FlyTrapCare Forums

why do some VFTs stand up and some lay flat?

i dont really know that's just how they r

something to do with the area and conditions

Well, most VFTs stand up in the spring and early summer and lay flat in the early spring, late summer and all winter.

However, some VFTs always grow upright and some always grow low to the ground. I think that's mostly genetic.

ok thanks ive got a stander and a sitter

when they come out of dormancy they seem to know there are more flying insects

In most VFT's Winter/Spring leaves seem to be shorter and wider - perhaps to collect more sunlight for photosynthesis during the months that have shorter day lengths. Summer leaves do get longer and thinner - the surface area of the leaf is reduced as is moisture loss through the leaf, some would say that a thinner leaf also catches less sunlight and is less prone to sunburn.

linton wrote:In most VFT's Winter/Spring leaves seem to be shorter and wider - perhaps to collect more sunlight for photosynthesis during the months that have shorter day lengths. Summer leaves do get longer and thinner - the surface area of the leaf is reduced as is moisture loss through the leaf, some would say that a thinner leaf also catches less sunlight and is less prone to sunburn.

Linton's explaination for the reason they change leaf forms at different times of the year make sense to me. Descriptions of most cultivars are described as a "Dimorphic Rosette". That's just a fancy way of saying they have two different growth form (flat and upright) at different times. But come cultivars have only one growth form (Monomorphic). 'Big Mouth" and 'Low Giant' are examples of varieties that only grow low short leaves, so genetics plays a big part in the growth habitat.

Brad