Re: Studies of Nepenthes soils

Burbidgea@aol.com
Sat, 21 Dec 1996 11:38:25 -0500

In a message dated 96-12-19 10:01:38 EST, you write:

> The plants in nature _must_ grow faster than this. If not, then the
> seedlings would be overwhelmed by the myriad other plants that grow in
> such a warm and humid environment. I find it so hard to believe that a
> N. edwardsiana seedling in its natural habitat would take over five
> years to grow maybe a half meter. Trees grow faster than that!
>
> So, to repeat, is anyone aware of detailed studies concerning soils in
> Nepenthes habitats?
>
> Does anyone have suggestions or comments about speeding the growth of
> N. edwardsiana and N. villosa?

Perry,
though I don't grow N. villosa, I have a N. macfalanei that for the last two
years has not grown beyond its 1/2 inch diamater and consistently
yellow-green in color. All the other plants in its vicinity grow relatively
fast - even the N. edwardsiana that is right next to it. It grows at about a
rate of 1 leaf every two monthes which is similar to the rate of a N.
veitchii. The N. tobaica and the N. bicalcarata that I received at the same
time as I received the N. macf. are double the size they were when I received
them.

It sounds like you are wondering if you have some sort of nutrient deficiency
that is affecting your plant. I was wondering the same thing about mine, but
now I think it is more a lack of food (insects etc.) that is small enough to
fit into the traps. Sure, I have fungus gnats but they rarely find it into a
pitcher. I am planning get some Drosophilla melanogaster from Car.
Biological Supply Co. to see if they would grow faster with natural
nutrients. After all, they *carnivorous* for a reason.

Christoph