|
BACPS | Newsletter |
| Winter 2009 |
| Next Meeting: Saturday, April 4, 2009 |
| Meeting Minutes | |
| Garden Show Thanks | |
| Borneo Nepenthes Tour | |
| How I Got into CPs | |
| Aroid Society Meets at UC Botanical Garden | |
| Upcoming Events | |
2009 show poster by Janet Amaro |
by Geoff Wong
Location: UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley
Program: Nepenthes of Sumatra, by Ron Long
Time: Noon-4:00 p.m.
Ron Long will give a slide presentation on the Nepenthes of Sumatra. He and several other CP enthusiasts had the opportunity to visit the island of Sumatra in Indonesia, guided by CP author Charles Clarke and exotic nursery owner Troy Davis, where they visited the locations of at least 14 species of Nepenthes.
Ron will be showing photos of Nepenthes and the conditions under which they grow, including companion plants, light conditions, temperature, humidity, and type of soil. There will also be pictures of Rafflesia, the largest true flower, and the tree-like Amorphophallus titanum, which produces the world's largest inflorescence. In addition to the plants, we will also see photos of the people who live in the mountains of Sumatra and their culture, village life, and food.
The scenery of the country is beautiful, ranging from thick cinnamon tree forests, to bamboo thickets, to cloud forests. Ron will take us on day trips to the Nepenthes sites, including strenuous jungle trail hikes up the sides of volcanoes and a dugout canoe trip to a remote camp by a mysterious-looking lake inside an extinct volcano.
Come see how Nepenthes grow, and get a taste of the culture of this region on the other side of the world.
Ron has been a longtime carnivorous plant hobbyist and over the years has had the opportunity to visit native locations of several North American Drosera, Dionea, Pinguicula, Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, and Utricularia, in addition to the Sumatran Nepenthes.
Please bring plants for the show and tell table. For this meeting, plants native to Sumatra are especially encouraged.
Donations are gratefully appreciated for the raffle and auction, which are our major fundraisers.
We're trying out a refreshments table and are asking everyone to bring a snack or drink to share. As a token of our appreciation, donors will receive a free raffle ticket.
For directions to the Botanical Garden, visit their website botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu
by Judith Finn
January 24, 2009
Location: University of California Botanical Garden, Berkeley
Attendance: 75+
(For Albert Huntington's photos of the meeting, see the BACPS Picture Gallery.)
Bill Weaver, president of the BACPS, introduced Geoff Wong who spoke about the February 22 talk and slide show that Ch'ien Lee would be presenting, "The Natural History of Borneo." Ch'ien is well known as a longtime member of the BACPS who lives and works in Borneo. He co-authored the book Pitcher Plants of Sarawak and is famous for his photography skills and his many new Nepenthes species discoveries. He will be leading a two-week Nepenthes tour of Mt. Kinabalu (22 species in situ), May 1-14, 2009. To register or inquire, please visit his website, www.wildborneo.com.my/regnep09.php. Bill Weaver went on his previous expedition and vouches that being on a trip led by a master plantsman who knows his territory well makes for a trip of a lifetime!
Bill spoke of the upcoming orchid shows in San Francisco and Cupertino.
Stephen Davis talked about the March 18-22 San Francisco Flower and Garden Show,
which will be held at the San Mateo Event Center this year. We will be
continuing the popular "Sprouts" display, which is
geared towards teaching children about our fascinating plants.
He encouraged us to help by donating free plants for the kids to
transplant. There is much need for help in setting up, tearing down,
manning the display, and loaning nice specimens to wow the crowds.
Also this spring is Bug Day at the Randall Museum in San Francisco
at the end of April.
At our spring meeting on April 4 we will have Ron Long speak about his Sumatra trip with emphasis on Nepenthes. Bill wanted to remind us to start thinking about our annual Carnivorous Plant Show at Oakland's Lakeside Garden Club at Lake Merritt. It is on June 20. He encourages us all to exhibit our prize plants and have them in before 10:00 so that they will be ready for judging. If you can, please arrive early and help with set up. This is our biggest event of the year so it is great to participate -- the more the merrier.
