Odysseus Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 This G. Violacea "Giant" came in the mail from Pyro. It was divided and sent in a clump. I potted the clump in its medium and eagerly awaited new growth. But, all I got was a solitary stalk of leaves not even growing near the original clump received from pyro! But growing in the soil mix I had BARELY created! (part peat and part sand) Both were from fresh bags. Where did this plant come from? It looks dissimilar to the existing Genlisea leaves and I don't know if it is friend or foe? Meaning, is it actually new genlisea growth or a weed that I need to dispose of? I received this plant two weeks ago. I planted it and followed the meager details on cultivation from Slack, D'Amato and Pietropaulo books. I keep it pretty wet in an undrained container. I got this plant at a time when my pots ran out, so I used a yogurt cup. Now that I have another three inch pot, should I repot it? Does it need to stay in an undrained container? I'd like to grow it like Geoff Wong's with the water viewing of the 6-inch corkscrew traps. But for now I'd like it to get settled in from the division. Thanks for any advice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 looks like a Betula (sorry, don't know the english name) It's often found in the compost you're using and they make nice trees (not carnivorous since they don't produce enzymes ) it's not a foe and if you trim it you can keep it as a bonsai next to your genlisea Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted February 4, 2004 Report Share Posted February 4, 2004 Betula =birch tree Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted February 5, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Wow! Never would have thought! Thanks for the advice. I think it will be nice to have it growing there next to my genlisea! However, my Genlisea is growing in a pretty small undraining yoghurt cup. It is surving as a seedling, but any advice on how to keep that birch tree happy? I suppose by trimming it you simply mean later on as it matures keeping it pruned like a bonsai? Or do I need to do some work on it soon? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vic brown Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Odysseus, I think Frederick was having a little joke. Even a fairly small tree seedling will have an extensive root system and it will soon grow too large to remove it without damaging the traps of your Genlisea. If I was you I'd pull it out now. If you want to grow it, you can always put it into its own pot. Vic Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted February 5, 2004 Report Share Posted February 5, 2004 Actually, Vic, i wasn't joking. Birch comes out of my pots every now and then and i trim them to keep them in bonsai state (a true bonsai also has his roots cut). My oldest is 5 years and 15 cm 'tall'. But you're right on the fact it should be pulled out. i don't grow utrics or genlisea (on purpouse) and i forgot that the root might make transplanting a genlisea a living hell. Betula forms a thick hairy cluster of roots... Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted February 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 Vic, You had me feeling pretty gullible there. I was saved by the fact that Frederick WAS being serious! But, I understand your point and apparently so does Frederick. Thanks for your post. I'll transplant the seedling, tonight. -- I swear...you get out smarted by some of those on this forum and you begin to think everything you hear is PERFECT advice with out chance of flaw. -- Frederick, I liked your idea of making it a Bonsai tree...I hadn't considered the problems of the traps of my genlisea and the root system of a mature bonsai Birch. Thanks for your advice. I am now intrigued by the idea of creating it into a bonsai. Thanks for helping me I.D. the seedling. I think it's pretty amazing you could I.D. it that young! Hope I can get to that point someday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frederick Posted February 6, 2004 Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 I think it's pretty amazing you could I.D. it that young! Hope I can get to that point someday. Thanks for the compliment, but I could still be wrong, it's my best guess Fred Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pyro Posted February 6, 2004 Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 It is possible this is a contaminate from me. I have a number of rogue plants that popup in my pots and for the most part I just leave them be. I don't recall seeing anything like this in any of my Genlisea pots or the near-by trays though. I'll take a walk through my collection this evening and see if I can figure out what the brute is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted February 6, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 Thanks for the compliment, but I could still be wrong, it's my best guess Fred Understand that. :) It is possible this is a contaminate from me. I have a number of rogue plants that popup in my pots Well, if you have an I.D. that differs let me know. The "birch" seedling is growing more profusely than the genlisea is yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Sheila Posted February 6, 2004 Report Share Posted February 6, 2004 I think everyone has rogue plants and weeds come up in the pots with cps, it is just seed in the peat we buy and can't be helped. Some of them are quite pretty, the weed that I find most annoying is that thick tall grass. It's roots overtake the whole pot in no time and pulling it out takes half the peat with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odysseus Posted February 9, 2004 Author Report Share Posted February 9, 2004 the weed that I find most annoying is that thick tall grass. It's roots overtake the whole pot in no time and pulling it out takes half the peat with it. I hate that stuff! It is always growing so fast and is controlling my little pots! I hate the damage getting rid of it causes. I have one right now that I can't get rid of because a small capillaris is growing right above the grassy rosette. The have intertwined roots. I'm afraid I will kill my capillaris. But, I do need to get rid of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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