fly Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Hi lovely CPers. Ok, here's the rub. I have two much adored VFTs which I have had for 5 years or so. I would really appreciate some help with exactly which ones they are! One is almost totally green (on the left), but does go pink/red in the centre of it's traps in good sun. The other is supposed to be quite red, but at most, goes red in the centre, and its TEETH turn a deep red (on the right) . Weirdly, it is redder now, than it was when exposed to full sun in the summer (how does that figure?). The second question I have is this - they are both kept in exactly the same conditions. Whereas the red one is forming nice winter leaves, the green one is remaining long and floppy as you can see from the picture. It has a few winter leaves coming through, but nothing to speak of. Why would this be? Last year it suffered terribly from aphid attck and root rot, and was literally down to a few manky stumps. I repotted it, and it grew back incredibly well. Any ideas people? Help with both Qs will be much appreciated! Many thanks in advance Camilla Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexa Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 It looks to me that the top one is an 'all green form'. The long trap production is very similar to the ones that I have grown over the last couple of years. The bottom one could be anything!! I have plant that is named only as 'red clone'. It is my belief that many of these plants that show slight colour variation are in fact the same plants geneticly. Therefore do not merit verital names. Regards Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 They both look pretty much like typical clones to me and if those are recent photographs they both look pretty healthy too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joseph Clemens Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 I agree with Aidan S., I believe that neither of these Dionaea muscipula, shown in your photos represent registered cultivars. So, until they are, they are properly identified as just Dionaea muscipula or Venus Flytrap. BTW, very nice work cultivating. There are a very large number of choice VFT clones being distributed. Wouldn't it be nice if they were officially described and named as cultivars with an internationally available register where the descriptions (including photos of each kind) were kept? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexa Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 I am certain that the top photo is an all greeen form. My plants appears to go a slight shade of pink on some of the traps and I got mine from a reputable source. If I was you Fly that is what I would lable it as. Regards Alex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 If there is any red colouration in the plant at all, it is by definition not an 'all green form'. Labelling it as such will simply add yet another VFT with a spurious designation into circulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted December 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Hi, and thanks for the replies ! Not entirely sure I'm any clearer but am relieved that my general referral within our house to the 'red one' or the 'green one' is broadly accurate Alan, you are quite right, they are still the summer leaves and the plant is hardly producing any winter ones which is my concern. HOWEVER, it is kept in exactly the same conditions as the red one which is doing fine, with nice stumpy, winter leaves. That is why I am concerned. Especially as it's beginning to look weak as the summer leaves dye back...HELP! At the mo they are kept outside in a small greenhouse that zips up but is open at the bottom, but if I think there's going to be a frost, then they go in the boiler room overnight (I know they can survive frosts but I prefer not to expose them too much if possible). One further Q...each of these plants has formed a clump of about 6 small plants, as I believe is normal. I thought I read on another thread that these should be split up - is this true, or is that just in order to propagate more? Thanks again and how can I save my vft ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted December 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 oh, p.s. these pics are from about 10 weeks ago... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 It doesn't sound like there is anything much wrong with the plant. Some simply don't produce much in the way of winter leaves and you may have one of those. Yes, VFT naturally form clumps and have to be split up now and then. Eventually if left to their own devices they will fill the pot and start to crowd each other out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trev Posted December 15, 2003 Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Hi Fly, Where did the VFT's come from? If they came from a garden center they are likely to be a natural cross of 2 random plants exhibiting many possible differnet characteristics, just like you and me realy! :? If you are worried about losing them, best thing to do is get propagating... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fly Posted December 15, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2003 Hi! I like the idea of the bubble wrap, but do I then need to be extra vigilant for the dreaded, insidious (evil evil) botrytis? I totally agree with avoiding environmental changes if possible - the boiler room is also outside but is a few degrees higher than the open-bottomed greenhouse thing so it's not ideal sticking them in there on nights like tonight - can they ROUTINELY survive frosts...they've both been through a couple in their 5 years (esp when we were away last Xmas and it got v.cold) and I haven't worried, but I would be unsure about leaving them out all winter if it was a prolonged hard spell...what do you reckon? I can't remember where I got the green one from and it does go red inside but only in really good light (I try and give them both max exposure in the summer). The red one (and prob the green too) was from Chris Heath, who at the time told me it was a 'red form' but i can't remember if he was more specific or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexa Posted December 16, 2003 Report Share Posted December 16, 2003 I grow mine in a greenhouse all year and here in Somerset in can get below freezing for many nights at a time. I should' nt worry too much about the cold. Keep them out of rain to avoid water getting into the crown of the plant, which as has been said can cause fungus problems. Aidan - The plants I grow are green form VFT's. I have found on only one or two traps that there is slight colouration around the base of the celia. I am totally againts mislableing plants as something they are not as this leads to utter confusion. Regards Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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