End of Nov nep pics...

[NepNut]

Thanks K. Oat and Ed.

Casey,
Hahaa... I'm glad to help to inject more poison...

K. Pop,
The mix I used for N. lowii x campanulata was coarse burnt clay + coarse river sand, which will be very well drained. Burnt clay is widely available in Malaysia but so far I have yet to see it to be sold in sounthern Thailand.

Khoon,
What I meant was the plant we got from Eric is either N. x Rebecca Soper or N. x Red Lantern... I still not sure which is which. Yes, you are correct, at certain light level, the leaves of this plant will become reddish. For me, it's a slow but consistent grower with pitcher on every leaves.

[paphioboy]

Very nice neps, nepnut.. :D Great job!

[marvin1997]

Lowii x campan!!!!

[CN]

Very Nice ,
Had No Idea that N. Mad had Fangs as well.
An i Love the Viking x Miranda

Daren

[aphos]

Originally Posted by NepNut

K. Pop,
The mix I used for N. lowii x campanulata was coarse burnt clay + coarse river sand, which will be very well drained. Burnt clay is widely available in Malaysia but so far I have yet to see it to be sold in sounthern Thailand.

Hi Rob,

Many thanks for reply. I am quite doubtful that this mixing type of clay sand release ‘trace element’ for Nepenthes sp. in acceptable level, not only enhance water drainage. Please forgive to my ignorance; I am lazy to search information through forum. I am sorry. Please advise me.

Few years ago, there is rumor among Thai grower to use one kind of gravel adding into potting mix. Unconfirmed source described that this type of stone improve growth for N. truncate. It is called ‘Silalang’. Although, it is later known that Fungicides do the trick better that this gravel, I can see thai Nep growers add it into their media for other neps also. Please see picture below. (We also put it on top of media, however, it helps a lot when storm coming, hahaha.)



I wonder that this type of gravel can release some trace elements into media or not? And is it hazard for Nepenthes in long term? Plant in my picture is N. medusa. It is already died though. I do not know how long you use that type of potting mix in your collection. And do you see any worse effect to Nep?

Thanks in advance for your opinion.
Cheers,
Pop

[phongchansenh]

How can I say, Malaysia is just a nepenthes paradise.
I love the N. madagascar most, thanks for your great pics.
I am looking forward for more...

[NepNut]

Thanks paphioboy, marvin, CN and phongchansenh for your kind comments.

K. Pop,
Actually, for me it has more to do with well draining than having trace elements with inorganic media. So far, I have yet to see any detremental effect on my neps by using such media and I mean most of my neps except for those epiphytic neps like some form of N. veitchii.

However, to use burnt clay properly, you have to wash it or sieve it to get rid of the powderly dust if not when the dust got wet, it'll become muddy and drainage will be poor. I rarely use 100% burnt clay mainly due to the weight issue since it'll be too heavy to safely hang a pot full of burnt clay. In this case, adding more perlite or pumice will be very helpful.

Thanks for telling me the substrate is called "Silalang", I have seen that before used by Thai growers and always wonder what it called... Yes, inorganic mixture is very useful during rainy season.

I feel the most important point is to provide a suitable media depending on species and hybrids. As I slowly learn growing neps, I see myself using more and more inorganic based media (80% - burnt clay + river sand + perlite / pumice) with a little organic media mixed in (20% - SM/coco chip/cocopeat).

[paphioboy]

Is 'silalang' = LECA = burnt clay pellets..? certainly looks like the ones I use, but smaller size..