Date: Sun, 14 Jun 1998 22:46:32 -0400 From: Tom Massey <massey@hal.fmhi.usf.edu> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2040$foo@default> Subject: RE: "sad little nep"
> All the Neps. I have seen in places like Lowes, Walmart and Home Depot
have
> been N. madasgarensis..... This seems to be the only Nepenthes in my
> collection that I can't grow....
_______//////The N. madagascariensis that is widely available in the US
from large
chain stores is not that easy to grow. I base this statement on personal
experience and also the experience of other knowledgeable growers who have
reported problems with this clone.
I've not heard of anyone who has been able to grow this clone;
> ...why don't they propogate and sell something to grow like N.
> alata??
I agree that the stores would do nicely if they picked a weed like
N. alata. In fact, they'd probably advance the hobby among the masses
if they marketed a spectacular weed like N. x 'Ile de France' or
N. x 'dyeriana'. These are among the easiest and most satisfying
Nepenthes to grow (my opinion) for those who are generally impatient
(like I am).
But no tissue culture lab is going to spend the effort for a hybrid,
I think. _Species_ is the name of the game for TC work.
Perry Malouf
_____________________________________________////
Well, I can say a few things about this. I agree N. mad. is tough to
grow, but Bob McMorris (heya Bob) has had very good success. My N. mad's.
on the other hand, continue to disappoint me.
As it so happens I visited the TC lab that cloned N. mad. yesterday. And
out in the greenhouse he has several large plants with the typical heavy
(finger sized) stems; both the ones I saw had bloomed. I don't know what
the secret is, but they _can_ be grown successfully. FWIW, as a weird post
hoc observation, it looked to me like the plant had maintained its small
form and then suddenly put out a large, vigorous, stem. You know how Neps
(particularly TC) seem to hang at one stage for a while before they start
taking off - I wonder if maybe N. mad. does this at a later stage than
others? Are we too impatient?
As to other Neps. in TC, this lab has N. khasiana, ventricosa, ventricosa
red, gracilis, thorelleii (did I stick in an extra e?), truncata,
bicalcarata, spath x veichii, sanguinea (damn I cannot spell today!),
mirabilis, and a few I don't remember right off hand.
This lab is also responsible for TC of the red dragon, green dragon, a
dentate, an all green form, and the cup form of the VFT. They also produce
several drosera and a few pings.
You should also know that they depend, in part, on others to provide
sterile media that they can then propagate for mass production and release.
In my conversations with them they are really committed to getting CPs out
to the public. They have a genuine interest in the plants and are as
dedicated (and impatient) as the rest of us.
The tough part seems to be identifying a plant that can be successfully
meristemed, will take well to TC mass production, will grow well after
introduction back to regular growing conditions, and has good
characteristics such as color, pitcher size, diesease resistance, low
humidity tolerance, high temp. tolerance etc. This process apparently
requires several years.
Tom in Fl
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