gricey
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Posts posted by gricey
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Water: water hardness/Quality England Water Poor Norn Iron is not listed but NI Water provide a lot more detail and my water has been used on the plants and there have been no adverse effects. I also 'benefit' from a lot of the natural stuff from above!
Wind: no matter how well you think you have glued, cemented, no nailed, blue tacked, cello taped, drawing pinned etc Mr Wind will always find that weakness. As stated above it will be a gradual mm by mm move, then one day it'll be off. A door, a vent, a window, the frame will inevitably pop one out. A good study of the garden/area to locate is invaluable. My garden gives a lot of variation in wind from front to back and left to right. When its howling an Atlantic gale there are oddly a few places not being moved at all. Try and gauge the 'dead spots' a few garden sticks with a few inches of ribbon etc will happily blow and show you the direction and strength (roughly of course) Would be especially useful if as mentioned there are to be plants left to their own devices around said house.
any plants that are to be located around a solid structure would also benefit from a little perusal at this, or similar t'internet search
Sun: LMAO not been an issue in Norn Iron. If I can get some on EBay (or similar site) I would be interested....
If you want to grow crops (I got chillies, peppers, toms, aubergines) all year round, it’s best to line up the ridge of the structure to run east-west, as this will maximise light during the winter. It will also help it to heat up more quickly after cold nights. Or aligning the ridge north-south gives an equal amount of sun to each side and helps to reduce overheating on the hottest days. This shouldn't really be much of an issue unless using/constricting a lean-to, if so then use north facing wall.
Location:
Avoid the base of a slope, colder air will sit and cause a frost pocket. Reasonable distance away from tress and bushes, this will avoid dirt, mould, damage from falling branches etc.. however keep in mind the potential for wind protection above.
you probably have it ordered, delivered, built and filled by this stage so forgive the tardiness in adding my 10p worth....
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cheers stu.
Confirms most of my thinking and assumptions. It would be nice for the little feller to flourish and grow, as stated just a small cutting that I didn't expect to see out the winter outside, gave him a chance and he is growing nicely in the little pot now he has woken up. For size at present he is in a large Yankee lid, +/- 2". Pitchers are set 3-4" or so.
I do understand that the rhizome will/should/hopefully swell and grow and move across the pot thus making the project pointless.
I suppose that the next few months/year he will just be a little curio that can sit in the office when fully dressed. Then after a trim and a sleep, into a proper pot and rejoin the rest of the family outside. Might even take a few more babies (Darlingtonia, Flava, Filliformis, Dionaea) dress and jar 'em as a curio nursery until the new year
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has anyone every thought of, done, had success with Bonsai Carnivory?
hope that isn't too stupid a question as the general consensus I feel is that the bigger, the stronger, the showier the better with pitchers. Indeed if left unchecked they can spread and grow like weeds...but......I had a small division and didn't want to risk leaving it in ground (just as well as we had a right cold winter) and felt like I needed a little project.
So, I stuck it in the lid of a candle jar and this year it has awoken. It is a small rhizome but has multiple pitchers as you can see. it has not been shaped or cut in anyway, this is to come. The white label is a basic plastic plant label so for size is about +/-10cm
I am assuming that it will eventually grow and need moving but in the meantime it is a nice little ornament on the desk. It has even been catching small flies when put by the window
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indeed, watched Mon to Thurs nothing on carnivorous plants. Thought that a bit odd as Monty has a few in the greenhouse and they get a mention now and then but more that the displays are normally awe inspiring and, from past visit to show are one of, if not the main "wow" "Gasp" points in the main tent. Got too busy and forgot to go back on I-player. Just did this morning and can only say, by Christ what a job, sir(s and ladies)!
Both the CPS and Hampshire put on a corker of a display. Granted the CPS isn't professional but the display there is truly outstanding. Seriously well done to all involved with all aspects. Design, care, build, growth, making the tea and jam butties etc...... really does highlight what a bit of passion, care and interest can create. A display to aspire to..... Might have to hire a baby digger now and go mad out back with some large rocks and redesign.....
