Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hello Everyone,

Have been busy lately and not much time to come into forums for postings, but I try to read up as much as I can when I have time.

Here's some pics of my pets taken over the weekend. They have grown nicely .... Thanks for viewing!!

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00172_r.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00173_r.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00174_r.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00175_r.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00176_r.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00177_r.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00178_r.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00179_r.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00180_r.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00183_r.jpg

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00184_r.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00185_r.jpg

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Wow! :wub:You're poisoning me with the northiana everytime Isacc!:laugh:
Thanx for sharing!

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Thanks for the pics.Ur nothiana is so beautiful.I like the colouration of it.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Wow :D nice plants i like your N amp tricolour and your N northiana i've hardly seen anyone with a northiana pitcher bigger than yours.

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Thanks for your kind comments.

Northiana is a majestic plant no doubt, but requires a lot of patience and caring before it gives out big pitchers, especially from cuttings. The plant is full of pitchers now, I just recently accidentally destroyed one pitcher :C

The other plants posted above are red hooks (2 plants), ribbon tendril raff, red amp, tricolor amp, gracillis x bical.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Ken,

I think quite some people here have big northiana pitchers at home, it's just that they do not post them enough, one of them is Robert.

The tricolor amp I noticed develop very good color when the pitchers are hidden from light. If the pitcher is exposed to light, it will be somewhat faded. Yes, this is one of my fav amp in my amp collection and they are specifically protected for their coloration.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

:1thumbup: Wow…nice collection..u have a nice neps….
Thanks for ur sharing…..:smile:

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Isaac the clone of the northie is very obvious and different from most that were posted in the forum. The colour of the pitcher and peristome were outstanding. Hope it will finally produce giant size pitchers as the plant mature.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Issac,
Nice selection you got there... love the northina, it's just breath taking :1thumbup:. Thanks for sharing the tips on how to keep the color of the picther for amp tricolor vivid. Keep posting.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Wow, your northiana has so many pitchers now! Alot more than last time you posted a pic of it. Your amps are really doing great too! God job!

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Isaac, how big are the northiana pitchers and how long are the leaves for you now?

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Thanks Robert, It's really a beauty. Giant size pitchers? I sure I will be old then... LOL.

The northie pitchers are really lasting too.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Thanks Marygold and Cpnut for your kind comments. They get very little of my attention now, but I do regular watering and maintenance on them whenever I can. No fertilisation for months already since I don't have the time.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Cindy, This plant actually have a few side shoots. It's the side shoot that is producing the pitcher now.

The leaves are not that big, maybe slightly over 1 feet but the tendrils are sure very long, the tendrils can grow easily 2-3 feet long to find a landing place for the pitcher. Then only the pitcher will develop.

I can usually tell the size of the pitchers by the thickness of the tendrils.

As of now, pitchers are about 5-6 inches.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Thanks, Isaac. I was trying to estimate the size of the pitchers from your photos and I was right about them being 5"-6". :laugh: Leaves over 1ft will be a headache for me.

How is your light level like? Does the plant/pitcher receive direct sunlight? I have two northiana plants at the balcony. One receive direct sunlight for part of the day while another one is in shade. The one in shade is producing darker coloured pitchers with more red stripes/speckles.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

The plant receives direct morning sun (until noon). I have moved it around few times over the last 2 years (to find the best place for it) until it found the place to call home. Only the pitchers are in shaded places because that's how it likes to land the pitchers.

I find that Northiana likes a lot of sun and a lot of water (with fast draining substrate).

You can see the location of the plant near the edge of the balcony below.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00035_r.jpg

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Cool. That means the pitchers are colouring up without direct sunlight on them. :1thumbup:

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hi Isaac,

Cool plants man.....your plants are all scrambling for the sunlight at the window...If its raining do you leave the window open or do you close it?????

I didn't know a person can estimate the size of a pitcher by the size of its tendrill...So do you use limestone for the mix???????

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Ken,

My balcony is open air so there's no need to open or closing the windows for the plants.

When I said by looking at the tendril, I meant to guesstimate whether the pitcher will be big or small, usually, thicker tendrils will produce bigger pitchers.

I use a mixture of pebbles and coarse burnt red earth for the Northiana. Have not repotted. Daily watering in the morning.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hi Isaac

Thanks for the potting mix info so that i will know what to do in the future when i get more neps.
My raff also produces bigger pitchers on hard thicker longer tendrills,normally the less hard and shorter ones produce smaller green spotted pitchers while the longer harder ones produce bigger pitches which has more colour all over it and hardly any green in it

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Woah Isaac, your northie already so big, and produced so big pitchers! :wub: Envy you...
Mine after moving to a more sunny place, it now start to produce bigger pitcher too but not as big as yours. Yeah, I found that the pitcher will only form when it land on something, and those that hidden from direct sun will eventually formed bigger pitchers.
Congrats on the pitchers and keep us updated.
I like your amps & rafflesiana too.:wub:

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hmmmm thats weird isn't most neps ephyfits??dunno how to spell them.If they are then they're tendrills and pitchers won't reach solid ground.But pitchers that touch the ground normally produce larger pitchers for my miranda

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Ken, actually alot of neps aren't really epiphytes. Many grow on the ground on mountains or in marshes, and alot of the climbing neps species start off on the ground where they can have their lower pitchers sitting on the ground.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Becareful Isaac not to disturb northiana's root while repotting or it wil die and try not to touch it very often.
Hope this helps!