(A list of relevant websites is included at the end of this report.)
The panel consisted of:
I believe this was a balanced panel because it represented people who have to produce plants in large volume for sale as well as those who have to grow diverse plants for exhibit in public gardens. Peter and Mike have to produce totally pest-free plants for export. Judith had to safely preserve rare specimens, but public safety was always a concern. A certain amount of pests are tolerated in a public garden. Kristen has to deal with a no-pesticides-allowed policy in compliance with San Francisco rules. She also has to protect the health of the fragile birds, butterflies, and fish under her charge as well as the general public.
Geoff Wong admirably kept the panel on point. The major topics were to
pinpoint the major pests for specific CPs, effective solutions, and caution
in execution.
Peter started the discussion by pinpointing aphids, mealybugs, scale, thrips, botrytis fungus, and powdery mildew fungus as the chief pests. He pointed out that ants bring and distribute aphids, mealy bugs, and scale. It is paramount, when growing interior plants, to keep the ants out. Ant stakes, bait boxes, and bait granulars rather than the old carcinogen drenches were advised.
Mike said prevention is important. Netting on greenhouse vents excludes a lot of pests from entering the building. Keeping plants outside (Sarracenia) especially in the winter allowed for natural control. Prevention is a key element in pest management. Under greenhouse conditions, it's important to exclude insects to prevent outbreaks. Carefully inspect all new plants to be sure they are pest-free. Fine mesh screens placed on air vents will keep insects from entering from the outside. Under outdoor conditions, it's important to realize that the surrounding areas affect pest populations on your plants. During the winter and spring, when the surrounding vegetation is lush, insect populations are spread out, but during the summer, when native vegetation dies or goes dormant, the insects will concentrate on your plants. Controling weeds and other surrounding vegetation will help control insect populations, and is one effective measure in managing pests.
Kristen showed a toothbrush as her favorite pest control tool. She emphasized learning what pest you have and what predator or parasite could be used to control it. Know how to exclude the pests from your growing area and what your tolerance threshold level is. She relies on UC Davis's IPM website for insect ID. At the Cal Academy she uses strong water sprays and natural biological agents to control problems -- parasitic wasps and predatory mites are her favorites. She also uses Cryptolaemus (mealy bug destroyers). Peter related a funny story about releasing the expensive Cryptolaemus beetles only to find that they ended up being turned into dinner by the Nepenthes. Judith and Mike had similar experiences, so it was agreed that in that case parasitic wasps that are not enticed by the CPs are a better choice.
Peter then cautioned everyone about using oil-based pesticides like liquid forms of organophosphates on CPs. He has had badly burnt plants using these, especially in hot temperatures.
He warns against using systemics because the plants then repel insects that they need to eat. He likes "Take Down Garden Spray" (Monterey) because it couples pyrethrum with canola oil instead of petroleum oil. Kristen said that you should know the safety of the sprays you are thinking of using by going to the website "EXTOXNET" where they show toxicology reports on various chemicals. San Francisco has an approved list of least-toxic pesticides on their website at sfenvironment.org.
Judith warned that even though some products may be gentler on your plants, they may pose other problems such as harming the environment by killing bees. In general, powdered pesticides that can be diluted in water are safer for CP than oil-based. All pesticides should be sprayed at lower temperatures and in the absence of direct sunlight (early morning, late afternoon, or an overcast day). Nepenthes and Sarracenia are far less sensitive to sprays than Drosera and Pinguicula. The last two seem to get aphids on their flowers in the spring. Judith's favorite tool is the widely available brass "fog it" nozzle which she uses to easily eliminate most insects by gently blowing them off the plant. Kristen uses a high-pressure sprayer to eliminate most insects before releasing her biocontrol agents. Peter uses a cotton swab dipped in alcohol to desiccate small localized insects (ammonia glass cleaners can also be a substitute).
