Re: encouraging shoots

Robert Allen (Robert.Allen@Eng.Sun.COM)
Thu, 22 Jul 1993 14:43:39 +0800

>>I was just wondering whether anyone knows of a good method which would
>>encourage a Nepenthes to produce a shoot. Of course, I don't mean
>>making cuttings out of the plant... I have a wonderful Rafflesiana
>>which is producing only upper pitchers and would love to see it produce
>>some lower pitchers..

As far as I know the diff. between upper & lower pitchers
is hormonal or something, so you just have to wait. If
you cut it back you should get lower pitchers. There is
also some lanolin-based hormonal goo you can buy and smear
on inactive nodes to activate it. It's called Keiki-Grow
(sp?) and is used for orchids. I'm experimenting (hah)
with it now. Others have used it to activate nodes, but
this is always for taking cuttings, so I don't know what
kind of pitchers to expect. The stuff is $1.00 per ml.
also.

R.