Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Hi everybody,

I recently purchased a N. sumatrana (medium) from Fauzi (19th Aug), after I repotted it, the plant seems like in "hang" mode, plant and leaves looks fine, just no growth at all. :crying:

Is that a normal behaviour for sumantrana or am I just not patient enough ?? :biggrin: Need more time ?? :confused:

Any tips on how to grow sumantrana will be greatly appreciated. Thanks !! :smile:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Hi,

Fauzi told me that make sure their roots are not entangle together during potting. If you spread out its roots in the sphagnum moss during potting, they will recover faster or maybe they will not show any ill effect at all.
And it is true, I bought a sumatrana from Fauzi in May, and it takes only few days to recover from stress, and started to grow.

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

I bought a sumatrana from MT once before. To me this is quite a slow growing plant and it takes a long time for it to acclimatise to my growing conditions. But once it gets use to your growing conditions, it'll start growing new pitchers and leaves.

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Hi

I just got a bical cutting about 4 days back and so far its still doing good no leaves dying because of stress but like cpnut says hasn't been showing any signs of growth yet at the moment.I guess its still to early.I've been thinking on getting a (BTW its N sumatrana not sumantrana).But after the bical i just got it will be some time before my parents would allow me to get a new plant.I might be going to Hee nursery on the 20th or this saturday depending if my dad is free or not,they sure do sell a number of nep species there for a normal nursery there seem to be a lot more variety.Any other local nurseries near my area which u guys would recomend to buy neps????

Cpnut
Just give some time for it to recover it will be fine since it hasn't show any signs of dying leaves or pitcher.You definitly have more experience than me la in growing neps.

Ken

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Thanks everybody for your input.

Ken,
Thanks for the correction, I don't think I got more experience than you in growing neps if I can't even get the spelling correct... :blush: :laugh:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Hi

Nah spelling doesn't matter that much anyway (not saying that we should all spell wrongly)I only have 2 years of growing neps.I spend my 1st year of neps with 2 neps a ventrata and a N uknown?I may wanna post it in an id corner to id it.

Ken

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

Hi everybody,
Can anyone shed some light on the growing preference for sumatrana? Like light requirement and potting mix (drier, intermediate or wet??). :confused:

I read from some where saying the juvenile plant preferred more shaded condition..... Thanks. :smile:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

You should pay a visit to fauzi's nursery or his stall in Subang Parade. He specialises in Nepenthes and has stocks from a few places including BE and MT. You might want to compare the prices of Hee Nursey with Fauzi's or other nursery before purchasing your plant.

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

I am not an expert with sumatrana, but I did have one plant before. So my advise might not be the best... Anyhow, here goes...

Mine was a 10cm diameter plant when I got it and I place it under about 60% shade cloth. That plant was stagnant in growth for about 6 months before it started to grow new leaves and pitchers. Then I allow it to get direct sunlight in the late evenings after a year when it has produced a few pitchers for me and has grown bigger.

It's media was sphagnum moss and perlite about 50/50

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

Thanks for the feedback David.... Wow, 6 months to see the 1st new leaf?? :blink: That can really test your patience.... :laugh:

You said you used to have one before... what happen to it?

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

It grew to double the size with lots of picthers. I left it in my hometown as I have limited space in my apartment in KL. Moreover this sumatrana seem to grow better outdoors. I tried placing it in my terrariums but it sulk on me. So I shifted it back to the shadehouse.

One day, my Dad's friend came and saw all my Nep collection in the shadehouse. He was so interested that my dad decided to give him a plant. And as you may guess, he just picked the most attractive and healthy plant... my one and only sumatrana and gave that away. I don't blame him tho' as he did not know the difference between the species and since he was helping me water and care for my Neps collection.

But still heartache... It was like a great achievement for me getting this spoilt plant to grow and picther only to find out that it was given away... given away to someone who has no idea how to cultivate Neps at all. I think my sumatrana has gone to plant heaven now.

Initially I thought someone stole it from my garden as my parents did not tell me. I went histericall and told my parents I wanted to lodge a police report. Then the truth was laid out before me... the fate of my "precious"...

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

Oh my.... I feel for you, to have your pride and joy to be given away without your knowledge and to someone that don't really know how to take care of it... sigh... heartache

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

Hi David

Ok I'll try to make a visit there someday,I remember someone told me that i have to make a call before i go visit him.I've seen his website definitly cheap comapred to some nurseries,might not be that cheap but there is quite a lot of variety.BTW......to your sumatrana....RIP(rot in peace) it must be a serious heartache for you after all the trouble making it thrive and its all gone in a blink of an eye lucky nobody is intrested in my nep,well thats because they ain't good looking like some of yours here.

Ken

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

Thinking about it now, I think I shall not dwell so much on it anymore. Perhaps my sumatrana would kindle an interest in my dad's friend and if he starts this hobby, perhaps it's all worth it... hee, hee... then we would have "poisoned" another person into cultivating Neps/CPs. Wahhh... ahah, hahhh, haaaa.... (evil laughter... fading away...)

To my dad and mum, they're great parents in everyway who patiently take up the role as an adopted parents to my "pets" eventhough they are not really interested in them. That shows their love for me and I appreciate it.

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

Hi David

Well like you said if the guy got poison like us maybe its worth it after all....i sound like some cult lol...Today my mom was trimming my plants and my raff and ventrata was kinda (married) the crawl on each other and while my mom was trimming it she poured my biggest raff pitcher and almost all its pitcher away...all the water is all over my hooker i quickly sprayed the hooker with some fluid im just scared after the fluid digest it ahahahahahaha.

Ken

Re: Tips for growing sumatrana?
 

