Random Balcony grown Pets

[Cindy]

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

[isaacgoh]

Originally Posted by Robert

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.

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.

[isaacgoh]

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.

[isaacgoh]

Originally Posted by Cindy

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

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.

[Cindy]

Thanks, Isaac. I was trying to estimate the size of the pitchers from your photos and I was right about them being 5"-6". 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.

[isaacgoh]

Originally Posted by Cindy

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.

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.

[Cindy]

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

[kentosaurs]

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

[isaacgoh]

Originally Posted by kentosaurs

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

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.

[kentosaurs]

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