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Post by gj on May 13, 2020 19:30:22 GMT -5
benny, the bowls have about 2.5" of soil, which sits on top of about 1-1.5" of quartz. The quartz layer underneath is nice because I can see where the water level is at all times. Each morning I just water around the edges of the bowl (not ideal, but it works), until the water level meets the bottom of the soil. On really hot, sunny days, I might have to give it an extra little drink in the evening. The roots of the flytraps definitely penetrate down into the drainage level, but I've not had any issues with root rot. I was initially worried that being in a glass bowl might fry them, but they've sat out in full sun on our hottest days (around 30 Celcius) and not had a problem. The tops are wide open though, so I guess it doesn't trap much heat, and I haven't run into any issues with the glass magnifying the sun or anything like that.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2020 0:15:29 GMT -5
Hey! Do you have any update photos?
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Post by gj on Jun 21, 2020 6:36:41 GMT -5
Hey Aaron, I sold/gave away most of the stronger plants from the bigger bowl to a few locals. The plan was to make some room for the weaker ones, which I also uprooted and spread out a little bit. That, combined with the lack of sun they were getting indoors once the sun got high enough that even my bog bowl ballet (moving them around to wherever there was sun), wasn't cutting it, has led to the bowl looking a bit weak at the moment. They're now able to stay out on the deck day and night, and are definitely starting to bounce back, but aren't much to look at yet. I'll try to remember to take a picture later today so we can compare it to where they're at in a month or two. *Edit: Here's a pic I grabbed this morning.
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Post by Outdoors And Botanical on Jun 21, 2020 22:59:32 GMT -5
Still looking pretty good. Id love to see a carpet of vfts in there lol.
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Post by gj on Jun 21, 2020 23:07:03 GMT -5
Haha we'll see where the "nursery bowl" is at by the end of the summer, it might just get there. I'm already stressing about what I'm going to do when they start crowding each other. I like to keep the dead leaves trimmed, but when they're packed in, I figure I might have to just leave them be a little bit so I'm not constantly setting off traps.
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Post by Outdoors And Botanical on Jun 21, 2020 23:28:51 GMT -5
If it gets too crowded, you can always give the plants to me... lol
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Post by gj on Jun 24, 2020 18:45:01 GMT -5
Haha I'll certainly keep that generous offer in mind.
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Hal
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by Hal on Jun 25, 2020 21:40:12 GMT -5
Flower cuttings as in pieces of the stalk? I just got a few VFTs and one has a huge flower stalk. I'm debating whether to let it flower and collect seeds or maybe cut it up and try to sprout some babies. What medium do you place the cuttings in?
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Post by gj on Jun 25, 2020 22:14:43 GMT -5
HalYup flower stalk cuttings. I usually cut the stalks when they are about 2" tall, the make a little hole right in the bog bowls (so just in peat and perlite), pop the cut end of the stalk into the soil so its about a quarter of the stalk deep, then pack the peat in around the base of it. I mention the making a hole because on the occasions which I've carelessly shoved the cutting into the soil, I've accidentally bent them, or damaged the tip resulting in no strike. They don't get any special treatment, out in the full sun, at the same moisture as the other plants. I do wonder if perhaps, due to them being in a bowl, if there is a humidity advantage that has helped with the relatively high success rate I've had with the cuttings, but I can't say for sure because I've never tried them not in the bowl haha. I have never tried to propagate from flower stalk cuttings after they've grown beyond approximately 2" so I can't say how this method would work if you were to cut a larger stalk like it sounds you might have. There's always a chance you could cut the stalk into segments and get multiple plants out of it, but like I said, I've no experience with it. I'd almost be inclined to leave it and let it flower if it's anywhere near that state. I have witnessed that my plants were definitely set back from flowering, but if you plant has already put in that much effort, I'm not sure how much more the final stages cost it. I also believe the slow recovery, and the terrible seed set I had this spring could likely be attributed significantly to it being too cold out for me to get them out in full sun, and trying to make do with insufficient lighting indoors, and chasing the sun as it came in through different windows haha. If flower stalk cutting is successful, it certainly seems that the plants develop quicker than from seeds, based on my limited experience, but if you let it flower, and can get decent seed set, and a good germination rate, you'll have a small army in no time. I'd certainly be interested to hear if anyone else has experience propagating with flower stalks that are further along. Let me know what you end up doing and how it works out!
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Hal
Junior Member
Posts: 61
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Post by Hal on Jun 25, 2020 22:56:38 GMT -5
Hal Yup flower stalk cuttings. I usually cut the stalks when they are about 2" tall, the make a little hole right in the bog bowls (so just in peat and perlite), pop the cut end of the stalk into the soil so its about a quarter of the stalk deep, then pack the peat in around the base of it. I mention the making a hole because on the occasions which I've carelessly shoved the cutting into the soil, I've accidentally bent them, or damaged the tip resulting in no strike. They don't get any special treatment, out in the full sun, at the same moisture as the other plants. I do wonder if perhaps, due to them being in a bowl, if there is a humidity advantage that has helped with the relatively high success rate I've had with the cuttings, but I can't say for sure because I've never tried them not in the bowl haha. I have never tried to propagate from flower stalk cuttings after they've grown beyond approximately 2" so I can't say how this method would work if you were to cut a larger stalk like it sounds you might have. There's always a chance you could cut the stalk into segments and get multiple plants out of it, but like I said, I've no experience with it. I'd almost be inclined to leave it and let it flower if it's anywhere near that state. I have witnessed that my plants were definitely set back from flowering, but if you plant has already put in that much effort, I'm not sure how much more the final stages cost it. I also believe the slow recovery, and the terrible seed set I had this spring could likely be attributed significantly to it being too cold out for me to get them out in full sun, and trying to make do with insufficient lighting indoors, and chasing the sun as it came in through different windows haha. If flower stalk cutting is successful, it certainly seems that the plants develop quicker than from seeds, based on my limited experience, but if you let it flower, and can get decent seed set, and a good germination rate, you'll have a small army in no time. I'd certainly be interested to hear if anyone else has experience propagating with flower stalks that are further along. Let me know what you end up doing and how it works out! Thanks very much gj. This stalk is already 6" long so I will let it flower. I think I'm not too far down the road from you. Are you in Stratford, ON?
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Post by gj on Jun 26, 2020 6:13:04 GMT -5
You're welcome Hal. I always say Stratford because it's the closest city, but I'm technically in Fullarton, not too far outside of Stratford.
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Post by gj on Jul 14, 2020 21:28:06 GMT -5
Love when the moss gets established like that! I've got some growing in my little bog garden, but not in the bowls. There's too many little guys that I like to keep track of, so I don't want them grown over. Not sure how the moss would appreciate the heat that builds up in those glass bowls either.
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flytrap
Full Member
finally... getting some nice sunshine here on the WET coast
Posts: 109
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Post by flytrap on Jul 14, 2020 23:28:18 GMT -5
Love when the moss gets established like that! I've got some growing in my little bog garden, but not in the bowls. There's too many little guys that I like to keep track of, so I don't want them grown over. Not sure how the moss would appreciate the heat that builds up in those glass bowls either. It's nice when moss eventually covers the surface... makes it easier for lazy guys like me to just point the hose at it for watering. Otherwise the peat and perlite would be flying out all over the place!
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Post by Outdoors And Botanical on Jul 30, 2020 19:10:43 GMT -5
Any updates?
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