Kristin answered a question about thrip problems by saying that she has had
great luck using predatory mites at the Cal Academy, and Spinosad when she
worked at Berkeley. Bill Weaver suggested blue sticky traps and beneficial
nematodes for use in the soil for thrips. These can be purchased at good
nurseries that will store them properly -- away from heat and light.
Sticky traps for whitefly (and fungus gnats) and aphids are also available
in local stores. Mike said keeping the area very clean was paramount, and
Peter favors canola oil. He also uses sulfur for black spot and warns
against products containing copper.
Botrytis fungus is usually caused by warm days and cool nights. For prevention, don't force seedlings. Stale air in terrariums and dead leaf debris can cause fungal problems.
Judith uses a baking soda/soap mix (1 teaspoon baking soda, 2 drops liquid soap to 1 quart water). Spray, but do not allow to get into root system. If this happens, flush growing media with pure water. Peter and Judith have also used Physan (a cleaning solution that kills fungus and bacteria) at low rates. Cloud Cover (an anti-desiccant for transplanting) can be sprayed as a preventative on Darlingtonia,.
Peter reminded us that in nature rain washes off the spores.
Kristen said fungus is hard to reverse, so, if you can keep the plants from being stressed by being mindful of the quality of water, correct temperature, and light, you can prevent many of these problems. Cephalotus is especially susceptible to die-back from phytophora. Growing them in 60% meshed silica sand and watching for the first signs of die-back are important.
Mike said prevention was the best weapon against fungal rot on rhizomes. Cutting out rot, bleaching surfaces, transplanting into clean soil media, and flushing with pure water or rainwater are advisable.
Mike, who has had a lot of experience with fertilizing Sarracenia, said
that fertilizing does speed growth.
When Sarracenia seedlings have two juvenile leaves, you can fertilize with
EC (electrical conductivity) of 0.5 S/m or 50 ppm fertilizer water solution.
When the plants are more mature you can fertilize with an EC of 0.5 S/m or
50 ppm fertilizer water solution.
He suggests using peat (he uses Canadian peat moss) because it has a very high cation exchange capacity, meaning it can store and release an incredible amount of nutrients. When peat moss is submerged in water, the roots are deprived of oxygen, and the plant cannot take up as many nutrients. If you're trying to speed up the growth rate of Sarracenia via fertilizing, it's important to keep the media as wet as possible, but not water-logged. Be careful not to purchase peat moss that has fertilizer added to it.
When fertilizing your plants, it's important to periodically check the pH, which is a measure of the concentration of hydronium ions, or in other words, how acid or basic the soil is. Under very acid conditions, nutrients are "locked up" and not available to the plant. When you fertilize, the pH typically rises or becomes less acidic and more basic. The ideal pH for Venus flytraps, for example, is around 4-4.4 (very acidic). When the pH rises, more nutrients become available to the plant and can cause nutrient toxicity. At this point, it is best to change the soil. Litmus paper is an inexpensive and easy way to measure pH. You can purchase it online -- just do a Google search.
Nepenthes can tolerate more fertilizer (80 parts per million), but then thoroughly drench the pots with pure water for their next watering cycle to flush out the fertilizer. The feeding/starving cycle will encourage the plants to produce pitchers. Nepenthes are notorious for taking several years, if not a decade, to produce specimen-sized plants. In cultivation, when Nepenthes are fertilized, they tend to have lush growth, but seldom form pitchers. So how can you speed up growth and get great pitcher production at the same time? Nutrient deprivation in the soil helps trigger the plants to produce pitchers. In order to manipulate the plant to grow rapidly and produce pitchers at the same time, a feeding/starving cycle is necessary. Fertilize the plants with 50-100 ppm fertilizer. Once a few leaves form, water with deionized water and flush out the nutrients from the soil. This will trigger the tendrils to form pitchers. Once you see the tendrils starting to swell and form pitchers, it's time to fertilize again.
It is critical to measure not only the ppm of salts in the fertilizer water, but
also in the soil. If there is a high concentration of fertilizer building up in
the soil, your plants can be severely damaged.
