mdeford09

This is honestly a tough topic to really discuss and get straight perfect answers. I have been growing flytraps for a while. 2016 will be my 10 year mark. I have worked directly with the biggest Flytrap names in the US and still do. Here is something I have learned that I think is HIGHLY important for this thread. Conditions matter more than cultivar name. At least while going with a big named plant. (some named cultivars like Coquillage and Korean Melody Shark don't ever get very big).... But, different areas support bigger growth on different plants. DC XL is a perfect example of this. I know 2 different growers/sellers that currently offer this plant and both have seen this plant reach fairly impressive sizes. But, i currently own so many DC XL I don't have a count. (more than 100) But, I have never seen a trap reach 3.8cm. Same thing goes with FTS Towering Giant. Currently own about 50-60 of them and never seen them get all that impressive. But, I know that they can. I have seen the pictures and have spoken with those who would have seen it first hand in their care. B52 is a bit of a "meh" for me. Because it has impressed me on several occasions but my problem is that it is not very consistent with its size. I have had seasons where I don't get a trap over 3.8cm on any of my B52 but other years where I will get 1-2 traps that get over 4.5cm. And usually, those big traps only come during spring growth and sometimes with first summer growth. But mid summer and fall it becomes very average and ordinary. But, the kicker is a lot of plants tend to do this for me. I have typicals that will, on the rare occasion, put out a massive trap or two. So, I think it is really hard to call any plant a fake giant. While it may certainly be fake (just someone trying to make a money grab), I think the majority of big named plants that are popular are so because for some, they do in fact get really big on occasion. But, which one is going to grow well in the environment you provide, no idea. buy em all and see. I think another big thing to consider is "how often do they get big?". Because so far, only 1 plant gets big a lot and stays big most of the year for me. All other large plants I have grown tend to only have big traps in the spring. So by that standard, if you want a plant that is big all the time, then no plant on the market currently fits that bill and they are all fakes. I mean, would we call "Sawtooth" that name if it only got those saw like teeth on 1-3 traps per year and then looked totally normal the rest of the time? For me, the only constant super giant plant has been SD Kronos. But, it is only really grown in my environment so far (and FlytrapRanch's environment. But, our areas aren't all that different and we're only 6.5hrs away from each other). So it is not really a plant that is available yet and for all I know, once I start shipping them to Europe, they could grow like complete crap there.

I actually totally forgot to come back and post some colorful photos of SD Kronos. Here is one that captured a fly during dormancy a few weeks ago.

yes, the plant gets red. I will take a picture of some of the red traps it is currently showing off. :) All of those pictures were of summertime growth. Most plants do not put out a lot of color during the summer months in my area. I think it is a combination of extreme heat and lots of bugs to munch on. But, now that it is a fall all of my plants are starting to put on some beautiful coloration. So far, SD Kronos actually has a bit of a unique red coloration. It seems to color the cilia faster than the rest of the trap. So you get bright red cilia with a trap that looks to be misted in pink/red... It kind of looks gruesome, haha.

So, the time of SD Kronos being released is nearly upon us. Last night I uprooted my mother pots to send plants to other business owners and I gotta say, holy freaking cow. Biggest plants i have ever had in my hands. I uprooted the big pot I got from Steve on 07/05/15 and all 3 pots were overflowing again by last night. So if you intend on buying an SD Kronos, be prepared for a plant that needs a ton of room cuz baby gets big fast! haha ;) Biggest trap was just under 4.5cm so not too big but, far from small. The rhizomes/corms were over 10cm wide and plump as can be and the biggest plants were over 8" wide. For me, this plant sets the bar for term giant. All year long its bigger than anything else in my collection. It has broke 5cm for me but the trap was blackened and crumbly when trying to measure and take a pic. But, enough from me. This plant is going to speak for itself!

Can't believe how tiny Big Vigorous is.

here is an updated pic of what the bigger of the pots looks like. It has been through one of the hottest summers my part of Texas has ever seen and still looks this good.

any more pics of other traps or is this the only one showing the mutation?

Would this not be better called Shark Fin?

That would be me :)

It really is amazing to see how that plant makes a 1 inch gnome look so tiny. Even more so considering its nearly august and our growing season starts in February so it is definitely well into summer growth with fall growth right around the corner. :)

Like with Humans, there are only one species. But, like with humans, that one species has a lot of genetic diversity. Because of that diversity, there are different cultivars. Cultivars are kind of like difference races of Venus Flytraps. Again, using humans as an example, there are only 1 species but there are lots of different races(cultivars). Hispanic, Africa, Asian, Caucasian, etc etc. (I swear, one of you better not turn this into a racist rant, lol!) =

Here are some more pics of it, Steve. Even one of it next to a Big Vigorous that is around the same age. I uprooted and kept one mature plant and 1 small division in their own pot. (the one in the comparison photo was 2 growing points but they were so strongly connected, I didn't want to break them apart just yet)

She's a tiny little plant Steve. Biggest trap I have found so far has been right around 5cm (the one in the pic was just the easiest to measure since it is a tangled mess of traps towards the center! lol) and there are dozens over 4cm. Biggest plant, on average, I have ever seen. Can't wait to see what it looks like when it puts up the rare super large traps like B52 and DC XL do on occasion!

