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Post by Wayne Jenski on Apr 3, 2009 13:55:42 GMT
I just received a small but very healthy looking ceph from Hortus Botanicus. The entire rosette is about the size of a quarter; it arrived growing in a 2" sq. pot filled with pure live sphagnum. It does not look like it needs repotting yet due to size; what I am concerned about it the medium. It is clearly doing just fine for now, I just worry about the water retention of the sphagnum. I feel I am left with 3 options:
a) remove all live sphagnum and replace with a well draining medium of sand, perlite, and peat (also potentially shocking the little thing to near death)
b) remove most of the sphagnum- avoiding exposing the roots- and plant the clump in a larger pot with well draining soil
c) stop worrying and leave the poor thing alone because it seems to be just fine
What do the experts think?
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fredg
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Posts: 367
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Post by fredg on Apr 3, 2009 17:16:49 GMT
I have one of my Cephalotus 'Big Boy' in living sphagnum, it's doing just fine. This is a photo from about 1 year ago. It's in a 6" half pot and now substantially larger than shown here. Incidentally it was a 'cutting' of 2 pitchers that I broke off when I was cleaning up the motherplant. The original pitchers are under the sphagnum ( and a second set) the plant just grew upwards along with the sphagnum. Having said that I also grow Cephalotus on a tray system and they sit in water all summer. They have enjoyed a maximum of 20 months standing wet in an unheated greenhouse in the Midlands UK. ( Pauses for the 'you can't do that' shouts to die down) I've been growing these plants for 26 years so it's not a fluke. ;D Now to your predicament. You observe that the plant is happy in live sphagnum, it's you that isn't happy for it to be there. A 2" pot is a but on the small size and conditions in such a small pot will change rapidly. You will have to repot at some stage so why not come to a compromise. Repot the plant complete with all it's sphagnum into your prefered free draining compost. That will reduce the root disturbance to a minimum. The sphagnum will also act as an indicator if you're going too dry. Both of you should then be happy
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Post by Wayne Jenski on Apr 3, 2009 17:35:53 GMT
Thanks, Fred. I'll do just that . . . so upgrade to a larger pot to provide a more thermally stable environment for the roots? I know they like'em cool.
Being that I just got the plant, I'll probably let it acclimate to my chamber for a few weeks, then go ahead with the repotting.
I appreciate the input . . . and nice plant, by the way!
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fredg
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Posts: 367
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Post by fredg on Apr 3, 2009 17:42:27 GMT
Sorry but I just had to add this new photo I just took it A Cephalotus grown in pure living shagnum in an unheated UK greenhouse and standing in water for about 9 months of the year. Condition is not too bad for the beginning of April ;D
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Post by Wayne Jenski on Apr 3, 2009 23:03:03 GMT
Absolutely awesome looking plant! But what are the little webs on them? Are they from spider mites?
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fredg
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Posts: 367
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Post by fredg on Apr 3, 2009 23:54:50 GMT
Just from spiderlings. Nothing untoward ;D
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Post by sarracenialover on May 8, 2009 3:30:48 GMT
How long did you have the plant before it produces those nice looking mature pitchers?
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fredg
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Posts: 367
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Post by fredg on May 8, 2009 18:17:23 GMT
That plant is a 'cutting'. I accidentally broke off a shoot with two very large pitchers when I was cleaning the mother plant up. So it had very large pitchers to begin with. Big Boy is a so called 'giant'. I've had the mother plant for 26 years
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