Stylidium soil

[JRFxtreme]

Hey,

Quick question: whats a good soil mix for Stylidium, specifically S. bulbiferum. Will normal well drained CP mix work?

Oh, and how wet should plants be kept?

[An D Smith]

Hi JRFXtreme

Although I have never grown any, at least not yet, I have recently had the pleasure of observing one species in the wild - namely S. graminifolium. This species was seen in Tasmania growing in various habitats from shady forest floors and road-side ditches to the high mountain summits right next to Drosera arcturi. The mountainous plants were growing in wet bog which was not very well drained but those in the forest had better drainage. I would suggest an acidic peat-based compost with gravel or sand or perlite to open it slightly and keep it always wet but maybe not sat in water. Judging by the name S. bulbiferum, I would assume that this species has a period of dormancy when it should be kept drier.

This is a beautiful genus of plants and they really should be more widely grown.

There are a couple of books dedicated to these plants although I do not know the titles.

I hope this is of some help.

Cheers

Andy

[Sean Spence]

S. bulbiferum is available at various commercial nurseries here in Melbourne. I've grown the species before where it was planted directly into my garden in open well drained soil. The plants sold at the Australian Native Plant nursery that I often visit are grown in a general potting mix comprised mostly of decomposed or broken down pine bark with a portion of sand added. They'll grow well in most typical commercial potting media as long as they do not contain too many nutrients- adding some sand will aid in the drainage as they do not like to remain wet.

S. graminifolium will almost grow as a weed in gardens down here. It is often used as a revegetation plant and utilised by local council authorities to plant on roadsides and median strips. Stick that one in the garden and it'll grow just about anywhere that doesn't get too cold in winter.

[vic brown]

Rica Erickson (probably best known to CPers for her book on Australian carnivorous plants, 'Plants of Prey') wrote a book on Stylidium spp. Though it is now a bit out of date now.,

Erickson, Rica. (1958). Triggerplants. Perth: Paterson Brokensha Pty. Ltd.

There is also a short article by the same author which is available to view for free online: http://farrer.csu.edu.au/ASGAP/APOL18/jun00-3.html

More recently, Doug Darnowski has written a book on the genus;

Darnowski, Douglas W. (2002). Triggerplants. Australia: Rosenberg Publishing

Vic