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I have planted some Darlingtonia clones in a large green Sphagnum bog last year’s summer. My first experience with Darlingtonia californica. They have survived the winter and have now put up two flowers. Because grown outside through the year plant growth starts late spring. Whereas the green Sphagnum grows like weed. I have heard Darlingtonia will put up new long first pitchers. The old pitchers are starting to overgrow by Sphagnum.

This is my dilemma, will the plant put up new pitchers when Sphagnum is chocking/overgrowing the plants? Should I be concerned and cut down the Sphagnum? Or should I let it all be, and expect normal new pitcher growth peaking through the Sphagnum? For cooling roots Large grow of fresh Sphagnum is ideal. My Preference is letting it all be. What do you think?

Regards,

Youri

While I can't answer your question, I just wanted to say that I want your plants.

I finally made up my mind and decided to give my Sphagnum bog a haircut.
I already saw the first pitcher growth of this year peaking through the chocking Sphagnum bed, but the Sphagnum grows like crazy.
I patted down most of the Sphagnum and cut it where necessary. Also found some stolons to my surprise.
This new setting will probably be beneficial to the Darlingtonia. What do you think?

the results:

Looks fantastic!

How do you keep it so wet? Or well how did you set up your bog container?

I thought Darlingtonia Californica did not like standing in water...
How tall are they (excluding the flower stalks)?
It's a great bog! I wish I had that much live sphagnum moss

I'm going to grow these from seeds/possibly buy one online if I can find a good price.

Do you have any tip highlights as to your secrets to taking care of them? I've read about general care for them, but would like advice from someone that has actually grown it.

bannister wrote:I'm going to grow these from seeds/possibly buy one online if I can find a good price.

Do you have any tip highlights as to your secrets to taking care of them? I've read about general care for them, but would like advice from someone that has actually grown it.

. They are EXTREMELY slow growers! I've got some seedlings right now, and they really won't get much bigger this growing season if they're like the ones I tried last year. Seedlings are also much less tolerant of heat due to the small root system!

Love the bog! I so want another adult Darlingtonia, I thought I'd be smart over the winter and keep it in my bedroom window instead of with my other plants. -.-;; Bad idea, forgot to water too many times and lost it. *sigh*

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LAKJP wrote:I thought Darlingtonia Californica did not like standing in water...

I've not had much luck with them in cultivation, so I can't say how best to grow them, but I have seen them numerous times in the wild and their roots are always in water. But the water is usually running, often times very quickly, so it's not "standing" water.

Matt wrote:

LAKJP wrote:I thought Darlingtonia Californica did not like standing in water...

I've not had much luck with them in cultivation, so I can't say how best to grow them, but I have seen them numerous times in the wild and their roots are always in water. But the water is usually running, often times very quickly, so it's not "standing" water.

I know that already, but I just remembered someone who told me that if the plant stands in undisturbed water, the roots might rot.

Some plants do well in submerged conditions some don't, in fact many cps grow partially submerged in their habitats like d. Intermedia etc

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You don't want to sell any baby ones, do you?

Let me clarify a couple of questions. I started cultivating Darlingtonia last year, so I am no expert in growing this species.
I have experience in Sphagnum growing and I wanted to combine the two. As for the bog setup, it’s a large tub with no drainage holes.
There is a water reservoir on the bottom, connected to a PVC pipe. To keep the Sphagnum fresh, occasional flooding is necessary.
The water you see in the pictures is only there to help patting down the Sphagnum. After all was done, I siphoned the water out through the PVC pipe.
To combine Sphagnum growing with Darlingtonia you have to find equilibrium between flooding and draining water.
As you would with running water, stagnant water must be siphoned out and fresh water must come in through rain or watering.

If you do your thorough research you can see a slight difference in growing experience in the US and Europe. You will find more horror stories in the US keeping them alive.
Probably due to the temperate climate in Europe. They say the roots cannot tolerate heat in summer.

This year I will be experimenting with growing Darlingtonia in full sun. It is still in progress, but when the time is right pictures and experience will be posted.

Advice on keeping them alive, as mentioned above, this will be my second year so only time will tell…

Do you re-use the siphoned out water? Or do you have to get some more water to flood it?
Oh and where do you keep your sphagnum bogs? (location, temperatures, humidity?)

In high school I grew up where Darlingtonia grow wild and had not thought to grow them as potted plants. I had been tought that they grew in shale bogs. It is very interesting to see such small ones growing in pots. There is a place between Grants Pass, Oregon and Crescent City, California on highway 199, where you can see them growing in the wild. It is marked on the road as you are driving as a botanical wayside. I think it is about 30 miles out from Crescent City, near Gasquet. Another place to see them is on highway 101north of Brookings, Oregon, near Port Orford, I think. It has been a while since I have been up that way. The area where my mom and dad's house is, was called Darlingtonia when we moved in in 1967. Good luck with your project!!