FlyTrapCare Forums

A while back, I planted a large number of capensis "Mini Red" seeds (on 2/15/18). I'm kinda confused with the results. There are two pics below. All the seedlings were from the same batch. First, there's the big red one - it was that oddball seeding that outgrew everyone else and I potted separately on 6/26/19. It's certainly red, but I wouldn't call it "mini". The rest of the seedlings have been repotted over the last couple of months. The second pic is the latest batch - they're just starting the recovery process - but otherwise they're pretty representative of the rest of the seedlings. They're certainly "mini" but a certain amount of that has to be from the overcrowding in the community pot. They're also not particularly "red". However, the only pic I can find of "mini red" online, shows plants that look just like them. Does anyone have experience with this variety? I'd really like to hear from someone who knows what is going on.

BTW, I have a lot of the normal colored seedlings. If it weren't for covid, I'd been giving them away before now. As it is, I'm hoping to do giveaways as soon as I'm comfortable with the idea of leaving my lockdown and venturing to the not-so-clean Post Office.

Probably just genetic variation. I’m guessing mini red is a cultivar so they are probably mini red x self

I'm actually wondering less about the single big red oddball then I am about the fairly consistent small ones with "normal" coloration. Like, are they likely to turn red as they mature? And will they stay "mini"? I know, I know, time will tell, but I was hoping for a preview.

Maybe the smaller ones are harder to turn red than the others. Are they in direct sunlight or really bright artificial light? If not I would adjust a few to direct sunlight and see if they turn red.

I guess it's possible. They're growing in the same bright artificial light as the big red one and a couple of bright red Tamlin's Red. I'm wondering what color they'll be when I can finally start doing giveaways. Other than that, it's just curiosity.

Any update on these? Did they color up and stay small?

Still small (but no smaller than other types of the same age) and still normal coloration.

Unsolicited plug:
Evenwind sent me a Mini Red to test out shipping plants, and here is my unsolicited, unbiased, unhinged, underground, overrated, overzealous, and honest opinion on how it went.

Alrighty.
Miss Red has arrived, and a day earlier than first estimated to boot. Strange for the USPS, but I have noticed that items going east to west move quicker than west to east.
The box was slightly smashed on one side, but that's due to the poor handling en route.
The plant was packed very well. Securely rolled in a ziploc and taped to stay rolled is a great way to keep it from bouncing around the bag. The newspaper to keep the bag stable, but not too much to compress the plant. The plant is in great shape after traveling through NY, NJ, and TN.
I really like the healthy slug of moss around the roots. A slug that was intact due to the aforementioned wrapping and taping. There will still be shock from shipping, but the plant will likely recover in a couple of weeks instead of a couple of months. The addition of a pot was unexpected (another "un" word), but greatly appreciated.
This plant is going to look great next to my typical and Albino Capes.
Thank you.

If the opportunity to trade with evenwind comes your way, rest assured that the plant will be packed and shipped with great care.

Thanks, Dean! As I get my act in gear , I'm planning some "mini red" giveaways. As I said at the top of this thread, I wasn't at all sure of the coloration but I've recently found a second pic that shows similar plants. So both pics and my reality all match. Which is encouraging.

Glad to hear it. I've been recycling some heavy duty cardboard rolls that our essential oils come in. I put the roots in a plug, then paper towel, then ziplock. The whole kaboodle is then passed down through the tube until the leaves are not sticking out but the root is partially inside. Some packing tape and a bubble wrap envelope and it's off to the races. They have worked pretty well so far.

Are you still shipping any out?

If you mean me, for now, I'm waiting for a bunch of small mini reds to grow up a bit.

Ok, cool! Let me know when they grow up, I would love to get one, they seem to be a very interesting clone of capensis

Having any giveaways yet???