If your Nepenthes are not actively growing, it's advisable to start with a
lower concentration of fertilizer (i.e., 50ppm), and gradually increase it as
the plant begins to grow faster. A TDS meter that measures the total dissolved
salts in a solution can be purchased online for around $25 or more.
Peter foliar-feeds his plants with orchid fertilizer -- 30-10-10, 20-20-20, or his favorite "Epiphyte's Delight." If the plant is under two years old, he uses less fertilizer. He has burned Nepenthes with too much fertilizer in the soil using Muracid. Everyone agreed that Maxsea (seaweed fertilizer) 15-15-15 should be used once a month.
Lois Ochs fertilizes her Nepenthes with a 10% solution in an atomizer. She also recommends small amounts of osmocote in soil for Nepenthes. Too much kills the sphagnum moss.
Paul Licht, Director of UCBG, warned against build-up of salts with inorganic fertilizers.
Use good peat (low in salts) -- 4.0 pH is ideal (over 5 and you can get burn).
Mike suggests that you leach next time you water with pure water. Peter warned that perlite changes over time and becomes too base. Venus flytraps, which have a 3.8 pH in nature, hate perlite. Peter also warns that fish emulsion has salts, so if you use this product you have to transplant frequently. He sprays outside leaves with 1/2 strength fertilizer -- wet like a drizzle.
For mature carnivorous plants, the following are suggested: bat guano, dried flies, ants, moths, crickets, etc. Some of these items can be obtained from pet stores.
Some of these are safe for the plants but not for mammals, while others are safe for mammals but not for CPs.
Ants
Slugs and Snails
(All of the above ant and snail products should be placed near, not on, the foliage or soil because they will dissolve and be harmful to carnivores.)
Etc.
Fungus
Try beneficial mites for mite problems and thrips and aphidius parasitoids for aphids.
I have only listed a few items from each site. Surf each online store for items that you are interested in and then check out their toxicity for humans and sensitive plants. Feel free to ask us or people with experience if you have doubts. Some of the low-toxicity items and state-of-the-art products are very expensive, but you use very small amounts so maybe sharing is the best way to go.
Cephalotus 'Hummer's Giant,' Nepenthes edwardsiana, and
Nepenthes ramispina were brought in by Max Schaefer, who says that he raises
them in intermediate conditions and feeds them with Maxisea and then flushes
them out the next day with reverse osmosis water.
Doris Quick brought in a Pinguicula 'Pirouette' and a Sarracenia.
Charles Siders exhibited his Wardian case, which contained Drosera capensis, Utricularia sandersonii, Drosera sp., and Pinguicula leaf cuttings.
Lois Ochs generously brought in a multitude of plants. The first group was Utricularia species which she grows in a cold frame, covering each plant with a plastic bottle. They included: Utricularia parthenopipes, U. blanchetii, U. livida, U. microcalyx, and U. cornuta. She also brought in an impressive array of Drosera which included: D. prostratoscaposa, D. purpurascens, D. macrophylla ssp. monantha, D. modesta, D. porrecta "northern form", D. ramellosa, D. lowriei "golden green form", D. lowriei "type," D. lowriei "giant", D. heterophylla, D. zonaria, D. erythrorhiza, D. huegelii, D. humilis, D. tubaestylis, D. erythrorhiza aff. Scott River, D. orbiculata, D. bulbosa ssp. bulbosa "wheatfield form", D. bulbosa ssp. major, D. aff. tubaestylis "Brockton form", D. zigzagia, and D. browniana.
Stephen Davis exhibited his very zen rock with Pinguicula which he grows under artificial lights. He showed how his pygmy gemmae were producing yet more tiny gemmae on a media of peat moss and sand.
