Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

About the digital camera thing, I've heard of it before, but it's sort of complicated and I'm not sure if everyone would get the same results. There's just a little too much room for error I think.

Well I'll try it anyway. Thanks

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

Oh, btw, my experiments with madagascariensis have been going well, I'll post some pics as soon as I upload them onto my pc.
I've tested four soil types for that species so far:
1:1 coconut bark to peat
1:1:1 orchid bark to perlite to live sphagnum
1:1 polymer gel to packing peanuts
pure sand

So far the pure sand looks like it's done the best. There's so little information on that species, I was lucky to find an article on wikipedia that said that it's often found growing in sand.

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

Ok, finally, here are ther pics:


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2425.jpg
The plants as they were when I got them (the tags were mostly completely wrong about the cultivation information)


http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2427.jpg
One of the plants out of the packaging (washed, of course)

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2431.jpg
Instead of coming with their roots wrapped in shagnum, the plants came shipped in little plugs of peat or something similar. (I made the mistake of planting my first madagascariensis with the peat plug)

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2434.jpg
One of the cute little pitchers.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2435.jpg
One of the plants with the peat washed off.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2438.jpg
Two of the four plants.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2440.jpg
The same two plants potted in 3 inch pots. The one on the left is planted in a 1:1 mix of polymer gel
(water crystals) to packaging peanuts. The one on the right is planted in washed sand.

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2444.jpg
The plants in their potting mixtures. Left to right: 1:1 coconut husk to peat, sand, 1:1:1 perlite to orchid bark to live sphagnum, and 1:1 polymer gel to packaging peanuts. (I took the plastic wrap off the plants after a couple days.

The plants on the first day- (I took the plastic wrap off for the pictures)
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2445.jpg
coconut husk and peat (control)

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2447.jpg
sand

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2448.jpg
perlite, orchid bark and live sphagnum

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2449.jpg
polymer gel and packaging peanuts


A week later-
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2451.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2452.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2453.jpg

http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/m...l/100_2454.jpg

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

Has everyone lost interest in this thread? There haven't been any replies the past couple days.

Well it doesn't matter really, I'm still trying to figure out how to get lowlanders to grow good in my conditions. I had to repot the N. madagascariensis plants. I've got them in a group pot now under some plastic. (They really have been hating the conditions that occur during the fall months indoors, you can just see it. On the other hand, most of my highlanders are doing wonderfully.)

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

It is clear that the one growing in sand looks healthy and shows better growth. Your control plant also looks good. The two other look a little lethargic, with the one in your 1:1:1 mix looking the least ok. This is interesting for me since I am about to change to coco chip mixes. I was gonna go with something similar to your control mix with some perlite thrown in for my lowlanders. Your 1:1:1 mix is what I was planning to place my highlanders/intermediates into, except dried sphangnum mosss instead of live.
Even though your growing conditions are very different from mine, keep posting updates as I am interested in seeing further results. Good luck!

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

It has to be completely wrap up in an enclosed zip lock plastic or equivalent. sorry if i got you wrong , placing a piece as above doesn't help increase in humidity. or were they wrapped up completely but you have taken them out.

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

Haha, I know, I wasn't aiming to get much humidity. I thought I'd just want to do that to give them a little more humidity so they could acclimate from shipping.

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

This is what I thought what was happening at first, but, since it's switching to cold weather here, and I think the windowsill's been getting too cold for the plants. I just checked again earlier today and none of them were doing that great. I think the soils did better depending on how well they insulated the plant. The mini-experiment has come to a close, because of the state of the plants, and I've repotted the plants and moved them so they will hopefully live. Next time I think I'll do this experiment with highlanders, or posibly in a terrarium. I just want to be able to grow LL neps effectively. :sad:

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

Hi Marigold

You said you moved them right???So now where are you placing your neps.According to those pics they sure do look well.At first i thought you were from australia and was wondering why would your weather be cooling down instead of heating up but now i know your in US.

Just continue to keep it as warm as possible and humidity as high as possible well...since thats what LLders like it hot and steamy.Do post more updates next time.And i also wanna grow HL effectively

Ken

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

I moved them to a west facing window. Hopefully they will get more light/heat from that direction.

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

Hi Marigold,
Sorry to barge in like this, since the weather is getting colder and drier(fall), it's probably best for your to grow them in an enclosed terrarium with artificial light and heat for your LL. If you have problem getting a heat sauce in the terrarium (can try those reptiles heat pad), try to place your terrarium near a heater until you get a desired temperature for your terrarium.

I was in Ontario, Canada during my Uni days, so I know how cold the weather can get in Michigan. I also kept some cps then, but nep can be problematic when they out grown the terrarium... :laugh:

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

For now I'm just trying to see what LL'ers I can grow withoust any fancy equipment. I have a specific design to use for a LL terrarium, I just don't want to spend a lot of money for that right now.

Re: Nepenthes, and the Quest for the Perfect Soil
 

I'm also trying to see if I can offset the temp drop at night, or at least insulate the plant somewhat. Yes I know it's probably going to fail miserably...