Darlingtonia

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Californian Darlington: photo of a plant

Darlingonia is an extremely unusual and exotic plant. Let's figure out how to care for and reproduce it.

Darlingtonia: Fun Facts

Californian Darlington: photo of a plant

This plant is not so named by chance. In its appearance, it really resembles a snake that is preparing to attack. This is a carnivorous plant, a rather rare genus of Sarracenia. Also, the darlingtonia plant is under close protection, since there are not many of them left in the whole world. By the way, they grow only between the two states of America. Due to their unusual appearance, these plants were poached. Depending on external factors, they can reach one meter in length, and the flowers of this plant can reach six centimeters in diameter.

Darlingtonia: plant description

As a house plant, Californian Darlingtonia is quite rare, because it is under protection and it will not work out or collect seeds just like that. Plus, this plant is difficult to care for and requires special attention from the owner. Not every gardener can cope with darlingtonia. Most often it grows in swampy areas. The plant has leaves that have taken the shape of an attacking snake. They are divided into two parts. Darlingtonia is like a snake with a swollen neck. This plant is wild, catches victims, namely, lures them with its smell. On the inner turn of the flower there are glands that secrete the so-called nectar, which attracts insects to its trap.

This darlingtonia plant has its own trick. On the surface of the leaves, namely the walls, there are hairs. They allow insects that came to the smell of nectar to crawl only inside the plant, which means to death. Insects fall into a trap from which there is no way out. The plant has very poisonous juices that dissolve insects. This is how Darlingtonia gets the necessary substances for existence.

However, this plant only lacks food like that of predators. It gets its main food from the ground through its roots. In mid-June, very beautiful yellow and red flowers appear at the ends of the stems. They are somewhat similar to water lilies that look down. Since Californian Darlingtonia is a wild plant, keeping it at home is very difficult, but possible. He feels best in greenhouse boxes that protect him from temperature extremes. They also grow well with moss and leaves. During the period of their rest, you can turn off the light, there is nothing wrong with that. Since California darlingtonia is a marsh plant, you need to choose the right land for keeping a house. Peat mixed with sand is suitable.

Features of growing darlingtonia

The location of the Californian Darlingtonia plant should be in the light, but in the summer it is worth protecting it from direct sunlight and rearranging it to another place. In winter, do not blast it with cold, but it can be calm in the cool. Darlingtonia loves light and should be kept in the light. Since this is a plant from a swamp, where it is always in moisture and water, it is very demanding for watering. You can water it yourself regularly, but if you are not at home all day, the plant may die. There is an option to put the pot in a bowl of water. The plant itself will absorb liquid and this will simulate a swamp.It is recommended to use water infused, not fresh. As for the air, here, as in a swamp, a fairly humid or average humidity air is suitable, the main thing is not to dry. Californian darlingtonia is propagated by seeds, but at home it is very difficult to do this and there is a small chance that it will work. The best option is division. It should be held in the spring.

Darlingtonia care

If you are going to keep Californian Darlingtonia at home, then you should find a place where it will be humid, cool and not very bright. It is necessary to simulate the conditions of the swamp. It is worth remembering that the bright rays of the sun harm this plant, since there are no direct rays of the sun in the swamp and they are not used to them. It is better to insist on water for the same reason that the water in the swamp is not clean and they are not used to it. She needs to brew for at least a day. When transplanting, it is recommended to use specialized soil for growing azaleas. The best temperature for darlingtonia is eighteen degrees.

If the darlingtonia plant is already old, then in winter it needs peace. Rest means a temperature of ten degrees, moderate watering and soft light. It is better to transplant the plant once every three years, it does not need more. If you find pests on a plant or in the ground, then it is worth treating it with infusions and decoctions of insecticidal plants. This is all because our plant does not tolerate chemistry and killing pests with it is the same as killing the plant itself. If you decide to treat with chemistry, then it is best to reduce the dose by half that indicated by the manufacturers. But even this does not guarantee that the plant will tolerate this chemistry.

Reproduction of darlingtonia

As mentioned above, California Darlingtonia is best propagated by seed, but only in its natural habitat. When germinating, light is needed, which is why they are not covered with earth. You also need to remember that young plants should not have rest and they do not need coolness in winter.

Important features and characteristics

California Darlingtonia has the most unusual appearance and is at the stage of extinction, which is why it is under strict protection. It feeds on insects according to the scheme of all plants of this species, lures with nectar and dissolves with juice in its stomach. It grows in wet meadows. In length, the California Darlingtonia is a decently tall plant, since its growth reaches one meter. The flower of this plant is curved inward, the passage for insects is decorated with two bright petals. Its peculiarity lies in the fact that it is the petals of this plant that transmits light through the petals and it turns out that these spots of light attract the attention of insects very much. They fall under the petals and cannot go anywhere. Since the petals are covered with hairs in one direction, which prevents insects from getting ashore. The flowers of the Californian darlingtonia are not striking, although they reach six centimeters in diameter.

As a result, we can say that Californian Darlingtonia is a very unusual plant. Yes, it is wild, rare and very exotic. Such a plant is difficult to find for planting at home, but if you find it, it will be very cool. In care, of course, this plant is whimsical, since the atmosphere at home is not a typical habitat and you have to work hard with it. But the derlingtonia plant is very beautiful and worth the trouble.

California Darlington: Plant Video