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Post by cpjungle72 on Feb 19, 2008 21:52:53 GMT
Hello, I am wanting to compose an inorganic mix for my Nepenthes, based on the directions @: www.carnivorousplants.org/cpn/samples/Cult292NepInorSub.htmAnd was wondering if anyone is using this mix, and how well it is working? And where I can find all the ingredients for it? As I am having problems locating the product called Seramis here in the US. The product is made by a company based in the UK @ www.seramishydroponics.com/index.php/cName/seramis-clay-granules. I have sent them an e-mail to see if they had a US supplier, or if I could arrange to have it shipped to the States, but have yet to receive a reply. For the Lecaton expanded clay perls, I have ordered a product called LECA Stone (8-16mm). It was the closest thing I could find to it. And also about the lava gravel, can I use any kind of lava, or should it be the black kind? Because I was thanking I could buy a bag of landscaping lava, and use a hammer to brake it up. I can buy large bag of the red lava for less then $5. Any advice, or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks ;D |
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Post by rsivertsen on Feb 19, 2008 22:10:15 GMT
The more critical aspect of growing Nepenthes is your water quality; use either RO or distilled water. My tap water has enough copper and mineral salts that it will eventually kill ordinary houseplants, and if a slow drip occurs in my shower, a blue-green stain will form on the porcialin! Otherwise, you can grow many Nepenthes on a wet brick!  The NZ or Cilean sphagnum avilable in the large Home and Garden stores are also good. I would stay away from artificially colored media, organic or otherwise. |
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Post by cpjungle72 on Feb 19, 2008 23:56:10 GMT
The more critical aspect of growing Nepenthes is your water quality; use either RO or distilled water. My tap water has enough copper and mineral salts that it will eventually kill ordinary houseplants, and if a slow drip occurs in my shower, a blue-green stain will form on the porcialin! Otherwise, you can grow many Nepenthes on a wet brick! The NZ or Cilean sphagnum avilable in the large Home and Garden stores are also good. I would stay away from artificially colored media, organic or otherwise. Hey thanks for the tip rsivertsen. Thats nice to know. So I could go without the Seramis then. It just seemed to me that a mix like that would have incredible air circulation, whilst retaining water at the same time. And would outlast any organic mix out there. Wow thats some hard water you got there. No I have always used distiled, or rain water for my cp's. Thanks again |
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Post by rsivertsen on Feb 20, 2008 0:39:11 GMT
Drainage and air circulation for Nepenthes root systems is good for the most part. Stagnant water and too acidic conditions are not so good for Nepenthes; but the best results are found out by trial and error, which is often very differnt from grower to grower, depending upon your conditions and water.
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Post by cpjungle72 on Feb 20, 2008 4:57:56 GMT
Yes this mix according to the CPN Sample article is slightly alkaline, with a ph 7.2. And it go's on to say that the mix should be soaked in purified water before being used. But I believe I will soak, and rinse it several times just to play it safe. Thanks for the advice  |
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Post by snowflakeobsidian on Feb 22, 2008 19:51:56 GMT
Hmmm, think I know now why nobody replied to my separate post about using hydroton. I am looking at inorganic potting media because the mold which grows in peat potting mixes has been known to trigger my asthma.
Thanks cpjungle72 for posting the link to that potting mix. I understand the Seramis and Leca Stone to be different brands (and sizes) of hydroton. I've also seen lava gravel mentioned as a component in African Violet potting mixes. There was an article in a newletter published by the University of California, Davis, which mentioned that potting media particles should be varying sizes to increase the percentage of air...guess that's in part why the different hydrotons.
Susan
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Post by snowflakeobsidian on Feb 22, 2008 23:17:12 GMT
I just realized the article mentions fine vermiculite for rooting nepenthes cuttings. Horticultureal grade vermiculite contains trace minerals. So then is vermiculite in general considered safe for Nepenthes and other CPs? Or safe just for rooting? I don't recall reading about vermiculite being used with CPs.
