Questions about joining the ICPS

[dan]

First off I have no idea of where this question belongs, so I'm posting it here. I looked at the ICPS section and saw no questions like this so I didn't feel comfortable putting it there.

Are nepenthes seed available to members ? I ask this because of the short viable life of nepenthes seed. From what I read it could take up to 3 weeks to get seed, now add to the fact it probably took 3 weeks or more to get the donated seed & post it, plus 3 weeks to get, that's 6 weeks if everything went perfect.

Guess I'm just wondering as nepenthes is all I'm pretty much interested in.

Thanks,
Dan

[ICPS-bob]

Yes, ICPS members can obtain Nepenthes seed from the seedbank when available. Availability depends on seed donations. Presently the only Nepenthes seed listed in the seedbank is N. ventricosa. I am not an expert on Nepenthes seed viability and how long the seed has been in the seedbank.

You can send an email to John Brittnacher, the manager of the ICPS Seed Bank. He can provide details.
john (at) carnivorousplants (dot) org
www.carnivorousplants.org/seedbank/seedmain.html

[paulbarden]

I have had Nepenthes seed sent to me in the mail and it has taken six weeks to arrive, and still I had excellent germination. I have about fifty N. bongso seedlings to prove it. I believe that if the seed is not held for an excessively long time, it will remain viable long enough to be dispensed from the ICPS store, to you.

[paulbarden]

dan:
Are you looking for specific Nepenthes, or just interested in trying any Nepenthes seed that comes available? I'm expecting some N. maxima hybrid* seed to mature soon(ish) and I'm happy to share some.

*two unnamed hybrids of N. maxima descent.

[dan]

Bob, Paul,
Thank you for the replies, very helpful !

Paul, I am "kinda" looking for specifics (Thanks for your kind offer to share ! ) Currently I would like campanulata, I realize beggars cannot be chosers. But I have successfully grown nepenthes in the past (10 plus years ago ) I was quite involved in growing them at my beginner level. By involved I mean calling Peter D'Amato asking for advice & specific plants, I still have a rokko from him that at that time he called his favorite nepenthes for home growers. I was friends with the carnivorous growers at Meijer gardens in Michigan, was at the Grand opening of the Meijer gardens carnivorous section and talked in person with Peter D'Amato for a while.

Anyways, my plants all grew into monsters and my den (in my house) was a greenhouse ! I outgrew this obsession and drifted away from the hobby, I only have my Rokko from back then as my souvenir from that part of my life. I have always enjoyed growing plants, but I couldn't let them take over my house like I had done. (that is why I want smaller nepenthes "this time around" )

With that explanation, I find myself still very fascinated with nepenthes, I just want to control my passion by "playing" with the smallest nepenthes (no more bicalcularta growing up the wall of my den ! ) I currently have my Rokko (a big plant) and I found some Jamban's that I am playing with, I am fascinated with campanulata as it is a small grower in both leaf size & height. When I say getting back in the hobby and "playing" I mean I want to grow these to mature plants and harvest seeds to satisfy my interests, I need both male & female plants to do that, buying plants from growers is probably going to result in the same sex as most plants come from one source and are propagated as cuttings.

Now you know why I am asking about specifics (due to plant growth size & my interests to go to the next level and propagate them) sorry for being so long winded, but I felt I needed to explain why I'm being so "fussy" I know from my past experience that I can successfully grow both highland & lowland nepenthes. I plan on having 2 large tanks ( approx. 2 feet X 6 feet x 4 feet tall for highland & lowland) where I can control the climate / lighting & control how much they take over my house Lol

Thank You,
Dan

[John Brittnacher]

The ICPS Seed Bank has Nepenthes seeds maybe a quarter of the time, usually in the late fall and winter. That is the worst time to ship Nepenthes seeds because they can get frozen in route. I have been told that even putting Nepenthes seeds in the refrigerator can be fatal. I don't know about that but I do know about half the Nepenthes seeds the Seed Bank gets are dead on arrival. On the the other hand I have had year old Nepenthes seeds germinate. It depends partly on how they are handled and mostly on the species or hybrid.

I know the current batch of Nepenthes ventricosa is good because of the source and I got excellent germination from the ones I tested. But they are aging as we speak.

Have you tried growing Cephalotus? They stay small although they require more light.

[dan]

Thanks for the reply ! I have thought about Cephalotus, I must admit I just googled them and wikapedia says dormancy is not a requirement. Hmmmmmm.......... I need to research that more as I thought it was a requirement. The biggest reason for my attraction to nepenthes is they don't require dormancy, that & I enjoy pitcher type carnivorous plants.

Hmmmm.... Thanks for bringing Cephalotus to my attention, I need to research it's dormancy requirements more.
I will probably be joining ICPS anyways, it sounds like something I would be interested in.

Dan