortable with. If you notice, around the perimeter of the sink (photo, top right) I have a little bit of sphagnum moss. I don’t think this step is necessary but I had some left over moss from another potting project I wanted to use up, so I figured that I could use it here. Also was thinking that it would prevent the peat from running all over the place when I water the thing later. In the photo upper right, you can see some of plants I’m using for the project. I had another container full of random mixed plants that needed some serious repotting, so I decided to repot them into my new bog.

Bog Sink Project

Above, you can see the plants being planted up in their new place! You can see some of their new growth coming up (as well as the old foliage that I still gotta trim off.) I have to make a note that it would of been better to do all this repotting and moving about right before the plants broke dormancy, but they’re resilient things and I’m sure they’ll adjust just fine. I arrange the plants placing the ones with the taller growth habit in the center and back, while shorter plants will be located around the sides and front. It ensures that the plants get the light that they need, and it just looks better this way.

  
In another container bog (above left), I had some live sphagnum moss growing in between the pitchers. It makes a nice bog ground cover, so I wanted to use it in my new sink bog. I simply pluck some of the live moss from the other container bog (above right) and simply place on the media in the sink (below).

Bog Sink ProjectPlanting some live sphagnum heads in the new sink bog. By the end of the season, this should form a nice thick carpet. 

I’ll post more close up photographs later of a few other plants I planted around the edge of the sink. I threw in some Dionaea (Venus Fly Traps), Pinguicula (Butterworts… more specifically I used P. moranensis), and various Droseras (Sundews). Also added were a few rocks for some minor hardscaping. After everything was planted, I simply took the hose and gave the new bog a good drench, as well as wash away the mess I made around the sink.

Finally, the sink bog is complete. Well, for now anyway. I’ll post updates as the sink bog garden grows!

Bog Sink ProjectSink bog!

Bog Sink ProjectSink bog!

Nepenthes, Illuminated

Just wanted to share a few assorted Nepenthes photos from the end of a bright winter’s work day. The setting sun was coming in at an angle that added a nice subtle glow to the deadly foliage.

Nepenthes thorelii x aristolochioides
Nepenthes thorelii x aristochiloides
(Thanks again Paul! It’s pitchering like mad!)

Nepenthes robcantleyiiNepenthes robcantleyii

Nepenthes hamataNepenthes hamata
A new baby pitcher on a very young plant, but it’s doing well.
So cute. But wait until it gets older, it gets soooo much cuter!
(Thanks Drew!)