Flytrap fun! To make room for new traps, I give the flytraps a cleaning each spring spring. During some seasons, I’d do a full re-pot and trim/clean up. (Other growers I know do this.) However, with limited time and so many other (sarracenia-centric) projects coming up, I decided to manicure the babies by simply hand-picking off all the dead traps. Now there’s more room for the new leafy jaws.
Breaking Dormacy 2021
The plants are waking from their slumber and buds are all over the place. It is a truly magical time to see flower buds emerge and burst open. I’ve collected a few clips throughout April of the plants breaking dormancy and compiled into the video below. The shift from winter sleep to the deluge of color now begins. The first bloom of the season was on 23 Apr. This … Read More
Big Green Ala
One AF (anthocyanin-free, or all green) line of breeding I’ve been having fun exploring is that of big AF green wing things. Or “ala” (a wing like part). I was inspired by the shape of Sarracenia rosea “Big Mama”. Below are a few shots of S. rosea “Big Mama” wings. The first photo on the left is from Oct 2012 (enjoying the warmth of the greenhouse) and the other … Read More
Buds
It’s that time of year when plants start to wake up and send up their flowers. Buds are rising! If you’re not using the flowers for breeding, do you snip buds off to promote more vigorous pitcher growth? Or do you leave the buds to enjoy the flowers? I usually leave the flowers on to do their thing. It’s kinda nice to see the vibrant colors all over the … Read More
Trim: 2021
It’s that time of year again! Here’s a short timelapse vid of last season’s pitchers being cut down to make room for new growth. Trimming is currently in full effect – preparing for the oncoming onslaught of new growth. Exciting times and a lot to look forward to! Clippers from homie Jenn, still in effect. music: Branching Paths | Ichika Nito https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0dRt…Shot on iPhone
Spring Cleaning.
It’s that time of year again! Temperatures are slowly rising and plants are showing signs of waking up. In past years, I used to leave the non-carnivorous winter leaves (phyllodia), but this season I’ve decided to just trim it all down to the rhizome. It saves me trimming time, plus more light can now get down into the core of the rhizome mass. An explosion of growth is soon … Read More
Cold Plants
A video of some cold plants.Music: moonkiss | toby schay, quickly | album: overgrowth We’ve recently experienced some cooler temperatures here in Pacific Northwest. With this last round, the plants were hit with some sleet, freezing rain, and snow. Tables froze solid. It seems almost difficult to fathom — but these plants are just fine. Even after having the pleasure to grow them for several years in different climates, … Read More
Nepenthes lowii under UV
More glowing ferocious foliage coming at you! Here’s Nepenthes lowii under 254nm UV light. Nepenthes are fascinating and never cease to amaze me. There’s more UV plant photos and info here and here. Huge thanks to Mark T. for hooking it up with this magnificent beast of a plant. (Thanks again, Mark!)
Winter Pitchers
Another year is upon us, and along with that comes great anticipation for the upcoming growing season. There is a lot to leave in 2020, and also a lot to look forward to in this new year. In the meantime: dormancy. Dormancy is currently in full effect and the plants are deep in their winter slumber. Here are few more frames of dormant Sarracenia to start off 2021. Wishing … Read More
Darlingtonia Repot
I’m trying something different with the Darlingtonia. I recently transplanted a few Darlingonia in Kanuma. I was first introduced to the stuff by fellow carnivorous plant grower extraordinaire, Mark T. Kanuma is this granular sorta spongey-crumbly-clayish thing that is primarily used for acid loving bonsai. With a box of Nepenthes, Mark included a small sampling of Kanuma to plant those new Neps in. (Thanks, Mark!) The Nepenthes seem to … Read More