11 replies to this topic

[MalcolmP]

As I have said in my intro I have rescued a pitcher plant from my local veg/flower shop.
Can you identify it for me please, is it a sarracenia type ?
And then I will start asking some questions about how to care for it after its encounter with tap water !

Edited by MalcolmP, 28 May 2012 - 11:32 AM.

[billynomates666]

Hi Malcolm

Loks like its trying to be a S. purpurea hybrid, but with some deformed pitchers (possibly due to watering with high TDS limey water from what I gathered from your comments in your entry in the intrduction section) by the look. There doesnt seem to be a nectar roll at the pitcher entrance, is that common to all the pitchers or just the ones pictured? It probably wont be possible to positively ID it till there is a flush of 'normal' pitchers, even then with no positive authority.

Leave it outside, give it plenty of sun and flush the soil with rainwater regularly for a few days, then stand in a tray of rainwater. Did you empty the water out of the pitchers? if you didnt I would do that, flush them and fill to about half full with rainwater to get rid of any lime water that got watered or sprayed into the pitchers. Dont worry too much about loosing the flies etc it will start catching more as it recovers from its shock.

Cheers
Steve

[MalcolmP]

Hi Steve, thanks for your thoughts, I'll reply inline if that,s ok ?

>"Looks like its trying to be a S. purpurea hybrid,"

thanks, I didnt go directly to the sarracenia section cos I was not at all sure of its genus! :):)

>" due to watering with high TDS limey water"

Yes I had hoped that it may have only met the high TDS at the flower shop, but it could have had a history of neglect
I could not decide if the small inner pitchers were just young or stunted thro' neglect.
I tend to the latter because a couple of them are withered.

>"nectar roll at the pitcher entrance, is that common to all the pitchers or just the ones pictured?"

a few of the large pitchers have a tiny roll and one of the small ones has what could be the start of a better roll. Well I say "better" !ha not knowing till just now that they were supposed to have it !LOL
I'll try to get a close-up pic after I go googling what nectar rolls should look like.

>" It probably wont be possible to positively ID it till there is a flush of 'normal' pitchers, even then with no positive authority.

No worries, as long as I know it is S. something that should guide me as to care.

>"Leave it outside, give it plenty of sun and flush the soil with rainwater regularly for a few days, then stand in a tray of rainwater. Did you empty the water out of the pitchers? "

Thanks, sun was going to be one of my next questions :) you are telepathic cos I was in a quandry about loosing any dissolved nutrients !!!! well done Steve :)
No I didnt, but will now. I just topped them up with rainwater, but most were dry anyway or had just a dribble in them. That could be due to rough handling by the unwashed public rather than bad aim by the hosepipe man ! :) :)

>"Dont worry too much about loosing the flies etc it will start catching more as it recovers from its shock."

I could swat some fruit flies for it ? I expect a house fly would give it indigestion in its present state !

Gosh, its like rehoming a pet, but at least there wont be high vet bills hehee :)

Malcolm.

Edited by MalcolmP, 28 May 2012 - 14:26 PM.

[MalcolmP]

Nectar roll.
Is this what we are looking for :

on one of the (young?) smaller pitchers


and on one of the larger ones

[James O'Neill]

Maybe purpurea x psittacina?

[gardenofeden]

I think it's just a deformed venosa

[billynomates666]

Hi Malcolm

Yep that is the nectar roll alright, and indeed in it the newer pitcher nectar roll looks more normal than the older one.

From your second picture you can see external hairs on the pitcher which would tend to indicate that it is, or at least has in it, purpurea venosa as Stephen suggests, purpurea var. purpurea is smooth and waxy externally.

If you want to give it some swatted flies it wont do any harm in moderation, the bigger house flies wont cause any damage either if you can get them easier. The adult purpureas, dont make digestive juices as such, rather they rely on the water in the pitcher and bacteria to break down the prey into a nutritous soup that the plant absorbs through the leaves. Thats why the pitchers lie at an angle with hoods open to the atmosphere to catch some rain to perform this function.

Good luck with the plant and what I sense will be an absorbing hobby for you.

All the best
Steve

[saslowi]

You may not get any vet's bills but you may get hooked and start spending on more plants.

[MalcolmP]

Thanks Steve, very interesting about the presence of the hairs and the method of digestion, so much to learn, so much to read on the internet, so its very good to get it directly on a friendly forum where it is relevant to a particular prob. that way it will stick in my brain cell :)

I was enjoying the sun and watching my pet when a small fly landed on my knee, muahaha,, little did it know the fate that was about to befall it :)!

saslowi, you have spotted the weakness in my position, tehee! I have already started looking round suppliers of plants just in case my pet wants a playmate :) :)
I may even have start a thread somewhere asking about recommended ebay sellers ( or the converse!)

I thought that I read somewhere that there was a Sales&Wants section on the forum, but I've not seen it yet, maybe it is not for newbie members? or I'm going blind !

Malcolm.

Edited by MalcolmP, 29 May 2012 - 16:35 PM.

[linuxman]

I see you're from the South West. There are some very good growers down there who usually have plants to sell. Don't know how close you are but see this thread for Open Days this weekend in the SW.

Best of luck.

[gardenofeden]

MalcolmP, on 29 May 2012 - 16:32 PM, said:

I thought that I read somewhere that there was a Sales&Wants section on the forum, but I've not seen it yet, maybe it is not for newbie members?
Malcolm.

correct

[MalcolmP]

>"see this thread for Open Days this weekend in the SW."

Thanks, I'm between Bristol and Weston, so Paingnton is doable, but Cornwall is a long way, it's across the Tamar and I'm not sure if my passport is up to date ;)

>"correct"
Ah, so would you advise me to keep my piggybank dry, or blow it all on ebay ?

Malcolm.