I disagree with the humidity comments. Mine is growing here in Texas and the during the summer, the humidity never gets above 60%, even at night. Just mist it once or twice a day and it will grow fine and pitcher like crazy in the high heat. Just don't let the temps drop below 65F or it will grow slower than a sleepy snail moves. If the temps drop below 60F, it will actually get damage from the cold.

simple answer is that it is a "unique flytrap" and nothing else. There are very few, if not none, that you can name on looks alone and doing so is a very bad idea. This is how incorrect plants get labeled as something and then get spread around. Even if i am 99% sure of a plant, I still call it a typical or a unique plant. You should only name a plant if you are 100% sure it is what you are going to name it (and the only way to be certain of it is to know what plant it divided from)

Mee too! Total diameter, leaf tip to leaf tip, is about 37 inches... Sadly, when I purchased it, it had suffered some cold damage and that caused a few leaves (including this one) to be much smaller than the older leaves. But, the newest is tipping the scale at over 20 inches. So if one more comes in at that size, it will be over 40 inches wide.

The humidity in the tank rarely drops below 60%.. only when the moss surrounding all of the pots starts drying.. But, I have a humidifier and keep the most fairly moist. It averages probably 70% all of my plants have been moved outside now and they are getting between 50-99%... The bical seems to thrive in what ever I put it in. The newest leaf is tipping the scales at 21" long without the tendril.... Gonna get huge fast!

Bicalcarata. It is a monster of a plant and produces some very pretty pitchers. Second would be albomarginata. It is very unique in that it evolved strictly to eat termites and even produces the white band around the lip that is only there to attract termites.

hmm, I took your wording as in it wouldn't be possible to grow but the thicker leaved species... Either way, I just meant that he most certainly could if he misted them daily.

As someone who is currently growing several different species of lowlanders, I disagree with manders. I have miriabillis and it is growing outside where the humidity never exceeds 60% and it is fine. I do have to mist it in the AM and the PM or it won't pitcher. But, your conditions will work just fine as long as you provide a mist or two daily. But, I wouldn't let the plants exceed 100F.. While bicalcarata can most certainly take it, it won't like it and you will have some stunted growth.... Bical is super easy to grow and it will fast between 70-100 with humidity above 45%

Here is the updated pic where you can see both fangs :) Humidity is dropping below 50% outside so I brought her back in and put her in the tank.

As the title says I wanted to make a post and this is not Carnivorous plant related but, people need to see this and here on the forums is the best place to get that accomplished (If this is against the rules, I am very sorry and will keep this post as professional as possible). Also, this is a copy and paste post that I have posted a few other places to help spread awareness. I have taken the poor little girl to the vet and the vet themselves are filing animal abuse charges against this company. But, it is a long drawn out process and in the mean time, this is the best way I can think of to help out any other poor animals they may have and be mistreating. Copy/Paste starts here.. I am not making this complaint to try and tick off the company or anything of the such. I am making this so others can see more bad reviews and avoid this company at all costs. Like others, I made a purchase from them due to their prices. Of course, I read the terrible reviews but I saw their 25k likes on facebook and BBB review and figured they can't be that bad.... Boy was I wrong! I spent $189.99 to order a 7-9" South American Giant Marine Toad. I lived many years in Florida and I am extremely familiar with Cane/Marine Toads and their care and how they should look. I have owned hundreds of them (wild caught in my own back yard)... In other words, I know a fairly decent amount about them and there is no difference between the SA Marine Toads and a Cane Toad from Florida aside from their size. What I received was a 5.5" extremely dehydrated and skinny toad. It took them nearly 5hrs to respond to me with a fairly general response and then the owner got on and stated he hand picked my frog himself and there was nothing wrong with it when it was sent. I provided pictures with a tape measure and even asked "If you hand picked it, why did you knowingly send me a toad much smaller than the advertised size?"... I did not get a single response to that question. Instead they offered to return it and me get another toad or refunded. Or, I could keep the toad and only get a $50 refund because the toad was in the size smaller/less priced category.... I really cannot say anything bad because they did attempt to resolve the problem like they should have.... My problem was just that they kept insisting the animal was in perfect health and would be fine to be shipped back right away. After attempting to haggle a different outcome, I eventually let my love for animals decide for me to keep it and take the $50 price difference. (I really couldn't bring myself to send this poor little girl back) My complaints are that they knowingly shipped me an undersized unhealthy animal that should have been sold to no one due to its health. I will not be doing business with them again and others should REALLY attempt to not either. Their prices lure you in but you most certainly get what you pay for and these guys should be charged with crimes with how poor they keep their animals. Here is the toad and how it arrived this morning 06-09-15. (yes, I know about Long Fiber Sphagnum and impactions.. This was only temporary while I made some adjustments to her tank) Here are a few of the only pics I could find of a Male Cane Toad that I used to own. (Notice the MAJOR difference in skin tautness and fat) There is just no question that this toad was mistreated and not fed/housed properly before arriving in my care and I just couldn't let it go back. I lost out and was most certainly had for a lot of money... But, at least I can say that I did save a poor defenseless animal from bad care and hopefully this post will help others see the bad practices they have.

Haha, no both teeth are there.. It is just the angle. I will take another pic of it when I get off work tomorrow :)