Susan
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Post by cpjungle72 on Feb 23, 2008 5:06:49 GMT
Hi Susan, sorry to hear of your asthma problems. As for your question about vermiculite, yes it is safe to use in your potting mix year round. There are many growers who use it in there peat, perlite, orchid bark mixes.
Well I have came up with an all inorganic mix that I believe will perform as well as the CPN Sample article. The ingredients that I will be using are one part of each, Lecastone (8-16mm expanded clay balls), Aerolite (extra large perlite), black lava gravel, and Laterite aggraget(used in fresh water aquariums). I have everything but the laterite, and that should arrive sometime next week. Ones I have everything I will post before/after photos of my plants growing in the mix.
Thanks ;D
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Post by cpjungle72 on Feb 23, 2008 5:17:49 GMT
Oh yes, I did have one other problem that I could use some advice with. I purchased some Osmocote today, but I thank I grabbed the wrong kind. The kind I got is for acid lovers, azalea/camellia/rhododendron. And the N P K is 9-6-6 with 18.7% Sulfur, and 2% Iron? Is anyone experienced with working with this stuff? Will this type be bad for my Nep's? I would be sick if I fried my Nep's!
Thanks for anyones advice.
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Post by snowflakeobsidian on Feb 23, 2008 20:18:00 GMT
Try looking at fertilizer without urea. Bacterial action is needed to break down urea so plants can use it. There are far fewer bacteria in inorganic potting media.
On the subject of potting media, I was looking at the bonsai stuff. There are fired clays, including one with naturally low pH!
Susan
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Post by cpjungle72 on Feb 23, 2008 21:44:03 GMT
Thanks for the tip. I hadn't thought of that, but the fertilizer I have says nothing about urea being an ingredient. So I guess I'll go ahead, and give it a try. In that CPN Sample article it stated that I should us 1/3 of the recommended dose. But I thank I'll go even less then that to start with just to play it safe.
Are you referring to akadama fired clay? Yes I looked at that as well, but went with the Lecastone instead as it is a lot cheaper. And the Lecastone is ph neutral as well. I thank the lava is what is alkaline, and needs to be soaked, and rinsed to tone it down.
Thanks
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Post by snowflakeobsidian on Feb 24, 2008 18:26:38 GMT
It's good to know there is a Osmocote formula without urea. The Osmocote bottles I've seen locallly all list urea as one of the components making up the nitrogen.
I was referring to fired Kanuma clay. It is supposed to have a pH of 4.5-5.0. We have a limited number of indoor CPs, due to space and available time to care for them, so while the cost of Kanuma is high the trade-off for me is fine. I was thinking of mixing Kanuma with the PrimeAgra hydroton I already have, plus one more component. There is a site (http://www.orchidboard.com/community/21704-post41.html) where someone talks about using PrimeAgra with their Nepenthes and Sarracenias. It mentions soaking in a 25% vinegar solution for a few days and then rinsing with RO water. The vinegar was to handle some problems with salts on that batch of hydroton. Just something to think about.
Susan
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Post by snowflakeobsidian on Feb 24, 2008 20:43:49 GMT
Should probably mention that I've fought the pH battle with growing another plant. Unless the water and potting mix pH were right, there was no way I could grow an African Violet for exhibition.
Susan
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Post by cpjungle72 on Feb 25, 2008 7:39:22 GMT
Wow, thanks for the heads up Susan! You wouldn't thank that a product like that would have traces of salt! I have already begun soaking, and washing my Lecastone, and lava in RO. Guess I'll add a bit of vinegar to the next soaking water just to play it safe. The first two washings have really done a good job at washing away the majority of the fine particulates. The mix is starting to look good. I have noticed though, that there are a few of the Lecastones floating around in the RO bath. But I really don't perceive that as being a problem, as I will be strictly top watering. Thanks again for the info. |
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Post by Randy Zerr on Apr 29, 2008 4:30:50 GMT
I've grown Nepenthes in pure vermiculite and they did well. And other non organic mediums for other plants including pure sand, sand and perlite, laterite or ironstone gravel. I've always come back to peat/sand mixes though as they don't dry out as fast and can easily tell when it's time to water.
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