Fred's Carnivorous Plants and other oddities

[fredg]

This is the second version of a solar water pump in a tray for Darlingtonia. The first version which I placed in an existing planted tray doesn't really allow for a large enough flow through. So this time I have cut off the bottoms of some slated trays  (see photo) at 1" and inverted them to give a good flow through and raise the individual trays to a level they will not be completely flooded. I have not provided any pre-filtration this time as there should be no contamination in the water to deal with. The pump sits end on ( the intake to the bottom) and the output is taken through tubing through the inverted tray bottoms to an elbow joint and then up to a T joint and out to the spray bars. This looks far more aesthetically pleasing than the prototype and should keep the flowing water cooler. The water flow results on this one are excellent and I intend to carry on something similar with a fully planted version in the MkIII. The small planted trays used for the video are not the ones that the set-up is intended for. I have a very nice line in a grey version of the slatted trays which will be planted up with live sphagnum.


A complete tray and a representative example the portion that has been removed from the ones in use. ( So far I have nine of these, if I dispose of them now I know that next week I'll find a use for them)



Is that better Maggi?

Here's a video update on the Darlingtonia House as at 10th March 2015. New growth hasn't started yet but things are looking good for late winter.

[fredg]

The Solar Pumps - The Final Chapter.

This is the final version ( for now) I have decided to go with. The three pumps are now all on this MkIII version. All I need to do now is introduce my seedling Darlingtonia to the Sphagnum baskets. I'll be slipping in a few pots of Cephalotus too.

[fredg]

Not quite final.
Tall trees in neighbours' gardens was cutting out the late direct sun in the west so I have now adapted the holders and swivelled the solar panels directly south.

[fredg]

Sorry but I like to keep occupied 

To parallel my trials of solar powered water pumps I thought I'd see how effective the solar powered air pumps are. So far it's impressive that the pump works albeit at a reduced rate even in heavy cloud so giving a much extended operating time as compared to the water pumps which really need direct sunlight to kick them off.

[fredg]

The first of my flowers for this year which is along way in front of all the rest. This is the first ever flower from this clone. This youngster was taken from the parent plant last year after I accidentally damaged the parent's new pitchers. The parent has never flowered, this year's bud being well behind this one.

[fredg]

I'd given up on seeing this yet again this year. Then came the "WOOT!" moment. ( I think I split my cheeks) ( the upper ones )

[Maggi Young]

An alien being?

[David Nicholson]

An alien being what

[Maggi Young]

An alien being what

.... mysterious   

[David Nicholson]

 

[fredg]

The flower bud of Darlingtonia californica 'Othello', Maggi, which being from the USA is as you say alien. It is anthocyanin free and quite rare in cultivation. This is the first flower bud I've ever seen, I think I've only waited 5 or 6 years to see it on this plant

[Maggi Young]

Very striking even at this stage, Fred. 

[fredg]

Oh did I mention it's possibly the first one to flower in the UK?

[Maggi Young]

No! But I can well believe it.  Well done!

[fredg]

These are flowers from my FG1983 clone. The bracts are a much deeper pink than on any of the other clones I've flowered. ( it doesn't fully show on the photo).