Date: Thu, 20 Nov 97 09:21:57 cst From: mark.fisher@tpwd.state.tx.us To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg4441$foo@default> Subject: Re: Nep. soil
Trent Meeks wrote:
> ...I'm convinced the reason most of the hard to grow species are so
> difficult is because of soil. Check out N. merrilliana, petiolata
> and northiana. Our traditional mixes just are not what they like.
> ..."iron -magnesium" soil found in the red hills on northern
> Mindinao.....limestone hills near Bau, Sarawak... What is unique
> about the soil?
Trent,
I am not a soil scientist, but I believe the red soil found in Nep
habitat is called laterite. From a soil science reference I found,
"It is a red soil found in tropical and subtropical regions that has
been leached of soluble minerals, aluminum hydroxides and silica. It
is primarily composed of iron oxides and iron hydroxides. Often red,
iron rich clays or soils are erroneously referred to as laterite;
however, only those soils which have undergone considerable weathering
over thousands of years are true laterites. Lateritic soils or
latersoils are commonly fine clays (< 2 microns); however, latersoils
may have any texture. There are sources of latersoils in many
locations throughout the world which were deposited thousands or
millions of years ago during times when the global climate was
significantly warmer."
Laterite is a very infertile soil, and tropical regions depend on the
high turnover of nutrients for productivity, rather than the inherent
fertility of the soil. The failure of farm crops to grow well in
cleared rain forest soils is famous.
You can get laterite at some aquarium shops (laterite is often used as
a gravel additive, for better plant growth), but it is very expensive.
A cheaper alternative is to get "red art clay" used by potters. It's
the same soil, just much cheaper.
I have no clue if Neps do better in laterite than our usual potting
mixtures, but it may be worth a try.
Regards,
Mark
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