Nepenthes cuttings. Growing medium and weather when taken.

[richardhole]

Hello

Do you find the growing medium makes much difference for Nepenthes cuttings?
Would there be much difference in strike rate if I used pure sphagnum moss or alternatively sphagnum moss mixed with Perlite with perhaps 50 percent of each or if I used sphagnum based peat mixed with Perlite with 50 percent of each?

Also, does it matter much what the weather is like when I take the cuttings? I am concerned that the plants may be more stressed during hot dry weather and it may be best to wait until it is cooler and overcast with more humidity. Would it increase the chances of them striking if I took them in cooler, overcast and humid conditions or is it all right in hot and dry weather if I keep the cuttings I took misted and in water? Currently we are in spring in Northern Australia on the Atherton Tableland near Cairns where daytime temperatures rise to about 30 degrees Celsius when the humidity is about 30%.

Once I have taken the cuttings I will put them in a greenhouse with over 50% shade where there is an automatic misting system that regularly mists the foliage.

Regards Richard.

[adelea]

Hi Richard, I'm in North QLD to (just south of cairns), I find that for lowlanders summer is the best time to take cuttings, then pure water works best, intermediates and intermediate hubrids on the other hand I find winter is the best time and may like either pure H2O or pure sand or perlite and a high water tray, they like it abit airy, aim for a high humidity (70% and up) and bright light (such as tthrough 50% shade cloth) or morning sun any time between 8am and 11am.

But substrate varies plant to plant, ventricosa for example dislike sand and will rot, and mirabilis is slower in perlite than sand, but maxima is best in pure water (in my experience), and ampullaria like peat/sand with very little light.

As for temps, a lowlander is best in 30-35c for a cutting, but an intermediate likes 20-25c, then hybrids are variable, if its parents are a mix they like anything from 20-30, but if they have highlander in them they like 20-24C.