This program was organized by Michael Chin and presented at U.C. Botanical Garden. Despite the rain, we had a good turnout for the program. Ch'ien's photographic ability and subject matter were greatly appreciated by the audience. Ch'ien, who has lived and traveled for 12 years in Borneo, has discovered many new species of plants, insects, etc. He began the talk by showing how separation of land masses in the Southeast Asia seas have led to a remarkably distinct division of species. This is known as "Wallace's Line," named after Alfred Russel Wallace whose book The Malay Archipelago is a must-read for people interested in Darwin's evolutionary theories. He presented some of the following facts about Borneo: 222 species of mammals, 600 species of birds, 155 species of snakes, 109 species of lizards, 150 species of frogs, 60,000 species of insects, 2,000 species of trees, 15,000 species of plants, 2,000 species of orchids, and 70 species of bats.
He photographically captured many animals and insects by hiding in a portable tent made of natural materials. He used camera traps and active infrared beams for night shots.
He showed us closeup shots of orangutans, proboscis monkeys, civets (type of mongoose), Borneo clouded leopard, and hornbills. Ch'ien caught in mid-flight a flying gecko, flying frog, flying lemur, and a gliding snake showing their acrobatic skills. The spitting fish that aims and dislodges insects from above the water was amazing. He then showed the wonderful mimicking insects that hide in the shape of moss, leaves, bark, etc., like the stick insects, the orchid mantis, and the Borneo leaf frog. For the CP fans in the audience he showed pictures of Nepenthes rajah, N. vetchii, and N. murudensis. He explained how when the peristome on the lip of the pitcher gets wet, the insects hydroplane and slide into the pitcher. He then showed us photos of the largest flower in the world -- Rafflesia. The 20 species stay in bud for up to eight months and then open for only three days.
After seeing all this beauty we were told of the grim details of environmental degradation in Borneo: 80% has been logged, and the people still set fire to the vegetation to clear it for huge oil palm plantations. They drain the rich peat swamps and harvest the peat. You can find out more at the World Wildlife Fund website Heart of Borneo. Even though you might have missed this wonderful show, you can still see Ch'ien's wonderful photos at www.wildborneo.com.my/gallery.php.
by Doris Quick and Stephen Davis
We have just wound up another stint at the San Francisco Flower and Garden Show. Lots of baby VFTs and Drosera were dispensed to the local children. Our new location was not in the traffic stream, so people didn't just come upon us. They actually had to come into the room to see what was there. Because the space was better defined than in the Cow Palace, people lingered longer. They could let the kids color our pictures, visit the booth across from us, etc., while they asked lots of questions about the plants. It was a bit of a haven from the crowded main rooms.
We owe thanks to a lot of people:
There were some tense moments shortly before the show, when Margaret Boomer got word that the
nursery we were buying the VFTs from had lost every plant in the greenhouse. Lois Ochs
was able to supply us with the VFTs, and David Connor donated a whole flat of
Drosera he weeded from his greenhouse.
We got a lot of volunteers to man the booth, and we are sorry we didn't have enough tickets so more people could help. Many of those who helped were new members and members who aren't able to make a lot of meetings. Thank you to everyone who helped spread the word about CPs and got those plants potted up for the kids.
Special thanks go to: Harry Tryon, who not only did two shifts, he picked up the 400 VFTs from Lois for us to give the kids. Tony also did two shifts and brought several plants for display. Max (we're sorry we don't have your last name, but everyone will know the guy with the incredible dish gardens) brought some individual plants and a beautiful terrarium, complete with pond. Peter D'Amato sent some great specimens. The Darlingtonia was a big hit with everyone. We missed connecting with some other members who offered plants. We appreciate their offers and will be sure to include them if we do this again. Dorey Taylor was a real life-saver. He picked up the giant plant models from the warehouse, delivered them to the show, and will be returning them for us on Monday. Bill Weaver did our copying for us again this year and graciously changed his shift when asked.
The show has been sold, which is good news. It will go on being held every year. We hope Kay, the producer, and Cassie, the coordinator, will continue to be part of it. They have been terrific to work with.
