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1st Picture Plant, growing advice?
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Posted by ncgardengirl z7 NC (My Page) on Thu, Jul 28, 05 at 21:47
I just purchased my 1st picture plant:
Sarracenia 'Lady Bug'
I do not have any care instructions on this plant. Any adivce on how to grow these in zone 7b area of NC would be greatly appreciated.
The nursey where I purchased these from where basically clueless and no help!
Thanks everyone.
NCGardengirl |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: 1st Picture Plant, growing advice?
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| NC Gardengirl, your plant is a hybrid between three species of Sarracenia: purpurea, psittacina, and minor. It needs to be wet during the warm months starting in April and ending around October. The rest of the year it is not in active growth and it's a good idea to just keep it moist to avoid rot. This is a true acidic bog plant and needs specific conditions to thrive. They are: 50% sand/50% peat moss for the growing medium An undrained container to grow in; however the top 3-5" should be above water line. Most people create a small bog garden by choosing any plastic container with no drainage holes at the bottom, and a couple towards the top of it. Thus a reservoir is created at the bottom keeping the whole thing wet. Sunny conditions; at least 4-5 hours daily, more is better Water that is relatively mineral free; rainwater being the best. Artificially softened water is the worst, and should not be used. If tap water is used, it should have stood for a day to release all the chorine in it. There is much to say about growing these plants correctly. I'd place your little bog garden on a sunny porch or the like and let nature do the watering, but be careful during dry spells since it can dry out and kill your plant. Also, these plants need a winter dormancy, so leave it outside unprotected year round. The plant will grow new pitchers in the spring. Here's a link showing my bog garden this spring. Good Luck. PF |
Here is a link that might be useful: My Bog Garden
RE: 1st Picture Plant, growing advice?
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| Nice link, good use of cranberries in bloom in the background. |
RE: 1st Picture Plant, growing advice?
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- Posted by KWoods Cold z7 Long Is (My Page) on
Mon, Aug 1, 05 at 15:22
| PF your bog is wonderful! I missed it on the other forum. I can see your "style" in it! Very clean, controlled... the antithesis of my wild, exhuberant "style". I LOVE it! Maybe a bit intimidating for the beginner? You can also use the tried and true water tray method. Put the plastic pot your plant came in into a saucer filled w/ distilled or rain water. Let the water wick from the tray into the plant's medium. Make sure you always have at least a bit of water in the tray. These guys need lots of broad spectrum light so outdoors is best. Put the pot in the ground and mulch a bit for winter dormancy. By the way coastal North Carolina is the best place on planet earth to build a CP bog! Try and visit some bogs where these guys grow in the wild, or visit the JC Raulston Arboretum, they have an amazing collection. |
ladybug
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- Posted by KWoods Cold z7 Long Is (My Page) on
Mon, Aug 1, 05 at 15:30
| Oh also... It's "pitcher" like a pitcher of water. And, If you do indeed have ladybug it's a good one to start with, I have found it to be very robust and reliable, I'm in a colder zone 7 than you. Warning, if you do well with this one you are going to want more, LOTS MORE. Good Luck! |
RE: 1st Picture Plant, growing advice?
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UPDATE:
IT IS BLOOMING!! WAHOOOO!!!!!! |
RE: 1st Picture Plant, growing advice?
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| If you want to know more about Pitcher plants and the like - take a look at the Carnivorous Plants forum: http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/carnivor/?2231 Cheers Kyle |
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