As for the Hampshire display, I have to declare a passing interest here as I have been a customer (more than likely will be in future), the background piece was jaw dropping. The sheer amount of variety, trials.. I was also first captured by a Dionaea on TV and then never had the time, money, garden, space until this last few years. No more moving, had a bit of time and purchased some plants after visiting the show and seeing the Hampshire display in the main tent and taking a flyer. 3 years later still going strong. it is nice to not just know but to see the background and provenance as to where the little fellers came from.
regarding outside growth and the points raised in the interview.... there have been and are questions in these forums about 'Can/What can be grown outdoors.......' and Matt makes the point that the outside trials he has are behind the house grown specimens... I am not scientific in any way and what you grow and how you grow is always dependant on your conditions but I grow outside and leave them there. I am in Norn Iron so his outside examples (Hampshire) are a lot ahead of mine! I am only seeing flower stalks and pitcher growth mid May but all the boys and girls are starting to do well as we have just had some nice warm and humid weather. Back to pi##ing down again today.
I know that there is a lot of confusion about these plants (Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, Dionaea), yes they are exotic but this does not mean tropical... USA can hit 90-100 oC where they are naturalised so UK temps are not an issue, well certainly not Norn Iron and I assume not in the South East neither. Winters are not as cold as continental USA but I have seen recent winters of -12 to -19 oC and all is still growing and alive. Treat them as 'normal' plants and simply cut when pitchers are spent, check for pests, cover and leave them to spring. My only real problem is that I get some constant, strong, cold winds that can (and initially) did burn the pitchers and stunt growth. A little lesson learned and some protection installed and all is well.
Cant emphasise enough, great display and work all. Muy bien hecho.
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had a few similar holes and a couple of pitchers bent over and found a beetle in the base when re potting. Also had a bad time with European Earwigs (Forficula auricularia).
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not been a problem in Norn Iron. A little bit of protection from the chilly and often strong winds.
Good young plant bought in 2013 still growing strong and produced quite a few plantlets so it isn't doing too badly.
Temp: lowest was about -19 (although the monitoring station is a little higher altitude) we have had a few right cold winters
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calm down chief, I think that this is more of a first time arrival to the westerly regions rather than a restock......
Nevertheless if they are still arriving here and from what I can see in this thread then it seems a popular line so may well be. I am sure there will be folks here updating
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delivery must have been late last night, probably stuck on the boat! there were none.
Return journey this morning and Strabane has just put all stock on display !!! wooooohoooo
- they don't have lady luck just the bill bailey and suki so if anyone is in the area, fill yer boots!!!
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Must admit I have never really liked these plants, not everyone's cup of tea I know and each to their own and all that.
Norn Iron is not in any stretch of the imagination tropical nor temperate (more in frigid zone!) so a real non starter.
for £4 I must admit I have been tempted and was even very surprised that there was a local-ish Norn Iron store in the list. Typically not the closest one but am sending the sister in law to have a mooch tonight and see what is in there. I would imagine that there are plenty as this is not something that is suited to here and is a little to specialised for the daffodil/Shasta Daisy stand!
will report back what is there and what they are like.
as for the re potting bio-dome site has some nice egs in what look like simple glass vases/fish bowls. Plenty of old glass jars in the shed that need a new use! Could be the start of an interesting project.
http://www.borneoexotics.com/bio-domes/bio-domes.html
fingers crossed
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get our country back? sovereignty? what does that mean?
Are we now really going to reopen the steel mills, coal pits, car plants, re nationalise rail, buses etc....
or has the decision just been made to move Nissan, Mini(BMW), Vauxhall(Opel), LandRover, Airbus to back within the EU Borders?Shared parental leave - bet that's gone // Working Time Directive - bet that's gone // Habitats Directive - bet that's gone
the brexiteers won and not once, not once, was a case put forward for 'Should we win the plan is ......'
now questions are being asked and there is not a single answer. Just the Milky Bar kid on Glue saying 'uh, am, erm, crickey, I have to go and play cricket'£350 million better spent on NHS . . erm didn't say that. Mr Farage was not the 'official' Out Member so is/was free to stir as much as he liked. People bought it.
