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Post by dvg on Apr 6, 2020 17:07:09 GMT
Just curious what fertilizing supplements you might be using to bring out the best in your Sarracenia clumps.
Some growers have had very good results with Miracid, with an N-P-K ratio of 30-10-10.
And some growers rely on the pitchers to capture their own prey, and don't supplement with extra feedings of ferts during the active growing season.
What type of fertilizers do you prefer to use for your Sarracenia, if any?
dvg
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Post by fredg on Apr 6, 2020 19:08:45 GMT
None
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Post by stevebooth on Apr 7, 2020 12:20:57 GMT
I never fertilise mine and they are generally always full of prey during summer, so I don’t see a need. Our American friends tend to use Osmocote granular feed two or three pellets at a time in pots and dilute Maxsea as a purported rapid growth liquid feedfor seedlings. Not tried either myself so can’t really comment.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by dvg on Apr 7, 2020 17:01:44 GMT
Steve, I've read similar reports about using those ferts.
Probably the most impressive group of Sarracenia that I have ever seen were growing in a half whiskey barrel and were being fed heavily with Miracle Gro® fertilizer.
I remember the plant's rhizomes and pitchers looking like they had beefed up on steroids, and that has always stuck with me.
I make up a weekly solution of weak seaweed-based fertilizer that is sprayed onto my butterworts and bladderworts.
Yesterday i sprayed some of that fertilizer onto the pitcher leaves and also into the soil of my 'Judith Hindle'.
Because it is such a weak solution, i'm not concerned about harming this plant, as it could easily take a higher dosage of plant foods, to see some truly remarkable results.
dvg
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Post by stevebooth on Apr 8, 2020 19:48:53 GMT
Very dilute, liquid, foliage feed has the right sort of ‘feel’ to it rather than a root feed, I might set up a bit of a trial.
Cheers
Steve
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Post by dvg on Apr 8, 2020 21:02:23 GMT
It's always more prudent to begin with a weaker solution before advancing to the stronger dosages. But i'm sure you'll find that these plants are heavy feeders and will respond well to supplemental fertilizing. Steve, where you'll notice the biggest difference is with your seedlings - fertilizing them will also speed up your breeding program. And those slow to grow complex hybrid crosses might perk up, pack themselves a lunch and put out more than their usual two or three pitchers per annum.  Plus, your newfound frenemy Mr. Blackbird and his accomplices, from the Wren Gang, in their neverending quest to provide nesting materials and food for their hungry broods, will now find it harder to dislodge, uproot and flail away the larger sized and well rooted rhizomes. Give it a trial Steve, you'll be pleased with the results on your smaller and slower specimens. dvg |
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Post by dvg on Jun 16, 2020 5:11:33 GMT
Very dilute, liquid, foliage feed has the right sort of ‘feel’ to it rather than a root feed, I might set up a bit of a trial. Cheers Steve Steve, might there not be a side effect with supplemental fertilizing of Sarracenia , in that it can also provide the nutrition necessary to fuel the production of phyllode or noncarnivorous leaves? Have you heard of excess phyllode production being blamed on supplemental ferts before? Cheers, Doug dvg |
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Post by stevebooth on Jun 16, 2020 20:55:15 GMT
From what I’ve read, it’s a fine line between sufficient fertiliser for larger/more pitcher production and excess, (although still not full ‘standard’ plant concentration) creating mineral burn. Although I’ve seen nothing that can categorically assert that fertiliser causes additional phyloddia production it seems logical. Plus of course different fertilisers have different mineral contents so it depends on what you start with, and application type I.e. drench Vs foliar Vs slow release pellets.
Hmmm more work required
Cheers
Steve
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Post by dvg on Jun 17, 2020 17:47:06 GMT
I had read that flava and leucophylla as well as their hybrids were known for making phyllodes, and my 'Judith Hindle' has both of those in her composition. I had given her a few weak shots of fertilizer (the same dosage as i've been using on my bladderworts), and since she's flowered, has been making phyllodes, rather than full carnivorous pitchers. Because i only have the one, i'm not sure if it is normal for phyllode growth to be promoted after flowering for 'Judith Hindle' or if in fact my short fertilizing protocol has brought forth those phyllodia aplenty. The good news though, is that there are new growth points emerging from raher surprising places and in such numbers that it looks like someone just kicked an anthill, now teeming with red ants.  As a consequence, i've suspended any further trials this year, until this plant divides, and then a control plant will be available, to compare against any fertilized plants. Cheers, Doug dvg |
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not here it isn't