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cpenthusiast

Have you ever heard of this before?

cpenthusiast
16 years ago

So I bought some flytraps around two weeks ago and they seemed healthy at the time. I made a bog garden for them and planted them inside...even acclimated them to their new home by gradually removing the plastic domes they came in. However, I have them in full Southern California sun for around 9-10 hours a day, and they don't seem to be doing very well. The new traps that are forming are having their petioles turn the same color red that the traps usually turn from a lot of sunlight. From my knowledge only the traps usually turn this color red...has anyone ever heard of the actual petioles turning this color also? Also, the traps that have their petioles turning red aren't as healthy as the traps that were already on the plant when I got it from the store so I am wondering if I should move the bog garden to somewhere that gets only around 6 hours of sun a day since it seems like they are getting sun burned and over exposed, or just keep them where they are. Any thought or suggestions are appreciated!!

Thanks,

Zach

Comments (10)

  • petiolaris
    16 years ago

    Are the plants actually dying? If not, then the most they had was some burn and the new leaves should be adjusted. As long as they aren't dying I wouldn't necessarily move them again.

  • mutant_hybrid
    16 years ago

    Hello Zach,

    As Petiolaris indicated, if they are not actually dying, they are fine. In any case, Red Dragon cultivars of Venus Flytraps turn all red, petioles and all, in bright sunlight... yours might be Red Dragons or have some of that potential in them. When you first buy Flytraps from most stores and non-specialist nurseries they are kept in partial sun under screens and such, or even indoors under basically no light whatsoever. Once they do get out in a sunny window or outdoors, they have no UV resistance and get burned. This will not harm the plant wholly unless the heat levels are too high, over 100, and they are not kept hydrated. So long as they have plenty of mineral free water in a simulated bog, are properly adapted to lower humidity, and keep getting plenty of sunlight, they should perk up and grow normally in a couple more weeks. If they continue to decline, it would not be due to sunlight as Venus Flytraps normally grow in full sun with absolutely no cover whatsoever in the wild.

  • epl_92
    16 years ago

    I agree with mutant_hybrid it is probably just a red dragon VFT in that case the red petiols are completely normal...
    Do they look something like this?
    {{gwi:548841}}

  • cpenthusiast
    Original Author
    16 years ago

    Thanks for all the replies guys...in regard to epl 92's question...no my VFT does not look like that, and I am almost 100% sure that I do not have a red dragon VFT. Only one petiole of the many is turning this strange red color, and some of the new traps that are forming have part of their petioles turning this color as well. I'm a total noob to how forums work, so if someone could explain how to post pictures I will try to get some pictures of what I'm talking about up within the next couple of days. Thanks for any replies!!

    Zach

  • mutant_hybrid
    16 years ago

    You will need to go to a photo sharing site, like photobucket or allyoucanupload. upload all your pics into that site, then copy the main forum real size photo code line that has your photo designation on that site.

    In this site, you type in , place img src=" and type in the photo code line minus any extra garbage (basically you have to use just what is in the photo properties; you can check out the properties on photos in this forum by right clicking and going down the menu to properties on the photo), and then typing " after the code and between the .

    If you remember everything it should come up. You will have to delete all the extra code that does not relate to code on the photo properties in this forum. For instance, it might have
    [URL=http://allyoucanupload.webshots.com/v/2003694011226225743][IMG]

    http://aycu17.webshots.com/image/49216/2003694011226225743_rs.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

    You can delete the top line and just leave a line like this between the and ""

    http://aycu17.webshots.com/image/49216/2003694011226225743_rs.jpg

    Place img src="http://aycu17.webshots.com/image/49216/2003694011226225743_rs.jpg"; between the

    And it should work. Make sure the code line is from your photo and that it is complete.

  • cpenthusiast
    Original Author
    16 years ago

    Ok so hopefully this picture comes up...its my first time trying to post a pic, but anyway its been like a week since I started this thread and the plant seems to be doing fine...but still has anyone ever seen a red leaf like this before on a predominantly green plant? Also you can not see the red tint very well but the red is on the most southern leaf in the pic

    {{gwi:548842}}

  • nycti
    16 years ago

    Hi cp,

    I am fairly new to cps, live in Phoenix, AZ, land of the oven. I wintered a couple of VFTs and a Sarracenia outside, they are looking very good. However, I rescued a bunch of VFTs in December from a dollar store, acclimated and repotted them. I moved them outside with the others the 1st of March, nights 50-60 days 70-80. I watched our uv index and usually around noon it went into the high range so I put sunscreen up during that part of the day. I have now stopped using the sunscreen at least until our temperatures rise again. I also monitor the temperatures of the media and found it was often 5-10 degrees higher than the ambient temperature without the sunscreen.

    The VFTs I moved outside this spring are doing pretty much the same thing yours are. There are some red hues where I wouldn't expect them and the older traps are looking a bit yellowish green. I fretted and worried about them. Now, there are lots of new traps coming up. They are all the vibrant green color and looking beautiful. It's just taking a while for them to acclimate.

    I think time and patience is the hardest part about growing cps.

    Nycti

  • cpenthusiast
    Original Author
    16 years ago

    Thanks for the reply Nycti! Ya I kinda have decided that they look healthy even though they are kinda red, and like you said they are sending up new traps so I think I'm ok.

    Thanks for all the replys!!

    Zach

  • hunterkiller03
    15 years ago

    It's normal for some VFT to get red in other parts of the plant, especially when they are growing under bright light for many hours, especially on the growing points. I wouldn't worry about it.

  • mutant_hybrid
    15 years ago

    CPenthusiast,

    The red on your Flytrap looks like normal wear on an old leaf in bright light. Your plant is producing new leaves and the petioles are narrowing and standing up more, so look forward to a nice looking plant in a month or so.

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