Immigration, immigration, immigration . .. . .seemed to be the only thing that this was ever really about. Turkey is a real non event here.
It has been stated at all levels that as a country it meets none, absolutely none, of the criteria to be eligible to join. Never will.
Yet that has been played as the second major card. It wont happen. There will not be millions of Turks lining up at heathrow looking to live here.European 'Red Tape' another main stay of this out campaign. Well, in truth this never existed.
Red Tape is a burden on Business and blah blah etc..... This is not red tape my friends but greed.
We have many red tapes (sorry regulations) imposed from (agreed at council) Europe that help make our seas cleaner, beaches free from turds, air clean to breathe, bogs, forests
and rivers not concreted over (without a very very good reason and public enquiry)
These rules will still be in place on the continent so withdrawing from this only removes us from the discussion. Not the implementation.
Brexiteers insist that we will still have access to this market. Maybe, a negotiation is needed that will be hard to form consensus.
The rules (red tape) will still apply so why is it so bad now but ok then?
We wont have free movement of goods, so there is the response to the plants question. CITES etc will be required. If this was not to be an issue then a condition to
free trade is.......... free movement. just gets more and more rediculous....If that little ramble is seen as going off topic and keep it to the plants well, sorry. It is a little relevant to an old time politics and language student.
If I was looking to start that course anytime soon it would be either 1) too expensive 2) not available. I did indeed enjoy the privilege of an ERASMUS grant that allowed me
to go live and study in foreign land and I am much better for it.
EU will not allow foreign (works both ways folks) material in without full and proper regulation, just as it does not i suppose. We are an island and have a natural barrier
to invasive, non native species so will have to implement sever controls on this. I take it that the majority of carnivorous plants are non native...
So, sell to continent = put up with red tape (that ironically isnt in place now as we are a member)
buy from continent = no idea as the brexiteers have no plans/thoughts for this, but would imagine some fairly strict controls as we dont want them foreign plants coming
over here eating all our lovely British Insects now do we-
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Yossu, mate disaster. I have the added luxury of a shed for the nasty windy months but feel the pain. the £20 B&M Offer of the plazzy one was good for summer and autumn but when Mr Atlantic Wind came a callin luckily I had emptied it. It has also ended up in 3 pieces, the man down the road gave me some back. it went a long way.
I know that you are limited on space but seed trays (depending on how you grow) will take 8 square pots and can be kept indoors
http://www.wilko.com/seed-trays-plant-pots+planters/wilko-seed-tray-economy-black-3pk/invt/0183650
http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/premium-gravel-tray-without-holes-614312
Grow bag trays also do the same job but are longer and shallower. Just depends on how many you have and how potted.
http://www.homebase.co.uk/en/homebaseuk/growbag-tray-830344
this has kept me sweet this winter and can see that there is plenty of new growth on its way
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LMAO
Judging from the balcony shot I take it the exercise can wait for the new year !
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no worries glad it made sense.
have been meaning to update stuff for a right while but life got in the way. am deffo getting round to doing some soon as it is sleepy time so thought not much point until april or so.
ill see what I can dig out -
so does that mean you are pondering your best option and considering a combination of the two?
create the bog and dress (moss, stones, companion plants etc...) and use the 'indoor' technique/water tray outside in said bog?
if I can English-ify
I have created a bog and instead of planting the plants in the peat have them in pots and dug 'internal' (yoghurt etc..) pots into the bog so I can re arrange/move/bring inside etc..... no disturbance of roots (apart from clattering them and dropping etc....) So instead of rooted in bog and digging to repot and move indoors out of cold/wind etc the pot can simply be lifted and put back in the lagoon system indoors.
Does that make sense?
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no worries. time is short and all that, the little fellers are more important, no?
I lost a few from my first beginners collection a few years ago, kept them with poor air circulation and rotted. some survived.
Since I have taken the above approach and the following were fine with a covering outside, all year.