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hi Ali

Talking about touching the plant...i touch them A LOT..and when i mean a lot its A LOT...if our hands are slightly dirty or something will the bacteria affect the plant or will it be fine.I always wash my hands before i go to my plants and after it.I'm addicted to them can't leave them alone...

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

It's ok Ken but if you touch the developing pitchers or the leaf tip very often, it will turn black and from my experience, my rafflesiana stop pitchering when i touch it's immature pitchers very often (every hours ,can't leave it alone).
If you leave it alone like how they live in the wild, there's a lot of chances for the to give out giant pitchers.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hi Ali

Hmmm so far for me i've never experienced a pitcher stop developing by touching it...I agree with you if the pitcher is not disturb by our itchy hands they will most probally grow bigger and also if they have a soft ground on the bottom supporting the pitchers weight which i dont have because i hand all my plants only some with long tendrills reach the floor

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

lovely red ampullaria you have there

when i saw the pic of ampullaria, i thought it was grown in a communal pot! hhaha


anyway, youve got green thumbs or i would say.. pitcher thumbs! haha:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:: biggrin::biggrin:

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Thanks for all the compliments, I'm here to share and learn knowledge from everyone like I've learnt from Robert, David over the years.

Here's a few boring pictures I've taken today.

This is the hot lip amp in my care. This pitcher is a result of a pitcher grown in semi shade. Pitcher of the same plant grow under good lights will produce bright red pitcher.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00196_r.jpg

Below is my hanging red amps, I have 2 plants there.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00188_r.jpg


This is a close up of the peristome of my northie. I noticed that older pitcher develop longer spikes on the peristome. This one is a new 2 weeks pitcher.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00192_r.jpg

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

You northiana is starting to show maturity in the plants and pitchers.Great pitcher:P

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Glimpse of my overgrown Balcony plants. It's like a jungle out there, carnivorous jungle!

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00201_r.jpg

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hi Issac,
I noticed the reddish colored leaves on your red amp, how much light is the amp getting? Does it recieve direct sunlight during part of the day? Thanks.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Isaac, what ginger by the balcony edge?

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hi Isaac,

Nice plants you have there growing in your balcony...mine will take some time before it will grow to the size of yours.

Anyways what are you growing in that bucket of yours???????And also is that your bical in the mid section of your balcony/picture on the right side near the edge with 1 pitcher showing out????Just spotting some stuff for fun

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Morning sun, till about noon. The amps are the only ones developing reddish leaves, and notably the red amps only. The rest are not.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

I have 4 types of costus ginger as a fence. The biggest at the corner edge is Barbatus (big flower), the one with a candle shape flower is another common costus (probably imported), I also have pink costus (good as fence, thick and lush leaves), and another type of unknown costus. Hidden behind the barbatus is Alpinia "jungle king". These are very good companions for the plants.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Sorry that you spotted the broken bucket, it's very unsightly cuz I'm too lazy to get a new bucket. It's normally for water storage since I do not have a water pipe at the balcony (stupid design by the builder). Since I'm also growing aqua plants in my living room, whenever I have extra plants, it goes right into the bucket until I give them away.

Yup, that's a bical Sri Aman, the older it gets, the redder it turns, normally adult pitcher is maroon red.

I have stopped gettign pitcher plants nowadays because I'm happy with my current collection and I would be unfair to them if I get anymore, there's no more place!

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Took this picture of my campa while watering my plants. First pitcher at my balcony since replacing it with natural red earth.

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00219_r.jpg

Am surprised that when the pitcher first opened, it wasn't so "satelite" shaped...then a few days later, it will grow wider and become more "satelite" shaped.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Nice Campa, isaacgoh. Looks very healthy. BTW funny bear.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hi Isaac,

Nice Campa you have there they look soo cute....Campa's are so tiny and cute and also fragile looking hahhaahah....at least for me...You'll never know at 12 o clock midnight the bear comes to life and ARRRR!!!!!!!.....what do you think the bear will do??Of course....take care of our cute little campa hahaha

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Isaac, one of the costus, with flowers on the crown, near the balcony edge was likely woodsonii, imported from Costa Rica. I came across in someone else garden thinking it was a local sp. i refered to the local list but non look like it.

costus woodsonii
http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...u/DSCN3511.jpg

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Some update of my pets:

northiana pitcher ended up on the ledge facing the sun. The color is excellent.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00413_r.jpg

Raff nivea, growing pitchers quietly and it was a nice surprise to find a big pitcher among the bushes
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00437_r.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00436_r.jpg

Raff var. Alata
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00438_r.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00439_r.jpg

Hot Lip Hookeriana
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00440_r.jpg

Seri Aman Bical
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e1...DSC00442_r.jpg

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Wow, nice plants you have there, Isaac! I like your northiana, very nice and healthy looking! Nice hooker too! Well done!

Thanks for sharing too!

Cheers

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Hi Isaac

Nice neps.......Love ur raff var alata...................Bout the hookeriana i'm not to sure but don't you think its a little toooo elongated to be a hookeriana?????Oh yeah nice northiana too.

Ken

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Very nice pics Eric...thanx for sharing though!

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Thanks for viewing. This is a natural hybrid Hookeriana, not a clone from the nursery.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Isaac, the hooke colours are fading?:laugh:

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Yeah, some pitcher colours will fade, it depends on the sunlight level as well I think. Not sure why some are like that, but the hot lip is still as juicy.

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

Awesome N. northiana! Do you have a tip? and how old are their?:smile:

Re: Random Balcony grown Pets
 

I like northiana very much. It is hard to grow? What the media is?