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Post by bactrus on Feb 15, 2008 10:08:24 GMT 8
Interest was aroused to find out what Nep growers nurture their babies... whether with or without fertiliser. Results fairly important to newbie like me. To quote artificialive in petpitcher.proboards61.com/index.cgi?board=general&action=display&thread=1202974700"Just wanna bring up this topic becos it seems to me like a controversial subject. Some growers have successfully grown their neps without fertilizers and some, with fertilizers." |
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Post by artificialive on Feb 15, 2008 10:26:48 GMT 8
Hi Bactrus, Thanks for creating this thread. Appreciate it  As for me, i do not fertilize my neps, but to my logic, i should try using organic pellet ferts, perhaps mimicking their natural habitat where bird and another animals' poo can be found on the ground. But yeah, at the end of the day, it doesn't promise the optimum growth of our plants, is it. |
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Post by ameliepoulain on Feb 15, 2008 11:25:39 GMT 8
bactrus, I think you miss out one more method, what I've be advised and tried - feeding the pitcher with osmocote. So far, after 4 weeks - no ill effect + am getting more pitchers.
Btw, if I feed organic fertilizer into the pitchers, is that feeding with organics?
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Post by bactrus on Feb 15, 2008 13:29:19 GMT 8
Anthene,
Osmocote, Bastacote, Sumicoat, Vitality Forte, Agroblen etc are slow release or controlled release fertiliers.
Wanna try Bastacote? I have some. Gimme a buzz next week when you're around my area.
BA
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Post by ameliepoulain on Feb 15, 2008 14:03:15 GMT 8
Anthene, Osmocote, Bastacote, Sumicoat, Vitality Forte, Agroblen etc are slow release or controlled release fertiliers. Wanna try Bastacote? I have some. Gimme a buzz next week when you're around my area. BA I'm around you area daily these day my friend! |
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Post by artificialive on Feb 15, 2008 14:55:42 GMT 8
Athene: How much is the dosage of the osmocote u put in the pitcher, athene? I mean, maybe 2-3 pellets per pitcher?
Bactrus: Err whats the difference between all the fert family ure mentioning? ;D
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Post by bactrus on Feb 16, 2008 10:31:25 GMT 8
Just mentioning to Anthene that osmocote is form of controlled release fertiliser mention earlier. Hehe. maybe redundant info. The brands mentioned. Anyone keen to try... prejudice for me to mention which is better. Tried them all normal plants.
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Post by ameliepoulain on Mar 19, 2008 9:03:23 GMT 8
Athene: How much is the dosage of the osmocote u put in the pitcher, athene? I mean, maybe 2-3 pellets per pitcher? Bactrus: Err whats the difference between all the fert family ure mentioning? ;D Art, Sorry for the late reply. I put in 1-2 pellet in each pitcher, but for my 1st experiment, I didn't put in all the pitchers of each plant, only a few pitcher each. So far no ill effect. |
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Post by phissionkorps on Mar 19, 2008 9:22:21 GMT 8
Please let us know if you experience any adverse effects. I sure did, so I only use orchid fert now (19-31-17).
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Post by rainforestguy on Mar 20, 2008 1:07:32 GMT 8
I can solve many problems for misuse of fertilizing.
Do not add chemical fertilizers to pitchers. A pitcher's method for nutrient absorption is strictly for nitrogen and related enzymes released from microorganism breakdown. thus breakdown of organic base compounds.
If one notices the roots of nepenthes, you will notice that they have black, fine roots almost like a netting. Whether it is derived from a tuberous rootstock (i.e. thorelii, sp. Viking, et al) fine black roots are still produced. Even epiphytic species has these fine black roots. When a root is fine and networking, it is seeking minute diluted forms of nutrients. These roots also absorb more than NPK. They utilize metals and salts also found in the soils. These are not derived from pitcher feedings. Plants from ultramafic soils or soils high in calcium require root absorption for these minerals to be beneficial to the plant.
Since these plants all come from regions of heavy or seasonal rainfall, it is through this application for absorption that needs to be addressed. Timed-release fertilizers are not safe due to their release not based on moisture, but many times on temperatures and humidity that has nothing to do with free water that is required for absorption. If the temperatures soars high, many coatings of timed release stuff will release fertilizers even when no water is present as a carrier for dilution or root absorption. Introducing timed release fertilizers into a pitcher just makes them release the nutrients and NPK at once. Many times this will burn the pitchers as the salts and metal and or mineral compounds will be in too large a concentration and may also kill enzymatic microorganisms present in the pitchers.
Foliar feedings are usually a waste of time with just minerals or some salt compounds being absorbed through leaf membranes, again nutrients needing to be broken down to usable compounds before the plant can make functional use out of it. This cannot occur anywhere except in the soil level where these microbes are present.
Use a diluted organic base nutrient solution. Avoid Miracle Grow as these contain more salts than actual nutrients. I have found Peters a good source for chemical base nutrients and GrowMore Liquid Seaweed Extract very beneficial as an organic low salt formulation. I am sure there are other good seaweed sources and recommend these highly. The seaweed blends also contain microorganisms present in it that will aid in breakdown of nutrients once introduced in the soil.
Regarding ammonia, I have not found it adversely harmful to nepenthes. So long as it is given with ample water and leaching effects after use, there are no harmful effects from prolonged use. The soil bacteria also breaks down the nitrogen cycle effectively and easily by simple chemical decomposition and produces usable nitrogen compounds.
But watering with plain water daily, or as watered, is an important criteria for any nutrient program to work efficiently. While NPK is important the salts used as carriers is not and these may remain in the soils to toxic levels.
Michael
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