Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 14:19:18 +0930 From: Kevin Cook <K.Cook@bom.gov.au> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2517$foo@default> Subject: Introduction
Hi! I'm new to the listserve. My name's Kevin Cook and I live in Darwin.
Darwin is on the north coast of Australia, about 12 degrees south of the
Equator. Darwin gets a mention in "The Savage Garden" - in the section on
Woolly Sundew, Peter D'Amato correctly describes the climate here as "six
months of rain and six months of drought" (p.145).
Being in the tropics, my interest at the moment is confined to Nepenthes
which I have been growing for just over a year. Currently I have about 30
plants. For most of the time, the plants have been kept on a north facing
balcony (which gets direct sunlight for about 8 months of the year). A few
were kept in the garden for a while.
From about May through to October, we experience Dry Season -
temperatures
range from 18 to 35 degrees Celsius, humidity ranges from 20 to 50 per
cent. During the Wet Season, temperatures are typically from 23 to 32
degrees, humidity above 70 per cent and about 2000mm of rain falls (78
inches).
After 12 months of growing, I feel that I am starting to get things
right. When I got my first plants, I looked in the internet for
information. Unfortunately, there is a lot of contradictory advice
(especially on the matter of fertilisers) and a lot of the information is
based on growing plants in terrariums. Also, there's not much species
specific information.
I've joined this discussion group for two reasons. The first is to gain
information. I suspect a lot has already been discussed. Maybe I can get
answers to specific questions. For example, I need to know why my N.
ventricosa x (alata x mirablis) formed nectar drops all over its leaves and
on the outside of pitchers.
Secondly, I can share whatever knowledge and experiences I have gained in
my short growing time. For example, I have found that in the last few
months when humidity has been low (below 40 per cent) a lot of my plants
have been growing better than ever and formed pitchers. Also, my plants
are exposed to various insects and I have a few stories about that
(including the attack of the giant locust).
Rather than trying to say it all now, I'll write periodically on particular
subjects (eg water, feeding) and tell you of my experiences. Hopefully
I'll receive interesting responses.
By the way, at some point in the future I would like to try growing other
tropical CP's and I would like to go looking for native Woolly Drosera.
Finally, does Tony Camilleri (excuse the spelling) still live near Darwin?
Regards,
Kevin Cook
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