Rookie Utricularia Questions

[gj]

It's too bad we don't have identical conditions for the rest of the year, it would be interesting to see if the cool winter yours had versus the warm one mine had bear any longer term differences throughout the warmer months (eg. more or less leafy stolons, size, rate of growth).

Regardless, can't wait to watch these little guys continue to progress!

[dvg]

Taking note of the differences in our conditions growing out the same clone, is helpful when we can compare notes.

I learned from you that this clone can deal with warmer night time temps.

But it can also get down to 6°c overnight without me having to worry anymore, about it dying.








dvg

[gj]

I've noticed over the past couple days that the tip of the smaller flower is beginning to look like its dying/dried up. The taller one isn't yet, but I'm wondering if maybe I need to get it some proper humidity, or shelter it from that west window where it gets a bit of direct light later in the day?

[dvg]

GJ, once we get into May, the sun has a lot more punch and can start to burn our more delicate plants.

Bonfield can grow some hardy species in a south facing window, getting dappled light with intermittent periods of direct sunshine, because certain obstructions prevent it from getting the full direct sun over an extended of time.

Humidity certainly helps, and an ultrasonic humidifier wafts cool moist air over most of my Utrics.

But i've noticed too that this species has sensitive bracts on their flower stalks.

The bracts on my plant's flower stalk were burned when they were directly under lights and the humidifier turned off.

Since then, they've been moved from directly under the light, to just beside the plants directly underneath that light.

So they look a bit singed, but the flowers should still be fine.

Unfortunately, the smaller flower stalk on your plant might be toast, and especially if the browning got into the actual flowers in their calyces.

See if it's possible to partially screen some of the sun from hitting your largest flower cluster, and raising the humidity will help too.

From the sounds of it, there should be plenty of ambient light with the southern and western window exposures in that room.

I probably have about the same amount of experience time-wise with this species as you, GJ, so i'm still learning too.

Bonfield might have a few ideas regarding this as well. 




dvg

[bonfield]

It looks like the flower stalks are under much higher humidity lower down in that bin before they are elevated into the drier open air above, it could be the drastic transition that is doing it. Increasing ambient humidity could help, or growing them in an area with less variation from soil surface to overhead space.

[gj]

DVG and Bonfield,

Thanks for the input! 

After I mentioned thinking maybe I'd been babying my utrics when it came to light, I realised where I am out in the country, there's really nothing to obstruct the light coming into the room aside from an overhanging roof that only blocks midday sun, so the windows on the South and West sides of the house probably get pretty severe direct light compared to the average house, so DVG, your mentioning Bonfield's lighting situation being somewhat obstructed, and dappled makes a lot of sense.

I can definitely find somewhere in that room to give them some gentler lighting, and I found a spare cool mist humidifier in the basement, so I've set that up near the utrics. We'll see how they respond!

[gj]

I've been so distracted by the growth of my praetermissa's flower stalk that I haven't been inspecting my other utrics for progression as close as I was before. Then yesterday, my U. alpina 'Henri Pittier' screamed "look at me" with some new growth (near bottom of picture). That doesn't look like another moss spore cap right DVG? haha.

[dvg]

May 25, 2020 11:28:05 GMT -5 gj said:

That doesn't look like another moss spore cap right DVG? haha.

You learn your lessons quickly, young Padawan. 

Nice work there GJ!

Still waiting on a flower stalk on mine, maybe just a bit more patience?












dvg

[gj]

Thanks DVG!

It would be interesting if yours begins to work towards a flower soon, as perhaps that would be a hint that whatever triggers praetermissa to flower is similar to what triggers alpina, but with a delay for alpina. Or just a fun coincidence haha.

[dvg]

GJ, ive been watching my "Henri Pittier" for signs of a flower stalk, but only can see the three new leaf stolens unfurling.

My recently acquired alpina currently has four flower buds developing on its stalk.

And my praetermissa has sent up a second flower stalk, while the first stalk is close to hoisting this Utric's first blooming praetermissa flower, since its arrival here.

Also, have three buds on the endressii and with the lesson learned with praetermissa , all of the present Utric flower stalks are pointed away from the lights, or under lights, that are safely above them by a foot or more.









dvg

[gj]

Thanks for the update DVG!

I figure my praetermissa can't be too far away from the grand reveal:




Unfortunately, the second stalk that I had posted previously with the singed tip seems to have stalled, but the above pictured stalk has a second branch which, though definitely behind the one shown, appears to still be progressing.

[dvg]

Nice to see that you'll be rewarded with praetermissa blooms too.

Just looked at my flower, and it is pretty much exactly at the same point in development, as your bud.

Our flowers should be flowering within a day or two of each other. 








dvg

[dvg]

GJ, the moss in my "Henry Pittier" pot keeps expanding sideways towards my other Utric's pots, so i had been scrunching it back into the confines of its own pot again.

Recently when the Sphagnum was being pushed back into its pot, I heard an audible crunch, and thought to myself, *oh, that didn't sound good.*

Then, to leave it well enough alone, that pot was moved to where it wouldn't be disturbed or allowed to spread itself to neighbouring pots.

Checked on it yesterday, and it is also sending out a flower stalk, the first one since it arrived here about a year ago.

My Utric's flowers seem to follow yours by a couple of weeks.










dvg

[gj]

Haha I may need to isolate my 'Henri Pittier' as well at some point. I just recently discovered a stolon sneaking out of the bottom of the pot, as if it was headed right towards the praetermissa. At least my 'Nüdlinger Flair' has the decency to boldly announce its attempts at invasion by throwing the stolons out of the top where they are easy to catch (although maybe those are just a smokescreen, I better watch that one carefully!).

Congratulations on the discovery of the flower-to-be! And thanks for sharing. The timing is most interesting to me. I wonder if the fact that mine were just a couple weeks ahead has something to do with seasonal changes happening at different rates between our locations, or if perhaps yours being allowed to experience cooler temperatures, while mine were kept a little warmer by comparison was a factor (or both, or neither)? Either way, pretty neat.

[dvg]

GJ, after hearing about your Utric's flowering success, some changes were made here to further help mine along also.

The photoperiod was lengthened to 16/8 from its previous 14.4/9.5 daily cycle.

As well, the pots have been kept wetter, with some water in the dishes.

And the night temps have definitely warmed for them here too: they're now consistently above 15°c, rather than consistently below 10°c, as they were over most of the winter here.

It's very helpful that we can have these discussions, especially since we both are growing the same clones in our setups.

Feel free to post pics in any of the threads started on these and the other Utric clones, circulating around here. ( Thanks to Cole  )













dvg