Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

Hello Kevyn,
Did you compare inside with outside temperature ? how much it drop ?

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

In my opinion i don't think its the cooling thats helping it cos 22-25C isn't much of a difference from our normal LL weather....Its probably the humidity inside the setup thats helping the HL neps

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

Just my 2 cents...I've been experimenting with a more 'bare bones' setup to grow H/L CPs and I'd say that the temp doesn't make that much of a difference, but it can be THE difference when it comes to the more extreme H/L plants, at the very least while they are still settling down and adapting to your conditions. My own conditions only drop to around 24-27C, which is even less of a difference from our normal LL weather, but for certain plants like N. villosa and N. aristolochioides which are quite extreme highlanders, they die very, very rapidly under my LL conditions, but with just the small drop which some of you may not even need cooling to obtain, they survive much longer. Since I don't use lighting and air-con destroys my humidity levels, there is only one thing left...temp.

Don't get me wrong though. Humidity makes a HUGE difference and the higher, the better. With higher levels of humidity, even the H/Ls become forgiving of higher temps and unless extremely cranky, can thrive. Many will only pitcher well with high humidity anyway and that in turn leads to more nutrients and better health.

While N. chaniana is a very forgiving plant and can be adapted to LL conditions, N diatas is more on the highland side. It will grow fairly well with just a slight drop in temps, though it does need decent humidity and light levels, or you'll be seeing malformed leaves and pitchers, if any. Given the extremely high humidity you've got, N. hamata might be a good choice actually. Its not very temp cranky and doesn't need extremely high light levels, with just very high humidity it will grow and pitcher well.

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

i agree with ken because the temperature is taken with a normal termometer hanging on the shed on a random day without any data accumulation for comparison. let me work it out on the temperature inside and outside for the setting and i will get back to you guys...the other experiment that i am currently running is more on higher humidity level with less/no air exchange.

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

thanks for the info and explanation...n. chaniana and n. diatas are the current H/L plant that i had and will try to obtain other H/L to keep, other than n. hamata, any other species that might suits our L/L condition?

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

Just a note: N. hamata suits your setup mainly because of the very high humidity. It is not that temp cranky, but needs very high humidity until it gets large. Also, your temps are cooler than normal L/L for sure, while I'm fairly sure hamata will be happy with the cooling, I'm not sure how warm your L/L condition is. Good species to try for your setup would be species around the 1000-1500m range, your chance of success is very high. Species like N. rajah, N. platychila, N. burbidigeae, N. faizaliana, N. vogelii and N. eymae would probably work and they've all got nice pitchers. Cost to obtain is another story, heh.

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

Oh my god!! N.hamata!! But does high humidity without air circulation kill them?

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

Not necessary, Marvin. Nepenthes are humidity lovers. The higher the humidity usually, the more better they grow. For growing highlanders, humidity is one of the MOST important factors. I noticed that my rajah, burbidgeae, maxima and veitchii highlanders didn't really seem to have problems when I forgot to put iced bottles in my HL terrarium set up last time, but one day, when I was testing out my humidity by opening all my terrarium holes.....WHOOSH. Within two days, all my HL neps started to go into suspended growth, with burbidgeae dead first.

I notice though, that lowii is rather picky about temperature. Rajah and maxima can still pitcher under lowland conditions but burbidgeae and veitchii didn't pitcher at all, though they still put out some leaves. Lowii was the first HL nep to die in my terrarium :sad:.

All in all, a HL setup is much more easier if you have high humidity or you can provide it, if you have cooler nights and if you stay in a landed house. Believe me, condos can be very dry and hot during the afternoon.

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

I know...it's a painful 40%..ouch.If you put a terrarium in an air-conditioned room will the temp go down as well? Because one time I was using a glass terra and it was like....hot...at night!

Re: simple setup for H/L neps
 

Actually, I used a styrofoam box, which is very useful for keeping the interior of the box cool. UNFORTUNATELY.......if the box heats up, it's very hard to cool it down too :smile:

I think terrariums will work in airconditioned rooms, so long as humidity is maintained.