Billybob Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Hi all! I recently (this morning) received a darlintonia californica from Mike King. (Thanks Mike!) Ive been reading around, and it says that the roots should be kept cool. Does anyone know what temperatures (the plant and roots) they can withstand comfortably? Also, how do all you guys grow yours? Any tips would be very much appreciated.... Thanks in advance Omar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexa Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Hi Omar Darlingtonia should be fine, here in the UK, as long as they have plenty of water to drink. It depends where you are keeping the plants, but D'Amato says that ice cubes of soft water placed on the surface on the soil will cool the roots as they melt. Regards Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2LAP Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 From everything I have read we seem to be quite lucky for Darlingtonia in the UK and I have read lots where people say they keep their Darlingtonia like their Sarrs except for top watering. All of the warnings about temperature or Darlingtonia being very hard to keep seem to relate to climates that are warmer than our own. Even so I think I will water with chilled water and use ice cubes on the hotest days of the year. My small Darlingtonia which I have only had for a few months always seems to be attended by flys on its fish tail. I assume it is a very efficent bug catcher!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Posted May 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Alexa, 2LAP and Aidan, Thats very helpful! I'll try and make some rainwater icecubes before the summer.... The Darlingtonia is grown in a kind of conservatory/ lean to - its got a plastic roof but with brick walls on either side and the maximum temperature in there at the height of summer is probably about 30 degrees centigrade, though doors can be opened to reduce the heat. If it does get too hot, i could move them outside into a cold frame or something similar, possibly even a windowsill, or are they able to be left outside all year round? Thanks :) Omar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Even in our record heat of last summer my Darlingtonia simply sat outside in a water tray....all were fine. Seedlings and young plants are more vulnerable to excessive heat, but an established adult should be able to withstand the UK climate without problem. Unless you leave it to fry in a greenhouse without any water.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob H Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 I circulate the water around my Darlingtonias, a small pump, large reservoir and a constant flow of water. Mine are in my greenhouse at the moment, until I can make a place for them outside, and have had temps in the high 20sC with no ill effects. Even my seedlings seem to enjoy it :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob-Rah Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Mine were fine in the greenhouse all last summer, with the temps around 30C-35C over those hottest periods. Daily overhead watering and icecubes were used. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Posted May 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Thanks guys! If it gets too hot this summer (though judging by the weather we've been getting in kent, im guessing it wont!), i'll either move them outside or use the icecube and watering from above methods. Thanks, Omar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2LAP Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Alexa, 2LAP and Aidan,are they able to be left outside all year round? Thats where I intend to keep mine, although they will be in a sheltered spot for the winter and I might pop them in a cold frame over the coldest periods. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anorthosite Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Mine were outside last year, with no special treatment and thrived. Mind you, this is Scotland we're talking about :beer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Posted May 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Yup! They're going outside this winter! Our garden isnt fantastically huge, so its going to be pretty sheltered from the fences - can they withstand snow and frosts (like we got last winter)? Thanks, Omar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 How does -30C sound? :mrgreen: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Posted May 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Pretty cold! Im guessing they cant go down to those temperatures though, can they? Does anyone know which temperatures are their minimum and maximum? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Aidan Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 That is what I'm saying, Darlingtonia is a very hardy plant. It will cope with any UK winter, unless perhaps we get a Nuclear Winter sometime soon!!! I bring my plants in to an unheated conservatory in winter - not because they won't take the cold.....they will, but because I find they tend to get battered by the winter weather. I don't believe the ice-cube treatment is necessary in summer either providing the plant is adequately watered. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billybob Posted May 14, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Wow! minus 30? That is seriously cold! I'll keep them outside this winter, with a cover on perhaps. Thanks guys, that was very helpful! Omar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 I have personally taken it down to -27C. my greenhouse gets to 40C in summer and they thrive with no overhead watering or ice cube nonsense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2LAP Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 I have personally taken it down to -27C. my greenhouse gets to 40C in summer and they thrive with no overhead watering or ice cube nonsense. I like this plant more and more all the time . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul O'Keeffe Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Mine were fine in the greenhouse all last summer, with the temps around 30C-35C over those hottest periods. Daily overhead watering and icecubes were used. Mine were also in a greenhouse all year round but it sat in a tray of water. I've put them outside this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rattler_mt Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 if it eases your worries i recently saw a picture of a cobra lilly that was flowering and doing quite well outside in southern California or in Texas in temps of around 95 degrees F and was sitting in the sun. the grower just hooked up an aquarium ariator(sp?) and put it in the bottom of the pot when he planted it and keeps it in a tray of water the air being moved around the roots kept them sufficiantly cool. you being in the UK should have no problem. Rattler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travman Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 Mine are Inside the greenhouse all year round temps around 35 c were noted last year. Overhead watering when i remembered below freezing point in winter keep in a tray on greenhouse floor at the side of saraccenia ......and they still grow and flower ....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted May 14, 2004 Report Share Posted May 14, 2004 95F is 35C for those metrics among us, myself included Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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