in addition to my last mail I want to tell you my experiences with
different Nepenthes soils. Since 20 years I am now cultivating Nepenthes
in quite different soils. First I used a lot of fresh Sphagnum with the
result, that many plants, especially young ones died during winter. Then I
used a mix of quarzsand, sphagnum an peat, the same result.
Now, a few years ago I changed my method totaly. The lower 1/3 of the pot
is filled with polystyrol for drainage, the upper part depends on the size
of the plant. For seedlings I use 50% dried (!) clay perls (3mm in diam.,
in Germany it is called "Seramis"), 30%peat, 10%granit-sand and
10%charcoal. The dried clay has a little basic pH, but the granite is
rather acid, so that the pH alltogether is light acid. The advantage of
the clay is the good drainage on the one hand and the ability to keep
water on the other hand. You can water the plant as much as you want(f.e.
in hot summertime), the soil is never too wet.
For larger plants I reduce the clay to 30% and use pine-bark.
I am fertilizing every 2 weeks in summer to the leafs. I think a good
fertilizer is "Miracid", which you cannot buy in Germany. I add 0.1% MgO
(8.0% in fluid) and use the half concentration of Miracid. You gan give
this also to the pitcher! You should avoid to bring fertilizer to the
roots. I think Nepenthes don't like this and the soil will become salty
within a short time.
A friend of mine is cultivating rather huge N.truncata in a big glass,
filled only with living sphagnum! The plant is impressive.
Bye Johannes
Johannes Marabini Sperlingstr.10 91315 Hoechstadt/Aisch Germany
Tel./Fax 49 9193 4866