I think we all sound liek a cult some time... haa, haa...

I was told by soem growers in Singapore that they accidentally spilled some of the pitcher fluid on their car seat. After a day or two the enzyms in the fluid actually ate its way into the car seat and created a hole. But they did say that it also depended on which species as some species pitcher fluid is more acidic than others.

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

The car seat must be the cloth type. Nep fluids are slimey...which may suggest that they would be more alkaline in nature. ;)

Btw, David...my dad is like that too. He came to my place and asked for two plants to give his best friend. He said, "just give him two of your best growing plants". Fortunately, one of the members had cheaper Neps for sale and I bought two off him.

Back to N. sumatrana...I have got two plants. My own and another belonging to another CPer. It is his favourite and because he is studying overseas I bought it from him (in case I kill it) so that when he returns, I can sell it back to him. :laugh:

Both plants are in LFS and perlite. They just got repotted recently and one is not affected by the change while the other is. No particular reason why since both are the same MT clone. Before this, both are pitchering while together with the rest of the Neps at my balcony. The area is quite bright with some direct sunlight in the late afternoon.

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Hi David,

Wow didn't know that pitcher fluid can be that acidic or this dangerous when on soemthing for long period.So if i wash the plant by spraying its leaves will the fluid affect the plant.

Today seems to be probally the dryest day in malaysia or something all my raffs pitchers just look like dying no dead cell but it looks like its shrinking,peristrome bends all the way down and pitchers are soft.I checked the weather forcast and the humdity was only 59% lowest i've seen so far.

I thought that N sumatrana needed shaded sunlight and no direct sunlight.Oh yah anyone know where to get perlite nearby my place??I stay in kepong????

Ken

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Thanks for all your replies, learned at lot :1thumbup: . I'm guessing sumatrana probably is extra fussy about root distrubance, will keep that in mind when repotting next time. I just have to be patient but hopefully don't have to wait for 6 months to see the 1st pitcher.... :crying:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Driest day???? It's raining "cats and dogs" herelah bro!:laugh:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Mine in KL no rain woh in the afternoon not a single drop and the humidity i check in weather forcast very low only but at night rain la i saw the cement floor all my raff all almost died sad still recovering,my raffs are easily affected by water and humidty when humdity drop suddenly by maybe dry winds or something all the pitcher looks like it layu dunno why.

Ken

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

ken, keep the plants within the shaded part of the house compound eg side of car porch, behind the kitchen,etc. These offered ideal, bright and cool conds for most lowlanders.

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Hi robert,

Thanks for the advice but i stay in a condominium if i put at the car shade downstairs it'll be gone in a second i put all my neps in my balcony doesn't receive direct sunlight but it does have very nright light my raffs are already starting to recover maybe in a day or 2 it'll be fine.

So far the bical is still fine not drying up except the pitcher,not really drying up somehow turning black probally the pitchers is old.So far no growth yet,been a week now but i'll wait 1 week is still pretty early

Ken

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Hi Ken,
Maybe in "urban jungle" like KL, weather pattern will be different. Here in Kedah, it's pretty wet and humid, as I grow my plants outdoor, I'm worried that the daily rain will be too wet for the plants as the media will stay wet all the time... it's almost going on for 2 weeks now. So far plants are still doing ok...
Also, weather forecast is just a "forecast", it's better for you to create a little "humid zone" where you put your plants by blocking direct wind, it's retain humidity better. Hope this help.

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Hi all,

Today i went to hee's and i saw lots of new plants there not much but there arre some.I saw a red amp has a little elongated look in it i asked for price and definitly to much for me..RM280!!!And N Viking grade A RM150!!!!!! And a veitchii with yellow peristrome that i don't even wanna know the price.There was some hybrids there to not sure whats the name but i'll find out has some mirabilis in it very expensive to RM 120.In the end,i bought a nice blood vein Sarrcenia for RM 30.Just thought to put in this reply cos the forum seems quite today.

Ken

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

The latest pitcher which is coloured up nicely with a little more light last week. Some growers may want this species for the eventual size but the peristome is the reason why I like it. :wub:

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...sumatrana1.jpg

http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t...sumatrana2.jpg

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

I like them because of both pitcher size and candy-like peristrome

ken

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Cindy,
Looking at your latest pics gave me encouragement for me to be more patient and hang in there... :laugh: Thanks for sharing, I just love sumatrana's peristome, the eventual size is the bonus.... :smile:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

The eventual size would be a headache for me. Like I always say, in the end I can only keep 5 Neps...

N. merrilliana, N. sumatrana, N. bicalcarata, N. truncata and N. northiana...or N. rafflesiana, or N. veitchii...coz the latter two are my husband's favourites. :laugh:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Here is the latest pitcher of my sumatrana. Still small.
https://forum.petpitcher.net/picture....&pictureid=149
https://forum.petpitcher.net/picture....&pictureid=148

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

bifircatum,
Nice pitcher, would you mind sharing your growing condition for your sumatrana? Thanks.

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Cpnut, no any special treatment for it. I grow it in 100% LFS and place under about 50% shaded, just like my other neps. :laugh:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Thanks for sharing :1thumbup:

Re: Tips for growing sumantrana?
 

Yay !! :laugh:

The first picher....
Attachment 380

The first shoot....
Attachment 381

Thank god I don't have to wait for 6 months.... :biggrin: Hope the plant will start to grow well... :1thumbup:

I move the pot to a place where it get 3-4 hours of direct intermittent sunlight, I guess that move triggered a response ??

I got this idea after reading a field repot by suska that young sumatrana are mostly found in an exposed area where as adult plants are usually found in shady spots.