BillP

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Hi Pauline, Assuming you don't have a tank and artifiicial growlites, cover the plant with a suitable transprent container (e.g. cut one end off a plastic drinks bottle). A few holes to allow some air movement, place in indirect sun. Bill

Cobras drop dead from time to time, though you are unluck if the same thing has happened two years running. If the pitchers have stayed green but collapsed then this is probably what is happening - and I don't expect there is anything you can do about it. I divide mine regularly so I can just chuck those that keal over. Alternatively something may have eaten the roots, possibly vine weavels. Highly unlikely you have kept it too wet but a short dry period would do for it. Presumably you are not using tap water? Mine are outside all year round without trouble (I'm just up the road in Tadley).

Hi all, So, I bought an Drosophyllum at the AGM and it has now expired under my careful "care". However, it set some seed and the question is do I sow now while they are fresh or save until next year to get a longer growing season? Bill

Sounds like the roots have died. I expect the rest of the plant will follow. Very slim chance you can keep it going by reducing transpiration - increase humidity by putting it in some sort of transparent container and keep out of direct sun. Don't let the soil get soggy. Probably going to die though.

I did a FAQ for Cephalotus which you may find useful: http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5229

Brief article on VFTs in this weeks New Scientist - they think the speed of the trap is due to it flipping between concave and convex - like a tennis ball turning inside out: http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/mg18524845.900

S.Purpurea purpurea, Venosa and Heterophyla outside all year in southern UK for 12 years. All doing fine.

If they are "adult" pitches (open topped) then they need to be filled with water as Vic says (they have an "overflow" so they can't be filled to the brim). If they are "juvenile" pitchers (hooked over lid) then you probably can't get water into them. Bill

Space is always a problem - my collections always grow beyond my means! Having said that I still try to sow all seeds as thinly as possible - that way they can stay in the orriginal tray for a year without crowding eachother out. This allows me to select those that have demonstrated best growth (I've had purpurea plants up to full size whilst siblings are little more than scrawny seedlings - all plants are not created equal!). Once they are potted on they will take up much more space anyway - if you don't have room for larger seed trays you wont have room for the mature plants either! Bill

If the medium is bone dry it can be quite hard to get it all moist so I generally make sure its damp before I sow any seeds. I cover sarracenia seeds with fine vermiculite but it's difficult to argue with Aidans success rate! Unheated greenhouse should be ideal for sarracenias. Good luck!

Hi Mr White, There is no hard and fast rule - you have to use skill. The pots should be watered via the tray, not from above. Let them soak up what water they need then allow to dry somewhat before the next watering - you will have to judge how often this is necessary. The idea is that the soil is damp rather than sopping wet. Too wet promotes rotting, too dry will set back or kill the plants too. There is a fair leeway, it isn't too critical for most plants. Good luck! BillP

Slugs and frogs are perfectly able to get in and out of my greenhouse even though I never leave the door open. Clearly cheap aluminium greenhouses are not creature proof - what's yours made of? Slugs wont do real harm to mature Sarracenia and darlingtonia this time of year anyway and I supose the VFTs are dying back too. If your vent is just propped open a strong gust of wind could catch it and smash the glass....

Hi Dunc, "wet behind the ears" surely? Mind you, given where you work all sorts of chromosomal damage could have ocurred. And where's your mouse gone? Bill P.S. All in favour of the rules.

If I had a choice between D.capensis and D.regia I'd rip out the capensis and leave the regia to flourish.....

"A few weeks before growth starts" - easier said than done, if I was that prescient I'd buy lottery tickets! My favourite time is "When I can be bothered and the weather isn't too foul or there's a meeting coming up and I want to get rid of some plants". But that's just me! More seriously, Sarracenias are tough and easy to grow - whenever you divide them you are unlikely to do lasting harm unless you're especially ham-handed. But if there's no very good reason to do it now be patient and wait until Feb/March.

Hi Rob, Looks like you're 90% of the way to an Aldovanda FAQ - why not give it a go? Bill

Hi Bill, If the leaves are limp (rather than still turgid but happening to be growing downwards) then it isn't getting enough water - either because the roots are dying or because you aren't watering it enough! In the first case it is going to die whatever you do. In the second case it could die unless you water it more. Various threads have claimed that Drosophyllum grows fine on the tray system. There are a couple of apparently healthy specimens in the Princess Of Wales Conservatory at Kew which are in sopping compost with all the other CPs. (also) Bill

Hi Stevie, I have a Small Purp. Venosa cutting in my greenhouse. The first new trap opened last week and has filled itself with water - so wait and see what happens before topping it up. But I'm with Aidan, all mine are outdoors baring this cutting. Bill

Could have gone in the CP Propogation usergroup I suppose.....

Hi Dunc, The second question is "have you got any spare"! Bill

Late winter / early spring for me. Root damage + high temperatures + bright sun + active growth = knackered plant

Next time pinch out or cut the flower stalk rather than ripping it up.......

Hi Jules, If I had a handy stream I'd give it a go with a few spare plants. All my plants are in trays which have to be constantly topped up - a few lazy days or a holiday and all my plants risk dehydration, collapse and death. Probably don't want to risk it if you're buying all your plants at great expence. But once your stock is thriving and you're wondering what to do with all your divisions or if you end up with dozens of seedlings I say go for it. Some CPs are more lime tolerant, eg some pings. Don't you get S Purpurea Venosa in alkaline "marle" bogs? Bill

Hi Jules, S.Flava does fine for me outside here in Hampshire so should give you no problems. I'm a bit iffy about Leucophylla outdoors myself, might stand more of a chance in a bog rather than a pot (even if it is a wide pot it can freeze from the sides as well as from the top). Various thoughts on hardy CPs here: http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4879 Good luck! Bill