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Post by sykosarah on Mar 5, 2014 6:11:20 GMT
Never potted one before, so I wanted some tips on how deep the roots should be covered by soil and other tips by people who have done it before.
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Post by adelea on Mar 5, 2014 6:51:19 GMT
Depends on the size of the plant, but generally I aim to have to roots atleast 2-3cm below surface level, and for some species I make a slightly risen mound around them in the centre of the pot (like veitchii). But really you can plant nepenthes as high as their lowest leaf, e.g. if its a 30cm tall plant with the roots then a 10cm gap to the next green leaf you can go anywhere between 10 and 2cm with a happy plant, my plants never seem to care about having their stem buried, providing your watering regime/soil is not wet enough to cause rot. Also certain species are happier in certain soils (like veitchii in spag or kongkadana in peat/sand) but most don't give a dam and are happy in common mixes. Mixes I use are 1 spag:1 course orchid bark 1 peat:1 sand:1 violet mix 2 spag : 1 peat 2 spag : 1 perlite and 1 spag: 1 peat :1 lava rock (basalt) : 1 sand The only plants I use anything not listed on are veilardii, pervillei, campanulata, veitchii and kongkadana.
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Post by adelea on Mar 5, 2014 6:52:27 GMT
Also if its a larger plant us a stake or another form of support and water in well to let adequate soil settle on the roots
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Post by sykosarah on Mar 5, 2014 7:30:03 GMT
Small plant, 3 1/2 inch leaf span, low to the growing medium, from what I can tell from the picture. I purchased a soil mix of a 1:1:1 ratio peat moss:orchid bark:perlite
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Post by adelea on Mar 5, 2014 9:43:11 GMT
What type of nepenthes is it? Several nepenthes dislike peatmoss, what type of nepenthes is it, the only plants I have that thrive in peat are mirabiis, bicalarata, ampullaria, distilatoria and benstonei, so pretty much all lowlanders, if it is a lowlander you may be better with a mix of 2peat : 1 orchid bark as many people have issues with perlite and salts/minerals, the peat will hold on to any of these if the source is not clean enough.
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Post by paulbarden on Mar 5, 2014 13:41:43 GMT
Peat moss, no. Sphagnum, yes. Peat is too dense.
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Post by sykosarah on Mar 6, 2014 4:04:55 GMT
It is a highlander hybrid; are you saying that peat moss being an ingredient is a bad idea? Tanagensis X Glabrata is what the hybrid is. I have a large bag of sphagnum peat moss as well, and worse comes to worse if you guys think that the perlite is going to be a problem I can shift it out. Or wash the medium thouroughly first, through the orchid bark might make that hard. I have enough extra of this mix that I could pull all of the perlite out and still have enough.
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Post by sykosarah on Mar 6, 2014 4:05:32 GMT
Then again, everyone has their favorite soil mix...
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Post by tanukimo on Mar 6, 2014 4:10:12 GMT
Peat moss is fine, as long as it does not make up too much of the soil mix. Since you have orchid bark and perlite as well, the mixture will be more airy so it should be fine.
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Post by sykosarah on Mar 6, 2014 4:14:19 GMT
I guess I shall see. I will be very disappointed if the plant dies on me
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Post by sykosarah on Mar 6, 2014 4:17:37 GMT
Although, if it does well and I have to trim it up I will end up with a bunch of extra plants.
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Post by paulbarden on Mar 6, 2014 15:32:46 GMT
If, as you have stated, that peat makes up 1/3 of the soil blend, then you will have to be very careful not to overwater, since peat tends to hold too much water and too little air. I wouldn't worry about the perlite though. I use lots of it in all my soils.
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Post by sykosarah on Mar 6, 2014 19:13:38 GMT
Ok. Don't worry, I have a pot that drains very well that I plan to use. I have it set a bit above the dish so that it drains completely.
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Post by adelea on Mar 6, 2014 21:16:12 GMT
For a highland plant I would suggest spag as peat is more suited to a few lowanders, but its a hybrid so its most likely more resilient than both its parents (hybrid vigour), and I have used peat on many intermediates with no issues, but in small doses. If the plant declines/rots move it to a mix with spag and perlite or spag and bark, also I would suggest placing something at the bottom of the pot, like bark or spag, it will slow drainage but it will also mean you get to keep your peat, I use a small layer of spag on the bottom of my pots with peat other wise the misters wash most of the peat out.
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Post by sykosarah on Mar 7, 2014 3:50:17 GMT
I will remember to put some of the orchid bark in a layer on the bottom. Trust me, I learned the hard way that peat moss likes to rush out of the container.
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