Questions concerning N. argentii

[Clint]

Does anyone have any experience with N. argentii? I've heard it called a true highland, ultrahighland, and intermediate. So far, I've seen more people talk about it being true HL/intermediate than UH. I've also read one person in the Philippines says they love warm weather, yet won't pitcher in winter. Surely you guys can see my confusion? I've read easy, hard, small pot, disproportionately wide pot, slack potting.....

In the hottest parts of summer, nights are at 70 degrees, days in mid 70's usually with the late parts of the day at 78-80 degrees, never above 80. In winter my conditions are true HL conditions (I'm growing in the basement). Always high humidity and light. I'm sort of weary of trying this plant since it's so uncommon in collections and not everyone has much experience with it. If it does do well in intermediate conditions, I feel like it's worth a shot. If it dies, at least I didn't buy one a few years ago when they were $100 more expensive then they are now, right? lol

Thank you for your help,

Clint

[phissionkorps]

I have one, but I can't help you. I've had it for about 4 months, and since then absolutely nothing has happened. I give mine about mid 80s in the day and 60s at night. All thats happened is the newest leaf died due to some sort of pest, but some insecticide and a razorblade took care of that problem. But yeah 4 months and not a single leaf...maybe its still settling in? lol

I wish it would do something so I would know. I can't imagine the plant being too hard though, based on the conditions it gets in situ. It seems like anything besides giving it direct sun and/or torrential rain with a leaf blower right next to it would be "pampering".

Btw I've seen people ask many times on many forums about this plant, and no one ever really knows. I think picrophyll has one? But its not a very common species.

[Michael Catalani]

justlikeapill said:

So far, I've seen more people talk about it being true HL/intermediate than UH.

I have grown a buttload of them in intermediate and highland conditions. I doubt it would grow well as an ultrahighlander, although it would probably grow in these conditions really slowly.

One of the keys to this plant is growing it in a pot that is significantly wider than the plant. This may seem overly easy considering these plants are so small, but I wouldnt recommend anything less than a 6" wide pot. An 8" pot is even better. The leaves will shoot their tendrils into the soil, and emerge again some distance away from the plant. Even the smallest plants need a 6" pot to do this well without getting cramped, and the local humidity around the plant seems to do the plant a lot of good.

Also, growing it in pure dead long fiber sphangum is a good choice as the tendrils can easily penetrate this soil, while giving it something it feels it can hang on to in order to stabilize the plant. The sphagnum also helps keep the humidity high around the plant.

[Clint]

Thank you both very much! I was thinking dead LFS with live LFS on top.

Michael, would you say my nights of 70 degrees are too warm? I'm pretty paranoid about my summer night temperatures. During the spring, fall and winter it's significantly lower (50 tops in winter, warmer if need be if I cover the terrarium to hold in the heat).

[Michael Catalani]

justlikeapill said:

Thank you both very much! I was thinking dead LFS with live LFS on top.

Michael, would you say my nights of 70 degrees are too warm? I'm pretty paranoid about my summer night temperatures. During the spring, fall and winter it's significantly lower (50 tops in winter, warmer if need be if I cover the terrarium to hold in the heat).

For the long term, that may be too warm. They will take it in the short term with no problem as long as the root system is well developed. At least mine do. But the best temps for them seem to be that of an intermediate/highlander with night temps around 60F.

[Clint]

Then it's time for me to start thinking about an air conditioner and weighing the pros and cons. Thanks for the info guys!