First Cephalotus

[bananahands]

Hello everyone!

I am expecting my first Cepahlotus plants in the mail in about a week, but I can't find answers to some of my questions.
First, they are coming from Australia (Phill Mann, Southern Carnivores) so is there anyting that I need to do to get them used to my climate (zone 6b)? Second, how would they fair in a 1.5 gallon round fishbowl as an indoor plant on a sunny windowsill.?

Thanks a lot in advance!
Mike Johnson

[Aidan]

The plants must be coming bare-root and Cephalotus do not enjoy root disturbance. Plants may take anywhere from several months up to a year to recover and start growing again. If there are pitchers on the plants, don't be surprised if most of them quickly die.

A sunny windowsill should be fine. You could try the fishbowl, but as an undrained container controlling watering will be critical. Cephalotus are easy to rot if kept permanently soaking wet. I keep the plant in pots and water on the tray system.

The old plastic bag trick can be used to acclimatise plants. Cover the pots with bags and gradually increase ventilation over the period of a few weeks by cutting off the corners, enlarging the hole and eventually removing altogether.

[locko]

Hi Mike My ceph came bare rooted and recovered fairly quickly it only lost 1 pitcher out of the 3. I grow my ceph on a sunny window in a fish tank I do live in Australia but far from its home it worked for me so should definetly work for you. The way I got around the watering is to tray water and only put about 2cm of water in the tank wait for that to evaporate and put more water in. When potting it up I kept the plant on top of a small mound of sand/peat that just covered the roots and then put some sphagnum moss around it to stop any chance of rot it worked great my ceph is still going strong pics of myn are in the thread labeled My ceph. Hope all goes well.

[bananahands]

Thank you both for your information. I will put it to good use. I think I will save the fishbowls for some butterworts until I am able to get them to drain. In the mean time, I was able to snag a few plastic tubs about 3 inches round by 1.5 inches deep (Sorry I don't have a metric conversion) will these be ok? I cannot find small pots locally. Also, just to make sure, the soil is 1 part peat and 2 parts pearlite, right? I have been told to use sand as well but don't know which sand to look for. Thanks again!
Mike

[Aidan]

I'd recommend much deeper pots. At least 4". Too shallow and the plants may be permanently waterlogged.

Growers successfully use a variety of different media mixes. Whatever works for them!

Sand for use with carnivorous plants should be a pure, silica sand. Here we get what is called "Lime-free Horticultural Sand". Builders sand, play sand etc should be avoided as it may contain many impurities.

[bananahands]

Thanks again Aiden.
I have seen pictures of Cephs growing in African Violet pots, would this work? If not, I have some ''extra large'' styrafoam cups, they just don't look as nice.

Mike

[quogue]

Here's a great trick for reducing stress of Cephalotus from being shipped bareroot.
I learned it from Phil S. at the Meadowview Biological Research Station when I ordered some from them.

When it arrives, you place the bareroot Ceph with no sphag or nothing on the root onto a wet paper towell inside a slightly opened plastic baggie.
You let it sit there for a week or so making sure it doesn't dry out.
Plant.

Viola'! You won't lose as many pitchers and the plant will bounce back and produce bigger pitchers quicker than if you just plant it when you get it.

I've done both and this method seems to work well.
I placed mine next to the tank I grew it in, received some light but not alot. Not sure if that makes a difference.

This baggie trick "air hardens" the root so it's not as sensitive when it's planted.

I got these plants and tried this trick a few years ago and they're doing great to this day!

[bananahands]

aidan said:

The old plastic bag trick can be used to acclimatise plants. Cover the pots with bags and gradually increase ventilation over the period of a few weeks by cutting off the corners, enlarging the hole and eventually removing altogether.

How slowly should the bag be opened up?

Mike

[Jefforever]

I received plants from Phill Mann as well. 3 out of the 7 I bought died from my own error when handling the roots. If I were you, I would keep the plants in an area with 70%+ humidity. A deep pot like a gallon or so would be fine.

[glider14]

mine survive in 50-60% humidity. less than ideal conditions.....and i have a mature pitcher on it
Alex

[Thaiteek]

Unfortunately yet did not meet the first cephalotus.
I have more kinds of carnivorous plant, but I cannot obtain this.

[gold3nku5h]

Im glad to see you said that alex, i just got one today, and potted it up, it still looks healthy well see how it looks tomorrow. Anyways, thats about the condition mines going to be in for a while, till i get a terrarium setup for it. Its got 75-85 daytime, 60-70 nightime, with 4 floruescent lights.

[sarracenialover]

Yes, an African violet pot works. I have one and my ceph is very slowly but surely growing in a terrarium. Just recovering from a transplant. If you want proff that a self watering pot works check with Sarracenina NorthWest they sometimes grow the plant on this type of pot and it works well.