Dutchmans Pipe?

[Kyle Barker]

Anyone use this plant in cages? Any hints on getting it to bloom?

Kyle

[Mark Pepper]

HI Kyle, before you read any further what I am about to type is based on very foggy memory work at best.

I think i read somewhere about dutchmans pipe growing in some sort of association with with the root system of certain species of trees, possibly gaining nutruents from the roots themselves, or from fungus growing on the roots. I could be way off here and probably am, but if any of this is true i doubt that they would grow well in the terrarium.

In any case i consider them to be one of our coolest native plants.

[Kyle Barker]

That sounds really interesting. I have grown it in pots, only using crap dirt and fertilizers. If you remember anymore please tell me.

kyle

[Mark Pepper]

Thats very interesting Kyle, I thought that they would have been rather short lived out of their natural environs. I have an article or something about them lieing around somewhere, ill try to did it up this weekend and post some more them

[Kyle Barker]

Ive heard that they are hard to grow also, but i had no problems (really shouldnt of gotten rid of it). The ones at crystal garden are doing GREAT, they are huge, but i would imagine all that light would make anything grow.

kyle

[Mark Pepper]

how were they keeping them at crystal gardens? what were they using for lighting, compact flourescent, natural sun?
thanks

[Kyle Barker]

They were in the butterfly room, ill get pics next time im there. The whole building is glass roof, so TONS of nat. sun. They also have a dozen or so metal halide or sodium type lights in there. Also all 4 sides are glass so light pours in them too. As far as i know they are just growing in normal dirt, ill try to find the gardner. You should see those things, they prune them back every once in a while, and in a few months its like 20 feet again. And they have the NICEST flowers, i dont know how they do it.

kyle

[Mark Pepper]

I wonder if we are talking about the same plant here. Im talking about a small native plant thats pretty near all white, and around 20 " tall...now im confused, what does this one look like?

[Kyle Barker]

http://iloveclicks.com/mgonline/dutchmanspipe02.jpg
Large purple flower, lives in florida.

kyle

[Mark Pepper]

Hey Kyle,

sorry, I was really srewed up on this one, the whole time i was thinking of the Indian pipe plant, Monotropa uniflora not the dutchmans pipe, sorry for the confusions. Shame on me!

[Kyle Barker]

LOL! No prob.

kyle

[Mark Pepper]

thanks for the pic, lol, we couldnt have been talking about two more completely different plants if we tried.

[Duncan]

Hi Mark,

It sounds to me like you're talking about Indian Pipe, Monotropa uniflora. A saprophytic native plant that has no chlorophyl, getting its nourishment from decomposing leaf litter. It sounds like Kyle is talking about Dutchman's Pipe or Calico Flower,
Aristolochia elegans, a vine that grows about the size he described. Incidently, there is another Dutchman's pipe that looks a lot like a bleeding heart.

Hope this helps,

Duncan

[Duncan]

Oops, looks like you beat me to it Kyle!

Duncan

[Kyle Barker]

Got any pics of that bleeding heart one? And yes they are completely different, next time i ask i will include pics from the begin :)

[Mark Pepper]

Duncan, yep that exactly the one i was talking about, thatks for the info.

Kyle, sounds like a plan...next time ill make sure i know what im talking about too lol...no pics of that one either

[Duncan]

Kyle,

I couldn't find a picture but the latin name is Dicentra cucullaria

Duncan

[Kyle Barker]

ok thanks. Ill have to ask around at some garden stores, ill take any excuse to order me up some plants :)

[Duncan]

O.K., now its my turn to get mixed up. The Dicentra cucullaria is commonly called Dutchman's Breeches. Sorry for any confusion. I didn't realize that Dutchman accessorized so much!

DuncaN

[Kyle Barker]

LOL, good point:)

[Kyle Barker]

I loked at the Indian Pipe in hte audobin book. Here is what it says about that living off of roots thing:

These plants were once beleived to absorb all nutrients from the duff, but it is now known that they are associated with a fungus, which obtains nutrients directly from hte roots of green plants. Indian Pipe, therefor, is more of a parasite, with the fungus as a "bridge" between it and its host.

Not too specific but it gives you an idea.

kyle

[Mark Pepper]

hey kyle, thanks for posting that, i thought i read something like like that, nice to know i was not too far off...I dodnt know its relationship with the fungus and then roots was so complex, very interesting.
thanks again,

[havenbounce]

Aristolochia elegans is an evergreen vine with unusual flowers and heart shaped leaves. Calico flower is native to Brazil.

Blooming Time: Flowers are produced throughout the growing season. Flowers look almost like an old night cap or like pipes with elegantly curved stems.

Culture: Aristolochia elegans like to grow in a light and airy place, but not in direct sunlight. Keep summer temperature from 68-78 degrees and winter temperature above 50 degrees. Water regularly during the growth period, once or twice a week. Water no more than once a week during winter. Fertilize with a balanced fertilizer every third watering throughout the growing season. Calico flowers grow best in rich, well-drained soil. Young plants need to be repotted every other year, older plants every 3-5 years. Cut back in fall after blooming.

Propagation: Aristolochia elegans is best propagated by cuttings, but it can be grown from seeds. Take cuttings in fall when flowering is nearly completed. Softwood cuttings should be 4 to 5 inches long. Treat with rooting hormones and place them in a fast draining propagating mix. Put them in a warm place, preferably with bottom heat. Softwood cuttings must be kept moist. Start seeds by soaking in water for 48 hours and surface sow them. Seeds need light to germinate

[Kyle Barker]

Thats perfect!!! Thank you for posting this, really helps:)

kyle

[unknownclown]

I have a couple aristolochia elegans here that I am growing. Outta curiosity I was wondering what sorta cage you would be putting them in . They are very toxic/poisonous plants I found this warning on a site after a search,
Many Aristolochias contain the alkaloid aristolochine and other components - consider all of these plants highly toxic and avoid their use. Incorrect doses can cause vomiting, pain and even death.
I just thought you should know if you havent came across it yet and were planning on putting crickets or anything else that may eat it and transfer poisons to your pets.
I bought mine for my balconey but since I have a 2 year old and rabbits running around on my deck I cant use it for what I bought it for.

[Kyle Barker]

Holy crap, its a good thing they are hard to come by. I havnt even gotten them yet. Yes i was going to use them in a day gek cage, but then the crix would have eatin them. Thank you very much for the warning.

kyle

[Burmies]

I sometimes use fake ones, but never use real ones.

Burmies

[Kyle Barker]

Fake look ok, but to me the plants are just as important as the animals.

[Emily-Fisher]

Those plants usually grow around near trees and are very hard to keep in vivariums. Also, some of those plants only bloom for 2 or 3 days every few years! Maybe your plant is one of those.