Cephalotus, some of my plants.

[jmatt]

It's my first time posting on here so bare with me.
It's Saturday and I'm kind of bored so I took these pictures of a few of my ceph plants. Some shots are from an indoor 20gal tank setup I have. They are not getting the best light right now, just one shop light.
I have three different clones in the tank, Hummers Giant, CP Jungle clone and seedlings I started myself. The last three shots are a few Hummers I have already brought outside.
Thanks for looking.
JMatt

[brokken]

Hi Jmatt,

That's an impressive setup. I am new to cephalotus, so any tips on how to grow them in terrariums would be helpful. Currently I have mine potted up in an outdoors terrarium which sits atop grating that has a constant level of water. The bottom of the pot does not touch the water as most everyone states that cephs hate standing water.
In your case, I see that you have a layer of living sphagnum atop what appears to be typical CP medium: perlite, sphagnum peat moss and maybe some sand?. How do you control the level of humidity, water and other environmental factors? Also how long did it take you to grow such a great setup?
Kudos on your success and hope that maybe I can reach your level of success too.

[fredg]

JMatt,

You've obviously been growing for a while. ;D
One quick question, why the straws?

[PingKing]

Jmatt,

amazing! i also got that question what are the straws for?

job job

Xavier

[jmatt]

brokken,

That tank is setup with peat perlite and sand. The sphagnum moss I top dressed the tank with one time. I have to cut it back every now and then. It has a glass lid that stays on all the time. It sits in an east facing window with one shop light on top with two 4ft grow tubes. Thats about it. It's kind of funny because it really goes against the general rule for growing these things. It's always covered, there is no drainage holes, I only water it maybe once a month maybe! Even then I don't give it much, just enough water to make everything moist. The only air circulation it gets is some co2 I pump in there every now and then, or when I uncover it to water/ take pictures. Some of the plants that are in there have been there for like 5 years or so. The only time it gets new soil is when I remove a plant. I refill the hole. Every now and then I will water with a peat tea. I guess the main thing is that I just don't mess with them too much. One thing about the lid, it's not a solid glass lid. It's one of those cheap glass fish tank lids that has a hinge and the back strip is plastic. There is a few small holes in the plastic so it might get some ventilation from that. As far as humidity, I'm really not sure what the level is in there? It does condensate on the glass sides a bit so it must be fairly high? To be honest, I really don't know why it does as good as it does? Every year I bring the tank to the NECPS show where it sits for a few days uncovered, it does fine. I also brought that damn tank all the way to the ICPS show in Maryland. Oh, I used to bring it outside for some time during the summer, but it is too much of a pain to move by your self.
So far it's been like the energizer rabbit, just keeps going and going.
I have started many, many cuttings from those plants. Some of them are the plants I have potted up outside now.
JMatt

[jmatt]

Thank you all for the compliments!

fredg, DroseraBoy,

The straws are a way for me to tell different plants (clones) apart.
I noticed a friend (Charles Brewer) used to do it to keep track of his different clones. He actually gave me the idea. When I pot up a bunch of cuttings it's easier to use straws than print labels for everything. It's getting tuff for me to tell whats what in the tank.
They are all kind of growing together. I need to thin it out a bit.

I use a green straw for a large clumping form I got from the CP Jungle.
A white straw for seedlings I started myself, blue and red for Hummers Giants. Why I use two colors for Hummers giants is because one particular plant I had grew the biggest pitchers I ever grew and I like to keep track of that plant. I never really measured the pitchers, but I think they were 3 inches. I do have some pics if you want to see? This plant is picky and has to be real happy to get big. Thats about it.
I really like growing cephs, when all is well they are a lot of fun.
I have had everything from scale, to sudden death to you name it happen to my plants, and I'm still growing them. I might have pulled a few hairs out of my head in the process over the years!
Gotta love em!
JMatt

[capensis]

Ah! Your Cephs! They are still unbelievable! No matter how many times I will look at them in either TF or here, I still drool. ;D

[cpsinatl]

are those 5 gal buckets you grow your cephs in?

[jmatt]

They are Home Depot paint buckets. I think they are 3 gallon.
JMatt

[bonsay]

WOW.... ive been staring those pics for 15 mins... and im still amazed... one question... when you water your cephs in tanks how much water do you have in that tank or do you have a drain whole somewhere?? how often do you water it?? sorry for the questions... im trying to grow them my self...

[jmatt]

bonsay,

Go back a few posts, I explained all about the tank there.
Thanks.
JMatt

[bonsay]

THx i will definitely look into it

[chelmuth]

Those are great plants! I want to grow some cephs sometime... Anybody know a good place to get Cephs?