Flava, S. Purp. S.Catesbaei, S. Rubra,
I suppose you could say treat em like strawberries/over wintering bulbs (Tulips etc) and cover with straw (similar) and a cloche. As long as the ground doesn't freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw etc then you should be fine.
If indeed you went with the little greenhouse gizmo then just check every now and then and ensure that you open it a few hours or so to let air circulate and keep water levels down.....
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plonked em on moss just. lay em on surface and covered some of the stalk but kept the plantlet on top
Food bag over with corner snipped then just lightly spray to keep warm and humid-ish
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Is there any difference in success if the pullings sink to the bottom vs those that stay floating on the surface ?
All my pullings stay floating,even after vigorous shaking and i fear they will go moldy...
Nick, I certainly haven't seen/noticed any difference. even shook (gently) the jar to level them out. Some float, some sit in suspension, some float.
all struck like weeds and are now being transplanted from the jar with RO to a peat medium.
Some did take longer than others, some a lot longer but they are getting there
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not so out with the winter temps, Norn Iron had a few winters of -13 to -19 this last couple of years. that was ok for my outside lads n lasses. Covered them just with a cloche (some sort of clear plastic would do, just let some light through) but the snow will insulate them. Suppose there wont be much snow on the balcony tho......
Wind is the biggest baddie.
if you have the room on the balcony and the plants are small enough then a small (2 shelf) temp plastic greenhouse should be more than enough to stop freeze, thaw and keep wind off whilst giving enough light. They aren't big but do provide a cheap temp solution.
dionaea will require a sleepy time and would also be fine in there.
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will the little choo-choo that runs round the place be up for sale? have a few years pocket money to save in advance
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saw this when looking for something else and as it was only 49p picked up a few. Must admit haven't got round to using it but the above will no doubt avoid a few pitfalls.
Will stick a sacrificial lamb in an outside planter and see what happens.
Failing that the Mrs can have it for the baskets.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ktIGVtKdgwo
was a young un and this came on the telebox. I was sold. Couldn't just pop down the Garden Centre and pick on up then really, t'internet wasn't even dreamt of....
never had the time/space since with working and moving and all that. Now out in the wilderness and have the space so thought why not.
Was at Chelsea RHS 2012 and saw what can only be described as an amazing part of the main hall. (Hants) Stand covered with sarracenia that was me rekindled. got some on order and have been cutting, propagating, experimenting since......
It was a long time coming but got there.
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Was watching a program on is. Plus some carnivorous plants pick what thay want to eat. There was a thing I read about I think it may be France some where thay use a certain type of pitcher plant for killing hornets. Good bit of info thanks you.
this one?
Forum
http://www.cpukforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=56022
External
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-33847252
social insects (Bee, Wasp, Hornet etc..) will struggle (that's the pitiful bzzz,bzzzzz, puse, bzzz I hear when around the plants) this along with a pheromone attracts its 'mates' to form attack mode and assist a nest fellow in dire straits. Then of course they all pop in for tea. that's why there are so many of them in your pitchers.
not too sure about this specific adaptation to specifically attract a predator that the plant 'knows nothing of from its natural environment' but IMHO a more voracious predator that fell for the above and the bees (wisely) gave that area a very, very wide berth.
more pertinent to the posted topic...
Plant uses raindrops to eat ants
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34414284
I don't know much about Nepenthes, haven't had experience of them and don't grow them (maybe as yet!) so don't really know. Interesting though
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I plonk a mr sticky (filiformis) next to fruit bowl and tap it when walking past. think its the bananas they are after. Job done
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for wexford (Fruit Produce) read Anglia/lincolnshire, I suppose. Not as far as South East England though
Its down south east, round Cork way so protected from the West and Atlantic but accessible enough to the southerlies from France.
What's your first/favourite carnivorous plant?
in General Carnivorous Plant Discussion
Posted
First, as a lot of other folks, a vft (general garden center) simply for the pure drama of it. still fascinated by the (now not so little fellers)
Favourite, Sarracenia Leucophylla green/white Milton N.Florida. Bought a few years ago when time and space permitted.