It's about time bluemax posted some photos!

[hcarlton]

I need to get my red blush gigantea repotted (actually most of my pings repotted) because I haven't gotten it looking good like that in a while...white flower is getting nearly that large.
D. villosa still high on the want list, and that it's happy in the cold should be expected. Major reason for those hairs, it is one of those species that lives really high up and never sees warm nights.

 

[bluemax]

Yes, I've got pings that need new soil as well so I know what you mean. I was unaware that D. villosa was from high elevations and even knowing that I wouldn't have expected it to be so 'willing'. We don't get many very warm nights here in the pacific northwest, despite having hot weather for up to about 6 weeks per year. I had to import seeds from Australia, surprisingly, to get my hands on the species.

 

[adnedarn]

That blush looks great! I have mine inside, apparently not cold enough since it's never gotten any red gor me. It's a good size though, 6-7", my gigantea red is similar size, rounded leaves too vs the blush. I disnt dig them out for photos and they're both in the back, sorry lol

 

[bluemax]

The Move.

I've been preoccupied with finding a new house and selling the one I've lived in off and on (it was my parent's house) for the last 40 + years. Now the house is sold and I have bought an old Victorian house in Hoquiam, Washington. We (my sister and I) are in the midst of relocating with her stuff gone to her new house in Olympia and mine awaiting transport tomorrow morning. Today I prep the plants for travel, including those in the garage, and also the petiolaris sundews. Here they are sitting in the mostly dark garage waiting. The lights have been removed and packed.



So, if you want to wish me luck in keeping everything alive I would appreciate it. I'm not sure where the garage plants are even going to live in the new house but it has an enclosed sun room that might work out. Tomorrow, Sept. 29 is the big day. The outside and big terrarium plants are already there, and no doubt waiting for a drink. I'm guessing some of you have moved a 55 gallon aquarium tank so you can understand. 'Still not sure what that is going to rest on but the movers get to bring it up to the second floor on the old staircase. 'Lots of fun to come! It may be a few days before I am reconnected to the internet so I'll be unplugged until then. More to come!

 

[Cunka]

Gorgeous plants max, I gotta admit the falconeri is my fav tho I think, has been one for years
Best of luck in the move and I hope everything makes it in one piece. *goes to spray his own Neps and top up the bog planter*

 

[bluemax]

Thanks, Cunka. I'm finally back online and things are progressing and starting to settle. 'Wouldn't want to do that again!

 

[adnedarn]

Yay, im glad it went well!

 

[bluemax]

Yay, im glad it went well!

Thanks a lot, Andrew. I think the plants will do well in the "new" house, being as there are so many windows and window ledges in it. Here's a photo:



I am currently typing this from behind the twin windows on the second floor in the photo. But notice the sunroom, the windowed-in porch on the front of the house. I've got plans... There are plants on the floor in there waiting to get the attention they deserve. I figure it will be a good place to grow winter-growing sundews. Meanwhile, the house needs lots of work so I've got lots to do. More to come!

 

[adnedarn]

Heck yah! Good looking house dude.

 

[bluemax]

A few more photos as I progress and the plants get closer to what they want.

The sunroom, showing the need for shelves and, probably, lights tho' the sun often floods this area on clear days. With the rainy season (something like 6 months long) upon us lights will likely have to be installed.


And the kitchen windows -


Some will likely enjoy this environment and some will probably hate it. Gotta get the 55 gal. terrarium going again!

 

[bluemax]

A Progress Report

I have managed to put up a shelf in the sunroom and now I am trying to determine which plants will like the winter there, and which will not.

Additionally, I have gotten the big terrarium running again. As you can see by the photo it is all about high humidity. Several of the plants have disliked everything else I have given them. It is a good place to start seeds and propagate cuttings, too.

The whole thing was originally put together as a test mule for different technologies but it is, really pretty settled-in. I use various types of lights in an effort to get a balance of the spectrum. I can use anything with a standard, screw-in Edison-type thread.

I have also made a place for the winter-growing tuberous sundews. There is an odd little room off of one of the second-floor bedrooms that doesn't have heat and remains much cooler than the rest of the house but does have a small window. And I've been worried that I wouldn't be able to provide a proper place for the tuberous 'dews. In the second photo you can see new buds getting ready to open.

 

[FrankenSnyder]

Incredible! I've seen "household shrines". ...Household Arboretum?

 

[bluemax]

Ha! Right now I'm just in the 'saving whatever can be saved' mode. I have definitely lost some plants but it hasn't been too bad. Yeah, the house needs a lot of work but it has a lot of space with no real purpose, at least for me. 'Oughta make use of your strengths, I figure.

But, then there's stuff like the stairway banister project. We'll see how this goes...

 

[adnedarn]

Nice man, excited to see it all evolve!

 

[bluemax]

D. cistiflora, purple blooms - after all of these years

After growing this species and form for something like 10 years I finally have a flower. Or had a flower, as it only lasted 3 - 4 days. The room where I am growing my tuberous sundews, which has become my place for winter growers, seems much more to the liking of this species. I really can't say what the important difference is but I'll take it! The plant was not a really large one so neither was the flower, being about 1.5" (3.5 cm) across. Still, pretty big for a sundew flower but not up to the size of the biggest sundew flower. Maybe next year.



The color was a deep, undeniable purple but it looks more pink in the photos.

 

[hcarlton]

Mine has gone from one plant to five, but still waiting on a bloom...similarly the salmon forms get gigantic every year but no flowers yet. Only the cream. I think I needed winter to stay cooler again instead of the record heat we had.