This is beginning to sound like an Oscar acceptance speech, but each of you really are appreciated. Thanks to everyone who helped.
by Geoff Wong
If the slide presentations last year by Bill Weaver, Gina Morimoto, and Arthur Yin ignited your thirst for a Nepenthes adventure, here is your chance. Ch'ien Lee, well-known Malaysia naturalist and wildlife photographer, will be leading a tour to see some of the most amazing Nepenthes species and spectacular scenery on the island of Borneo.
The trip will depart from Kuching on May 1, 2009, and end in Kota Kinabalu on May 14. Below are excerpts from trip descriptions.
"The island of Borneo harbors some of the richest ecosystems in the world, and it is also the famed home of some of the most incredible carnivorous plants, Nepenthes, with 36 recognized species. This guided trip has been custom tailored to provide an unparalleled opportunity to visit these Nepenthes pitcher plants in their natural habitats."
"This two-week trip will take the group through pristine forests in Sarawak, including visits to Bako, Gunung Mulu, Lambir, and Pulong Tau National Parks, and then to the famous Gunung Kinabalu in Sabah. In addition to enjoying wildlife spotting, over 25 species of Nepenthes will be observed in their natural habitats, including: N. bicalcarata, N. campanulata, N. faizaliana, N. hurrelliana, N. lowii, N. rajah, N. villosa, and many others."
For more information visit the website www.wildborneo.com.my/trips.html.
by Pat Kite
Garden book author and garden column writer, Tri-City Voice, etc.
Many years ago, I was teaching a journalism extension class. One of my students, knowing I liked plants, said I should meet this guy who grew meat-eating plants. I thought this was so weird, but as a writer I was always looking for a good story. So I visited Joe Mazrimas. He had me stick a finger in a pitcher plant. I was soooo scared it would eat my finger. Of course, it didn't. I sold my "scared" story to Highlights for Children, got involved with BACPS, have Nepenthes meandering up my kitchen window, wrote a kids book on CPs, and in general have been a member ever since and a CP fan indeed.
by Albert Huntington
The International Aroid Society has long had a strong cell of membership in California, and recently, local enthusiasts have organized to form the West Coast Chapter of the IAS. Carnivorous plant fans may also be interested in Aroids, a large family of monocot plants, many of them weird, and a substantial number of which have formed complex associations with their pollinators, including some floral trapping mechanisms.
Aside from the many popular tropical Aroids we use as houseplants like Anthurium, Aglaonema, Philodendron and Monstera, a surprisingly large number of Aroids are adapted to growing outdoors in our west coast climate. From Arisaema (Jack-in-the-Pulpit) to Zantedeschia (calla lilies), there's something in the Aroid family for everyone on the west coast. The famous titan arum, Amorphophallus titanum, is in the Aroid family.
The inaugural meeting was held on March 8th, 2009, at the UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley where choice plants were offered for sale and attendees were treated to a behind-the-scenes tour of the greenhouses. The meeting was well attended and included a number of BACPS members. Pictures from the meeting can be viewed at www.aroid.org/westcoast/.
The time and location of the next meeting are yet to be determined, but interested parties can stay up to date by visiting the local website at www.aroid.org/westcoast/ and contacting Dan Levin (levin@pixar.com) to be put on the e-mail list. Meetings will be about twice a year, and no dues are charged. Those interested in the family may also want to join the International Aroid Society, which publishes a yearly journal and quarterly newsletter. More information is available at www.aroid.org/society/joinias.php.
April 25, 2009: Bug Day at the Randall Museum, San Francisco
June 20, 2009: BACPS Annual Show and Sale, Lakeside Park Garden Center, Oakland
July 18, 2009: Summer BACPS meeting, California Carnivores, Sebastopol. Potluck lunch social.
November 21, 2009: Fall BACPS meeting, University of California Botanical Garden,
Berkeley
All photos -- Tony Gridley
The BACPS Newsletter is a quarterly publication produced by the Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society. Please send newsletter submissions to Tony Gridley (tgridley@comcast.net). For more information on membership, subscriptions, or events, please visit our website: www.bacps.org.