northianas and the serious photographers
 

Of photos taken in the wild we often find fresh clean healthy pitchers and clean refreshing environment, it was all the choosy photographers scrutinising the environment and plants that came across, ignore the plants and pitchers battered by the harsh tropical sun and unfriendly bugs, a waste of time setting up the equipmnt, made worse when ones have to wait for a windless moment to avoid blur pictures. Serious photography calls for patience, perfect lighting and fair judgement that has been built over the years.

photography would be easy if not for the strict assessors/examiners/judges if ones were to submit for, a photo contest, as an example.

A perfect limestone habitat and lighting offered by nature and that was one of th best location where i found these northianas. The morning sun coming from behind, the limestone boulders acting as a backdrop,

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...u/DSC_7609.jpg

They look gorgeous, a reflection of the harsh environment, the rusty spots are nature not man made, a piece of natural history documentation.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...u/DSC_7603.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...u/DSC_7622.jpg

The hands were for our judgement and size comparison - not for photo assesment and contest.

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...u/DSC_7626.jpg

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z...u/DSC_7628.jpg

:laugh:

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Nice pics!!

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Gorgeous pitchers and pictures Robert! That first shot is very striking with the limestone background. And what great peristome coloration. I'm really glad that you did put the 'hand' photos in there or I never would have guessed the scale! How high up were these plants growing? (Altitude). That red spotting on the mid-rib in the third picture is interesting too. Any guesses as to what that is? Thanks again Robert!

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

THanks Aaron and Shawn.
It was around 400 ft high. The red spots on mid rib are burn mark,i think so.

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

That's simply fantastic Robert!
You made it again..i can't sleep tonight and can't wait to have my northiana.

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Haha... Robert, thanks for the pictures. Those are simply stunning shots. I love northiana, especially the peristome.
Is this place cool or windy? How about the humidity? Are the northiana exposed to full sun or they are in partial shade? Are they growing at the limestone? I suppose if they are growing in a cliff, then they should receive only direct morning sun or evening sun, am I right? Are those pitchers hiding below the plant, I mean trying to hide away from the sunlight? Are they always lying on something or just hanging like what you showed in the first?

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Thanks for the nice pictures Robert.So whats the secret of growing Northianas that big?

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

TS, in this particular location, they're all tall matured plants, they grow inbetween the crevices of limestone boulders.Some pitchers are found growing in dark shade and sandwiched by the limestone. uppers are mostly hanging in mid-air, where the leaves lies near boulders pitchers would be lying flat or leaning ( # 2nd pic)

They receive sunlight about 9.30am to 3.00pm. It was part of a cliff,a small section with level ground surrounded by limestone boulders thus blocking off sunlight. Humidity and temp ( i have taken the reading before and am sure they are applicable here ) - Day temp 37ºC, night 30ºC (lower during rainy monsoon ie 28ºC ), humidity day around 60% , night 80%.

no idea but i'm trying - repot the plant as they grow tall and bigger.

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Thanks Robert for those precious informations. This is important for the growing of northiana.
They received sunlight from 9.30am to 3.00pm, do you mean they are exposed 100% to the sunlight or in partial shade among nearby trees or ferns? Is the soil they grew in always damp?

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Depending on time of the day the plants get dierct sunlight. Trees are short and few and the limestone boulders together provide partial shade.
Soil is always damp,very porous and well drain.

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

That help alot, thanks Robert.:1thumbup::2thumbup:

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Robert,
Is it necessary to add limestone to the media for growing northiana?

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

In home cultivation it's advisable to use very well drain media as northiana dislike wet and soggy medium. Adding limestone chips will help in draining excess water. whether it has benefits has yet to be proven.

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

37 c during the afternoon and 30 during the nights isn't that too hot for most neps????!!!!!!!!Humdity is quite low to for a tropical country if thats where it is.Neps in the wild always look cut or burned but the are somehow healthy and the pitchers might (normally) not be as big as the ones in cultivation but the sure look good

Ken

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

yup, it's hot in the day and their appearance were affected by the environment where they grow with regards to shade and open ground.

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

OoOoOoO i always thought the forest would be maybe 1-2 C colder than the city but turns out to be much hotter.Maybe the shade protected them from the sun therefore there is not so much damage on the plant.

Ken

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Good to know that, Robert. Now that explains why the species is still pitchering during the hottest season when my balcony goes up to 35ºC. :biggrin:

Re: northianas and the serious photographers
 

Hi Ken, it is much more hotter and humid in the daytime when the sun was directly overhead on limestone hills. It was the total surface area that influence the temp. Limestone hills doesn't support so much tall trees that we find in lowland dipterocarp forest but other form of plants associated with limestone thrive not found in lowland rainforest.

Glad you understand cindy, the reasons it grows well for you:1thumbup: