Darlingtonia Scottish Clone x Suisiaw Giant #1

Care instructions

How we grow Darlingtonia?
In-vitro plants are acclimated in a Grow Chamber with controlled temperatures and humidity. This indoor setup ensure an easy adaptation to extra-vitro condition, guaranteeing the best conditions for plants in this delicate stage. All plants available at the Diflora shop have been acclimatised for at least 3 months. After this first step the plant is bringed outside, under direct sunlight with the classic tray system as watering method and so, keeping always some amount of water in the tray. As with the majority of carnivorous plants, we use distilled water produced by our reverse osmosis system.

Lighting:
They appreciate lots of sun but you may have more success growing it in morning sun only or filtered all day sun. Is recommended to wet with fresh water in the warmer summer months to avoid excessive temperatures that may stunt the plant’s growth. Darlingtonia is very sensitive to high temperatures.

Watering:
Darlingtonia lives in streams in which fresh water always flows so it likes to have water in the saucer (3-4 cm of distilled water). In winter if temperatures go below freezing, it is better to remove the saucer and water daily from above to prevent freezing. In summer, on the other hand, it is recommended to keep plenty of water in the saucer and water them frequently from above with cool water to avoid the high temperatures that are not tolerated by Darlingtonia. This serves to faithfully imitate the natural environment in which they live. It is important to use only distilled water or alternatively all waters that have an extremely low mineral salt content. For example rainwater or all condensation water (air conditioner, dehumidifier). It’s important that the conductivity measures below 50 micro-Siemens.

Substrate:
Darlingtonia does not tolerate nutrients. We avoid peats with neutral pH or nitrogen fertilisers, which are often found in potting soils for acidophilic plants. The peat must be pure, the Darlingtonia substrate we recommend is 50% pure acid sphagnum peat and 50% perlite.

Seasonality and temperature:
Darlingtonia is a carnivorous plant from temperate climate, it’s grown outside all year long, under direct sunlight both in winter and in summer. The plant starts to sprout out from late February, and continue to grow until late October when the cold temperature become more and more strong. In late autumn many of the pitchers will turn brown and die back. Leave them outdoors in full sun and wet with distilled water during this period. If you live in an area that snows, over winter them indoors on a sunny windowsill in an unheated room or garage. Still sitting in full sun and distilled water. Darlingtonia stores energy in an underground stem, and lets the aerial part die with the arrival of cold weather. Don’t be alarmed the plant is fine and should be hydrated. In spring, as temperatures rise and the hours of light increase, the traps will spring back and the plant will start to vegetate again. In this period is very sensitive to heat especially in the roots. Warm roots can kill them quite rapidly.

Additional info:
For more cultivation information visit our care guides or use our plant care support by writing to ilpigliamosche@diflora.it