Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Some progress shots

It's been a while since I made a post of progress shots. I have a lot more plants now, so there are more plants for me to choose to document. Most of these are propagation efforts. This is one of my favorite aspects of keeping a blog – it forces me to photograph my plants regularly, so I can really see how they grow and develop.

First up, the fantastic hybrid, Drosera ultramafica x spatulata. I won this plant in the NASC auction back in March and started some cuttings fairly soon thereafter.

Drosera ultramafica x spatulata.
D. ultramafica x spatulata leaf cutting strikes, 6-30-2014.
Drosera ultramafica x spatulata.
D. ultramafica x spatulata plantlets, 8-26-2014.
Drosera ultramafica x spatulata.
Drosera ultramafica x spatulata plants, 1-26-2015.
This is a really great plant. It grows quickly and shows phenomenal color, even with heavy feeding. I had originally thought that it was a sterile hybrid, but it is setting seed all over the place (in all sorts of pots). I would recommend this plant for any beginner.

Next up, Utricularia longifolia. This was an acquisition from my first trip to California Carnivores back in June.

Utricularia longifolia.
U. longifolia, 7-22-2014.
Utricularia longifolia.
U. longifolia, 9-14-2014.
Utricularia longifolia.
U. longifolia, 1-26-2015. Look at those "leaves!"
I love Utricularia. Utrics are super weird and specialized. U. longifolia is a very aggressive species, so it lives by itself right now. I should pot it up into a larger container so it can continue to expand. I also want to just install a huge pot of this outside where I can just ignore it and let it go crazy. I'm super pumped for these flowers too. They're great.

The thing that really prompted this post was my Dionaea muscipula 'B-52' leaf pulling.

Dionaea muscipula 'B-52'.
Dionaea 'B-52' leaf pulling strikes, 12-11-2014.
Dionaea muscipula 'B-52'.
Dionaea 'B-52' strikes, 12-27-2014.
Dionaea muscipula 'B-52'.
Dionaea 'B-52' plantlets, 1-26-2015.
These were just some leaves that fell off in transit when I bought this plant from Brie in August or so. The one on the right shriveled immediately, but the one on the left has been going crazy. Look at those cute little plantlets!

The Dionaea 'B-52' pullings were started as an afterthought, while this Drosera capensis Bainskloof cutting was something I fretted over.

Drosera capensis Bainskloof.
D. capensis Bainskloof strike, 9-21-2014.
Drosera capensis Bainskloof.
D. capensis Bainskloof plantlet, 11-14-2014.
Drosera capensis Bainskloof.
D. capensis Bainskloof, 1-27-2015.
This plant is almost getting its mature shape. I'm feeding it a lot, because man I want this plant looking great in my collection. There's been big progress lately.

Some months back I scattered some Drosera aliciae seed on a pot that briefly contained a sundew which rapidly declined in my conditions (I think it was used to much higher humidity). This was the laziest propagation effort I've ever undertaken.

Drosera aliciae.
D. aliciae seedlings, 9-17-2014.
Drosera aliciae.
D. aliciae seedlings, 12-11-2014.
Drosera aliciae.
D. aliciae, 1-26-2015.
This is a great case of neglect working out. I'll probably repot them in advance of the next BACPS function so I can donate or trade them. They're looking pretty good.

Finally, my Pinguicula moranensis GG. I got this plant from California Carnivores along with my U. longifolia.

Pinguicula moranensis GG.
P. moranensis, 7-22-2014.
Pinguicula moranensis GG.
P. moranensis, 10-10-2014.
Pinguicula moranensis GG.
P. moranensis, 11-21-2014.
Pinguicula moranensis GG.
P. moranensis, 1-26-2015. That's powdered beta fish food on the leaves.
This is one of those plants that goes in and out of being my favorite. I've liked watching the leaves fill in the rosette and get more of a pointed, scalloped shape. And that color! That pink color is way too cute. Once this round of leaves has been replaced I think I'm gonna try a couple of leaf pullings.

I love seeing progress shots.

2 comments:

  1. Really excellent job! I'm always impressed when I see great looking plants grown from pullings. haven't tried to do that yet, but I was thinking about giving it a shot it this year. Any recommendations for special care, how deep to plant the leaf, etc.? I see you have the pots bagged up. I'd like to propagate my D. filiformis "Florida All Red" and have a nice, large, full pot of them eventually.

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  2. What an amazing collection! Do you grow all of your plants under the light? I didn't see any Sarracenia so I'm guessing those probably don't go under, but really beautiful plants, I love all your Drosera!

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