Darlingtonia californica

[DerbyCityNeps]

ok i might just get a Darlingtonia Californica(cobra lily) and i was wondering since i am a beginner how hard it is to grow them rate them 1-10, 10 being hardest

 

[endparenthesis]

Totally depends on your medium and watering and location I think. If it's indoors, is planted in LFS, and is watered very frequently (maybe in a self-watering pot as well), I would say it's a 2 or 3.

 

[DerbyCityNeps]

thanks

 

[Clint]

1 for me. dont even water mine as it's in a stream.

 

[Gemini528]

Hi Glider! I'm sort of a beginner too (I just started growing CPs this year). I'd rate Cobra Lily a 3 even though I don't have it anymore. It was doing very well and producing many of its "pitchers" until I went on a trip and didn't have it watered. I think with you growing other CPs, it shouldn't be too hard to grow Cobra Lily.

 

[elgecko]

My growing experience would be like this.
Outside in PA full sun all day - 10 (Killed 2 when trying to grow them outside)
Inside - 1

 

[seedjar]

Welcome to the forums, glider. I'm raising D. californica from seed, and would rate it as a 1. They're rock-solid, even in poor light conditions. D. californica are supposedly easier to grow from seed than from nursery plants; some people have difficulty with them.
~Joe

 

[endparenthesis]

Mine were growing like crazy until I repotted them in a taller pot (thus a lower water table) and they've suffered ever since. I don't know if they're just going into dormancy (temperatures and such haven't changed, but they might just 'know' it's the season), but it seems to indicate the wetter the better.

 

[jimscott]

Quote[/b] (JustLikeAPill @ Oct. 30 2005,7:36)]1 for me. dont even water mine as it's in a stream.

Tempting.... so tempting!

Check this topic out for grins, chuckles, and maybe a bit of education:

A Cobra Lily is your friend

Seriously, I found a decent plant to beign with, this time, and am having success by placing its pot in a vase. I top-water it every day, enough to wet the soil and empty the water when the pot is submerged in water. I kept at the lab in which I work, at a window sill. When the daytime temps were finally cooled enough to be that of the outside, I took it home and placed outside, easing into dormancy. That has worked well for me. No more streams!

 

[Alvin Meister]

In live sphagnum moss, in a pale pot, with a high water table: 1. Even in 35C heat.

 

[Anoxos]

Ditto. Pale pot, LFS only, chilled distilled water, indoors, a 1.

Bought in a 4" Lowe's cube in May, now crowded in a 7" pot, vigorously pitchering, and sending out runners to the edges of the pot. In spring I'll repot it into a larger pot and separate the runners. But I'll try to keep pot depth fairly consistent to help maintain the water table at a comfortable level. I may try one indoors and one outdoors next year just to see how they do comparatively.

 

[chloroplast]

I give it a 3.

Indoors, 4" under 80W cool fluorescent lights, 14h photoperiod, 60-85F, 60-85% humidity, white pot with 1:1 peaterlite, tepid water 1/2 way to top.

 

[CopcarFC]

Quick question, do Cobra Lily's go dormant? I have one growing outside and I am wondering if I should treat it like a VFT or just leave it out there since I live in an area where Sarr's grow in the dirt year-round.

-Rail

 

[Alvin Meister]

Yes, they go dormant.

If you grow in an area sarracenias do, why do you treat your VFTs differently?

 

[CopcarFC]

I CAN LEAVE THEM OUT!?!?!?!?  OMG are you sure?

-Rail

 

[elgecko]

Quote[/b] (CopcarFC @ Oct. 31 2005,6:48)]I CAN LEAVE THEM OUT!?!?!?!? OMG are you sure?

-Rail

Sure can.
Like I posted earlier that I grow mine inside. It stays inside up to fall. Then I move the plant outside with the sarr's and VFT's so it can get ready to take it's winter nap. I leave all the plants outside till the temps get to the freezing point. Then I move them into my unheated garage till temps warm up in spring.

 

[CopcarFC]

WOW, I had no idea, and here I was worrying about what to do since they are begining to go dormant. Nice to know that I don't have to worry.

-Rail

 

[LLeopardGGecko]

I just got a Cobra Lily from Home Depot today. Should I put it through dormancy or skip it this year?

 

[chloroplast]

I also got one of mine smaller ones from HD. I let it skip dormancy the first year and it did fine.

 

[LLeopardGGecko]

Ok, thanks chloroplast.