Chris R: Nepenthes
Alastair Robinson (100611.1627@CompuServe.COM)
23 Jul 96 13:40:43 EDT
Hi Chris! I was just curious as to how humid you keep your cuttings.
While the other Chris (Chris T) suggests too much humidity, I find that
without a high humidity, I am always unsuccessful; my plants all grow in
an environment of between 65-80% humidity and pitcher well, but the only
cuttings that have ever taken for me are those which I've wrapped in
Cling-film (Do Americans call it Plastic-wrap or Cling-Film?) and placed
among my other plants.
This involves potting the cuttings in whatever substrate you
use, as
Chris T said, an airy mix is best, so I use orchid bark and a little
perlite/vermiculite and rarely peat (for cuttings). I then place three
or four plastic plant supports/straws (wooden flower supports rot)
around the edge of the pot. This is followed by taking a suitably sized
piece of film and wrapping it firstly around the upper part of the pot
(Making a cylinder) and securing it (It usually sticks to itself anyway)
and then folding the open top closed. The pot is then placed in the
growing area.
This maintains high humidity and still air around the plant.
Transpiration is consequentially brought to a minimum and the cutting is
hence not subject to drought stress - if water is being lost but not
easily replaced by the lack of roots, it cannot really help, so this is
a fair solution. I've had no losses for the last eight cuttings taken
this way, and have lost two by not using it - so it works for me! Best
wishes,
Alastair.