Date: Wed, 11 Jun 97 21:38 EDT From: dave evans <T442119@RUTADMIN.RUTGERS.EDU> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2293$foo@default> Subject: Re: Re: H.heterodoxa
Hello Peter & David,
> > It is not sitting in water.
This depends on your conditions. If the air is on the drier side
sitting them in shallow water (1-2 cm.) maybe needed or helpful.
> > The low temp is around 68 F and the high temp is around 78 to 82 F . The
>
> Perhaps a little cooler - my Helies can hit 82-84F on hot
> summer days, but like it cooler, and the nights are almost
> always much lower - down to 50-something or less (40 in winter.)
> They do much better under artificial light for me, on a
> photoperiod of 13/15 hrs (winter/summer)
Sounds perfect!
> Sounds too high to me - mine do best at 50-60% (and do OK at
> even less,) though I try to mist them daily when the temps are
> into the 80s.
??? I do not get nectar spoons in such low humidity... It's been
my experience that they like the soil much wetter than Nepenthes
and like the humidity slightly higher than Nepenthes.
> IME good ventilation is extremely important - sealing them up
> in a case is an open invitation for mould. I've been told
> they're fine at higher humidities when this is ambient
> (ie: in more tropical regions,) because ventilation is not
> compromised .
Right, they grow on the tops of tall mountions (for the most part) and
need lots of fresh air and fresh water. They will die from stagnation
long before Sarracenia would even notice the water is a little foul.
> If the sides are higher than the plants are tall, then I
> would think leaving it open topped would be fine -
> humidity will be increased, especially if you plant up
> lots of live sphagnum in there.
This is what really made me write. What kind of Sphagnum do you
have them in? All the various species I have from N. A. die and
mold up threatening my Heliamphora with the same fate. I have mine
in a your average Nepenthes mix (1/3 peat, 1/3 SiO2, 1/3 pine bark).
> > I will check the roots tonight. For future reference, could someone
> > recommend a potting mix for heli's.
>
> I grow mine in 4 parts perlite to 1 part peat. This is
> loose enough to make repotting easy (use a peatier mix
> and you'll end up snapping all the roots off!) I bury
> the roots in this and then add a 1-2" layer of live
> sphagnum to support the rhizome - this helps maintain
> humidity and has a naturally anti-fungal nature.
Usually it does, but see above... I'm perplexed.
> these plants (particularly adults,) are tougher than many
> people give them credit for
Last year I received two cuttings of H.nutans from a fellow grower.
They had about 3 mm. of stem and three leaves. I just layed the
stems on the soil and watered it in so the soil was "hugging" some
of two leaves (with three leaves, only two can lay on the soil)
and most of the stems, but was away from the growth point. Put them
under fairly bright light and kept the soil wet (there are other
larger Heli's growing in the same "pot"). They both rooted and are
growing well. I had tried cutting this size before, but I planted
the stems too deep and they rotted.
> > pitchers. Should I add some rainwater? Advic?
Mist it down, excess water will drain from the pitchers and inside
may then look dry.
Dave Evans
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