vtf dormancy and root crown cutting question.

21 years ago

i've been trying to get my one and my only vft into dormancy, but the problem is that it doesn't seem to want to do so. i'm concerned as it was purchased last august (2004) and seeing as i didn't know what i know now back then, i merely let it 'stay up' the winter. no harm done, as it was a young plant and used the energy nicely. but here we are and its mid october and it has little sign of wanting to go into dormancy, and i fear its using up its remaining energy quickly.

its currently in a windowsil that gets about 10 hours of indirect light all day, and at night, to simulate 'cooling climates' i leave the window open, and it drops to roughly 10 C; or about 50 F or so for my american allies. it gets watered using room temperature RO water about once a week, also to stimulate it into realizing that its 'dormancy' is approaching.

I've been giving it these conditions for about three weeks now and if anything, its responded anything but favourably. Its heads are thriving on their thick stalks, and i've noticed a small crop of tiny green stems pushing up, as another plant is growing under the soil beside it; it appears the rosette budded.

my questions are as follows:

1) would it be favourable to use more extreme measures, such as leaving it fully outside for a few nights? (we've been getting on and off frosts)

2) should i attempt to remove the budded plant now and repot them both into seperate pots and then attempt the dormancy?

3) am i doing anything wrong anyone here can see?

thanks a million for any follow-up assistance anyone can give me.

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Comments (5)

necro1234
21 years ago
Hi

Well my VFT is in an unheated garage, it also is not showing any signs of dormency as yet.
Im just going to let nature take its course, Im sure yours would be fine left as is, when the temp drops low enough the plant should kick into hybernation if it chooses too.

Cheers

Sheldon
xpochian
Original Author
21 years ago
darn my patience; i'm probably just worried is all, it being my eldest and healthiest plant.

i'll eventually have to move it indoors, as it will get to about -15 to -20 C for a good few months here, thankfully windchill not included.

and as for the rosette sprout, i should just leave it? i was hoping it could remove it now and get it to take to a small pot and hopefully, it'd be a 'clone' just in case the parent didn't make it. i suppose its better to leave well enough alone?
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necro1234
21 years ago
Well I dont see harm in removing it if the plant appears healthy still.
If it does not have many leaves and is looking like it could not do without it then no.
But if in your opinion it is still healthy looking then Im sure you could take a cutting and root it.

It would be your call though.

Cheers

Sheldon
xymox
21 years ago
Hello xpochian ,

You should never force your VFT to go dormant. Most of the times when people force their plants to go dormant, they result dead. If your plant is still recently growing, let it grow, maybe it is not ready to go dormant yet.
Last night when i went to Home Depot, i purchased a small, helthy Vft clump for $5.68. The small plant is growing in a small 3" pot. I am letting it grow in its small pot. Since i bought it last night and it's October, i am allowing the small plant skip this winter's dormancy Until next 2006 Winter. I am currently growing it under lights.

If your plant doesn't choose to rest, let it be. I used to place my Vfts(when i had a few) inside a zip-lock bag and placed it in the fridge from lat october to late february. But i don't do that anymore because i got so many plants and my mom gets pissed off if i placed some inside the fridge(it takes off space). so i grow my plants outdoors ALL year long; meaning, that they're outside during the mourning, noon and night, even when it rains. Vfts love full sun after a rainy day because of the humidity.

At the moment, 75% of my plants are dormant, these inculde the ones outside. My small vft seedlings that i grew from seed are growned under lights.

So my advice to you is to let the plant alone until it falls dormant. After it grwos back again, you should repot it and make division cuttings to make new plants. If you 'want it to go dormant' the leave it outside, or open your window sill wheere it is currently growing. It will not make any difference, but your plant will appreciate some chilly winds from outside the window sill. Just keep growing your vft the same way, just open the window sill or grow it outdoors. Never disturb a plant's active growth, if you do cuttings as the plant is growing, you may lose all of the plants including daughter plants. Sometimes the growth crowns don't have their own roots, so it is better to wait until they grow back from their dormancy rest.
xpochian
Original Author
21 years ago
sounds like a plan. i was a little skeptical of abruptly ending its sunny days and tossing it into the fridge. this is my eldest and 'first' plant since i've gotten back into the cp scene; i'd hate for it to wither and die and my girlfriend who picked it out for me would be devastated - she does treat it like its a small and immobile family pet.

its in a chilled windowsill that gets a solid amount of light, as well as a nice drop down to a frost-free 10 C to 15 C or so each night. i'm only worried as this vft was bought last october and 'stayed up' all winter until now. i'd hate for it to die, because of any neglect on my behalf.

i've also been reading and it mentioned waiting on the rosette cuttings until the plant is just about to come out of spring-time dormancy, if it does look strong enough and has a seperate root system. i'm still debating this, assuming my plant does go dormant this year.

thanks again all,

x.