wild vs home grown Sarracenia

[richs]

I wanted to know from Floridian (and other southern growers) that go out and see Sarracenia in the wild - what differences you see in soil consistency, water retention (does the site area really hold water or is it on the drier side?) and how well you can translate that into growing conditions for your own plants - I also wanted to know if any of you encounter Exyra moths (I don't have that problem here) and what do you do about dealing with them, do you go with a systemic insecticide for something that is doing that kind of damage or do you use something else a little more "mellow"? What differences do you find between what you see in the wild vs your own plants? Here, in Sacramento, it's WAY too hot to grow Darlingtonia, but I've been to a few sites here in Northern California, and the water in one area ALONE they were growing in was freezing!! One site had them chain linked across a small waterfall, and just below that a log had fallen across and had water running all over it, and a colony of Darlingtonia had taken that spot as well - they were gorgeous, it was late July, and that was probably some of the coldest water I have ever felt! Yet Butterfly Valley has a large "canal" that water flows through, not overly cold but you could see that where the canal is - the plants grow profusely, even in the shade, whereas down below, the plants were drier, but seemed to lack the same vigor as the plants 20' away, yet were smaller and more colorful as they were in the sun. I ended up giving the plant I had to a hobbyist in the mountains, as mine had a good run for about 2 1/2 years, but they seem to run out of steam here - unless you have a state of the art greenhouse. I had mine in a large clay pot, wrapped in a huge wad of New Zealand sphagnum and was watered 2-3 times daily when warm with cold ro water, not to mention packing ro ice around the base as well as the plant area itself. So I'll enjoy 'em in the wild....and wait for that state of the art greenhouse I'll get when we're 90!
s827.photobucket.com/albums/zz198/krakatoa_album/Butterfly%20Valley%20Preserve%202010/

[Brian Barnes]

Hi Rich,

I've seen a few different soil consistencies while studying Sarracenia in the wild, mostly consisting of organic dietris and fine sand. As one travels to the extreme west Fl. panhandle and up wards into Alabama, the soil contains a little more clay/iron oxide and the sand is more course it seems. S. alabamensis habitats are known for their high clay content soils. However, I have my greatest success it seems, with the tried and true 2/3 peat to 1/3 sand growing mix with all Sarracenia species, in my conditions.



Depending on weather patterns, (which this year has been unusually dry) they are usually in lower wet bog areas or savannas that usually become much drier in Winter during dormancy. However, S. minor does seem to enjoy drier conditions 'in situ' year-round...and in cultivation as well, since the growth points tend to be right at or slightly below soil level.

I've never had trouble with Exyra moths within my collection, but I imagine that plants poached from the wild may contain the larvae, which could then lead to an infestation of said pests. Another good reason to purchase artificially propagated plants from reputable dealers...

[richs]

Amazing how the soil looks to be solid clay! It's funny how in the wild, they'll grow in that soil, yet, if you took that same type of consistency, and put home grown plants in it, they would probably rot! Is that soil sticky, or very thick!? I know, due to topography, soils change region to region - is that the same kind of soil that S. oreophila grows in?
As far as Exrya moths go - over where you are at, does it matter if the plants are wild or bought from reputable dealers? I mean a host/food source is a host/food source, yes? Do they only effect wild pitchers, as opposed to the healthier specimens in your own yard?

[buckcity]

My family in south Georgia have Sarracenia flava and minor growing wild on their properties and the soil is sometimes solid red clay. It might be topped with a thin layer of sand.

Here in Lake City, Florida (Columbia County) the Sarracenia minors grow in thin sand-sometimes with little organic matter at all.

I recently saw a couple of minors growing almost in the center of a dusty road. I stopped and photographed them. The soil was compacted and very hard-utterly dry. Poor little plants. They must get periodically scraped. Out of adversity they were surviving and were two of the few in the local national forest that are ruby red.

[richs]

I love it!! I would love to see these guys in the wild! It's amazing what they will grow in the wild as opposed to our back yards - I think that's AWESOME you have plants on family property - have you ever planted a few Sarrs out there to see if they would take? Also, those ruby red minors sound gorgeous, does the sand stay relatively wet?

[buckcity]

Those sarracenia in the forest used to have wet feet all the time. Their home is bone dry at the present.

North Florida has had several lengthy droughts and we are parched again. Little rain and when it does rain the aquafer is so low that water doesn't stay on the surface for very long-especially in hot weather.

Why is this? Population explosion. Research suggests that the massive Duval County (Jacksonville)populace is draining the aquifer.Also that damned El Nino/La Nina screws with our percipitation.

There was a time when I was a kid that Sarracenia would have lived on my property or my parents with no problem. Maybe I will install an artificial bog one day.

However, in south Georgia , where my cousins, etc. live rainfall more regular- in fact I took a surplus Sarracenia 'Scarlet Belle' and did plant it in the ground at my aunt's home and it is thriving.