Burnt earth as media

[Cindy]

The local CPers started a year ago with the use of burnt earth (aka burnt clay or burnt soil) with their Neps. This media is used in general gardening to increase drainage. Here is the thread on the local forum if anyone is keen to take a look. http://www.greenculturesg.com/forum/...howtopic=11805
The change was wonderful for N. northiana, which responded exceedingly well. Then we decided to use it for N. campanulata and N. merrilliana as well. The results are amazing!
I have got no idea what is the pH is or the mineral content is(pretty high from the salt build-up). But well, it works.
N. northiana - arrived bareroot in June this year, now pitchering on the leaves formed here.

N. campanulata - arrived bareroot in June and July this year


N. campanulata - these are plants grown in sphagnum moss and large pieces of orchid media (similar to pumice) under the same conditions as the ones above; I changed them into burnt earth yesterday

[hongrui]

cindy, your campanulata looks great!

[strath76]

That is very interesting Cindy. I have not seen burnt earth before. Is it hard like fired clay or does it absorb water. It looks from the photo's that it is not graded (i.e. from dirt to small rock sized).

Glad to hear that the plants are showing good signs for you.

[Tarence]

thx for sharing cindy...i have extra n.northiana to try. heheh. but our m`sian burnt earth looks a lil` different from yours. ours is of a finer texture i.e. smaller size but i` m game to try.

wish i had extra n.campunalata to try. rite now, as a single plant, it`s too precious. i echo hongrui`s sentiments......yours look fab.

[Cindy]

strath76,
Hmmm...I think it is fired clay....if it is clay which is burnt, heated at high temperatures.

Tarence and Hongrui,
Thanks. They are a surprise to me actually. In the 4th photo, the plants in LFS/orchid media looked like trash under the same conditions. Hopefully the plants won't mind being repotted...they did afterall produce basals after turning yellow and black.

The burnt earth should be like pieces of brick. Red and hard. There are very fine powdery bit buts I find those useful for holding down smaller campanulata.

Phill Mann came to my place and he couldn't resist pointing out the amount of mineral build-up op top of the media. He even pointed to the salts found on the Cephs pots! I am going to carry all the pots into the bathroom and give them an overhead shower once my doctor okays me doing so.

[TS]

That's great, Cindy.
I never know burnt clay worked great for N. campanulata. Your northie and camp looked fantastic.
I used burnt clay too for my northiana but I added some limestone chips. But it doesn't looked that great, it should be due to I moved it around. How much sun does your northiana get?

[Cindy]

TS,

My northiana plants are all over the place. In the study room next to tinted window, under T5 lights and at the balcony. I think it is just the season that they are happy with. All plants are pitchering, even for other growers with established plants.

The ones which are in shade pitchers as well as those that receive direct setting sun from 4pm onwards. The main difference is the leaf size and colour. More light, smaller but yellow leaves. I don't see a significant difference in pitcher size but I haven't really compared. When northiana pitchers, it is like wow! so I kinda forget to scrutinise the pitcher size.

Tarence,
Soon there will no longer be a shortage of N. campanulata...hint, hint...

[shawnintland]

Originally Posted by Cindy

TS,

Tarence,
Soon there will no longer be a shortage of N. campanulata...hint, hint...

Oh oh Cindy, now you've got us all wondering if you seeded one out! I sure hope so!
I have to agree, your N. campanulatas look really happy! In Thailand, a lot of nurseries used to use burnt rice hull for potting up plants. I remember I have a big rice sack full stashed away in my nursery somewhere, I think I'll try some experiments! Thanks for the interesting topic with examples, as they say; "a picture is worth a thousand words"!

Shawn

[Cindy]

now you've got us all wondering if you seeded one out!

Shawn, I had hoped but it didn't happen. I had a male that flowered and I kept the pollen. The female flowered too but she is a puny 3" across so there was only 3 flowers produced. None took.

[isaacgoh]

Cindy,

Thanks for the tip. I have repotted my campanulata today seeing the result of your plants.

My pitchering Northiana was also planted with mixed pebbles and burnt red soil.