Carnivorous plant freebies

[blackkitty2]

Hi there everyone! Just in case you didn't see my original freeby carnivorous plant message from last year - here is another one!

In an attempt to reduce the levels of sarracenia pitcher plants that I have in the polytunnel on my allotment I am offering free pitcher plants to anyone who wants to have a go at growing them. They are really hardy and can be kept in a greenhouse, conservatory, polytunnel and some will tolerate being kept out all year. They need sphagnum peat but peat free alternatives can be discussed as the carnivorous plant movement has to adapt.

At the moment they have been cut back (this is normal) and this makes them much easier to post. If you want to come and pick up some then that can be arranged as well. I am in Nottingham and near (ish) to junction 28/29 of the M1.

Hope some of you want to have a go! Oh, also any questions are welcomed.

[blackkitty2]

[70fingers]

Hi,

I would love to try and grow one of these, I have just joined the CP forum and have been researching these fab plants. I was going to start with some native drosera.
Picked up a bag of horticultural grit and moorland gold at the weekend too  ;)
Happy to reimburse the postage.

Many thanks C

[Robert_Brenchley]

I'd be interested in that. I've grown them before, so I know what they need.

[darkbrowneggs]

Hi - I feel a bit guilty asking for a "freebie" when I have only just joined and this is only my second post, but I was hoping to encourage my nephew with gardening and I thought one of these would be just the thing to start him off. 

Will happily paypal P&P or send cheque if you can send one :)

Many thanks
Sue

[Toadspawn]

I would be pleased to have any plants that you are prepared to pass on. I have some and they are a talking point in the garden. They spend the whole year outside in pots standing in a few inches of water in the pond. They survived the frost before so I hope they will be OK after the recent frosts.
I will be pleased to pay for postage.
Which ones do you have?

[froglets]

Hi,

Thank you for your advice & teh info last year - my two carni plants are still doing ok.

I'd love another saracena & will happily reimburse postage & packing.  PM me if yuo can be bothered with the faff!

Thanks

K

[Robert_Brenchley]

When I grew Sarracenias before, they were in a pot under the greenhouse staging, sitting in a saucer of water. They like to be not too far above the water table most of the time, but they can cope with drying out. How do they do half-submerged in a pond?

I'd like to grow them outside this time, and I'm thinking in terms of a trough with holes in the sides rather than the bottom, so there's an inch or two of water present to keep it all damp. If necessary, it could be brought indoors in cold weather.

[hippydave]

I would like some please i have had a few of mine this year just turned black and gone gooey, im only down the road in retford so could pick up.
Cheers Dave.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Was that down to the cold? I'm not sure how much freezing they'll take, as we didn't get too much frost in Cornwall.

[pumkinlover]

Can I still have some when I come to Nottingham in April please?
thanks Anne x

[hippydave]

Was that down to the cold? I'm not sure how much freezing they'll take, as we didn't get too much frost in Cornwall.

Yer i think it was they have been just fine for years in the conservatory but this year they went black and mushy.

[Robert_Brenchley]

The plants have just arrived, thanks.

Blackkitty send cultivation instructions; apparently they do tend to die back and go black in winter. I didn't see it before, but that was probably because I had them in a cactus greenhouse where I kept the frost at bay.

Last time I grew them in one of my leafmould composts rather than peat, so that's the way I'm going this time. Despite the instructions, I used tapwater to water them last time, and they flourished. Of course, that was acid Cornish water! I wouldn't recommend hard water.

[blackkitty2]

Just thought I should give some more brief advice before anyone wants to get stuck into cp growing.

The plants sent are currently dormant and will start to put up flowers first (to avoid eating pollinating insects) and then new pitchers. This will occur in the next few months dependent on how quickly things start to warm up.

Sarracenia are a bit like the film 'Gremlins' in that certain rules and regulations should be attempted to adhere to.

- Rainwater only. RO water will do, although may prove expensive.
- Stand the plant in its pot in a tray of rainwater from spring and during the summer. Keep damp and not waterlogged in the winter.
- Cut back in winter when the pitchers start to brown. At first the lid will brown and work its way down the pitcher tube. Some species have a late flourish (leocophylla, rubra species) so cutting back may be later.
- Beware of botrytis, usually caused when the plant is allowed to stand in rainwater through the winter.
- Do not feed sarracenia dog meat (yes people really do) as it is quite capable of fending for itself.

Don't be afraid have a go at growing them! If I can then anyone can!

[Robert_Brenchley]

Don't feed dog meat whatever you do! The ones I had before were about 18 inches high, and ate midge-sized flies; I cut the odd trumpet open to find out what was inside, and never found anything bigger. I once fed one a tiny scrap of meat, and that trumpet promptly rotted.

[blackkitty2]

It still quite amazes me how many myths surround carnivorous plants in general. The feeding of dog meat to sarracenia is one that still sticks and quite frankly you soooo don't need to feed them.

I too have cut open pitchers to look at just what food pitcher plants catch. Obviously mainly flies but anything unwitting will be consumed. The pitchers of sarracenia have a sticky dew (very sweet - don't ask how I know!) and this drugs up whatever sucks it up. They follow the trail into the pitcher and down the tube. The hairs of the pitcher point downwards so escape is unlikely. Having said this wasps will cut their way out. Also if the pitcher gets really full of prey then escape is sometimes possible.

Some sarracenia such as S. Minor have developed additionsal tricks with little windows (ain't nature great eh?) on the hood of the pitcher to confuse insects. They go down the tube and look up and see the light. They head for the light but it is too late.

Anyway don't be tempted to feed your plant as it is not necessary. Last year the polytunnel was full of bumble bees going to their maker. I rescued all I could as I had heard that they were on the decrease anyway.

[twins 59]

Hi I would love to have one if stiill avabile.
would be happy to pay postage
in cheque form
jackie corrie ???

[hippydave]

Hi cer your inbox is full im on my now should be with you around 12ish.

[hippydave]

lovely to meet you and look round your allotment and many greenhouse's and polytunnel. Thanks for the plants and sound advice, they are residing in the greenhouse and do look great in there even tho they dont look their best now they are dormant. Your greenhouse has given me something to aspire towards ;D.

cheers Dave and Julie.

[Robert_Brenchley]

It won't be long before they're growing. The main thing is, once they are, the bottom of the pot needs to sit in water, and they need lots of light, and acid compost.

[70fingers]

Mine arrived on Saturday :D, they are all potted up now in the greenhouse, when will we be able to bring them outside?
Thank you again Ceri for helping me start my collection.