Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 20:55:44 +1300 From: Andrew Broome <broome@manawatu.gen.nz> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3604$foo@default> Subject: Re: Sterile Nepenthes Hybrids
CPers,
Not that I'm anywhere near being an expert on this (or any other)
subject, all that I can claim is that I've listened to various
other folk talk, seen a bunch of plants grown under a range of conditions
and grown a selection of highland and lowland species myself in tanks
for a couple of years...
Firstly: On the subject of sterile hybrids. Has anyone ever made a
secondary hybrid from N. x Mastersiana (N. sanguinea x N. khasiana)?
I've tried and it's not worked (crossed with N. maxima FYI), which is not
to say it's impossible or even unlikely of course. To me it seems likely
that some multiple hybrids would be easier to generate than others. Some of
this may have to do with geographic seperation, or not. I know I've got
some 'mongrel' plants with at least three parents including N. ventricosa,
N. talangenis, N. gymnamphora, N. inermis (shudder! ;-) and N. bongso.
It'd be interesting to see if anyone could cross, say, N. khasiana with
N. pervellii or for that matter, N. pervellii x N. madagascarensis.
Secondly, on media. Various things seem to work for various people. One
main difference that I haven't seen mentioned at least lately is that the
environment the plant is grown in seems (to me) to make a huge difference
with regard to success with assorted media.
Most of my plants are in tanks and as such do well (from seed or TC) initially
in pure sphagnum (which I can pick up off the side of the road in places -
Ha! ;-)
but which seem to do less well once they've become established. These plants
seem to do much better (under tank conditions, remember) as they mature
growing in
peat: vermiculite: pumice (random amounts that seem right by feel) to such an
extent that once transplanted the next leaf and pitcher are vastly bigger than
the previous pre-transplant leaf/pitcher. I can probably show photos if anyone
really needs evidence for my gut feel.
Anyway, just the thoughts of a far-away enthusiast.
Andrew@home.
*NZKA 137, NAKA 5, AKA 07212, PNAS, NZCPS ...
* Degeneracy can be fun, but it's hard to keep up
* as a serious lifetime occupation.
* Robert M. Pirsig (ZatAoMM)
*Killies: Ducatis: Reptiles & Amphibians: Carnivorous Plants:
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