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Post by bifurcatum on Sept 9, 2007 16:23:30 GMT 8
Limestone? Can I use this to grow N.northiana or other CPs?  Thanks! |
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Post by tarence on Sept 10, 2007 8:57:56 GMT 8
Errr, i don`t think this is limestone Law, more like gravel. Limestone is porous, I haven`t been able to find it either but granite seems to work for me at the moment for N. northiana. I still want the limestone though.
Isaac : this is more to your area of expertise rite....
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Post by bifurcatum on Sept 10, 2007 14:24:54 GMT 8
Tarence, so can I use this to grow northina?
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Post by tarence on Sept 10, 2007 15:14:25 GMT 8
sorry Law, i`m not the best person to advice you on media for northiana.....Robert help plse.
but fyi, i`m currently using granite plus vermaculite for my northiana until i can find some limestone proper.
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Post by Robert on Sept 10, 2007 17:52:54 GMT 8
Basically northiana need a very well drain media unlike other lowlander that can put up with wetness. I use limestone/clay nuggets or clay nuggets only because they are easily available. Limestone/clay or clay only provide for well drain medium and i can always water everyday without making the medium too wet. Use any medium -but make sure it's very well drain. examples 1/I use peat/perlite but no watering everyday. I water when the medium surface becomes dry.  2/limestone/clay-dries fast and i water everyday or light misting the plant and top of medium  3/clay only-same as 2  |
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Post by bifurcatum on Sept 10, 2007 18:55:55 GMT 8
Hi Robert,
so we still can use acidic medium to grow northina?
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Post by Robert on Sept 10, 2007 19:27:57 GMT 8
Hi Robert, so we still can use acidic medium to grow northina? hi,can you elaborate what kind of medium constitute acidic. |
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Post by bifurcatum on Sept 10, 2007 19:38:48 GMT 8
peat moss, sphagnum...
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Post by Robert on Sept 10, 2007 20:15:02 GMT 8
There are people using it but keep it moist to dry under bright shade. Because i kept my plant in the open it's not possible for me to control esp.when it rains frequently. Northiana dislikes water retention medium. The small pot i'm using peat/perlite is a trial to observe the outcome. |
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Post by isaacgoh on Sept 11, 2007 9:10:41 GMT 8
Errr, i don`t think this is limestone Law, more like gravel. Limestone is porous, I haven`t been able to find it either but granite seems to work for me at the moment for N. northiana. I still want the limestone though. Isaac : this is more to your area of expertise rite.... Actually the stones in the pictures above I believe is somewhat alkaline. Can be used too, definitely not acidic. Usually, those that are high in alkaline tends to be darker in colour like grey, something like cement. |
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Post by Robert on Sept 13, 2007 20:06:21 GMT 8
Hi, a huge limestone look like this (pic 1) and limestone chips ( pic 2)   |
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Post by bifurcatum on Sept 13, 2007 21:12:35 GMT 8
Thank!!!  |
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Post by tarence on Sept 14, 2007 8:48:33 GMT 8
Robert, how come the chips look a bit porous compared to the huge limestone slab or it is just the pic ? or my own impression ? heheh....
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Post by Robert on Sept 14, 2007 11:45:55 GMT 8
the slab look smooth but infact they are very rough. The feeling was like fine sandpaper. pour water on the slab water will immediately seep underneath.
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Post by tarence on Sept 14, 2007 13:38:46 GMT 8
ok, noted, thx Robert.
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Post by isaacgoh on Sept 17, 2007 12:59:05 GMT 8
Limestone looks like cement because it's used to make cements.
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Post by bifurcatum on Sept 17, 2007 16:55:50 GMT 8
SO CAN CEMENT USE TO GROW NORTHIANA TOO?  |
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Post by isaacgoh on Sept 17, 2007 17:27:35 GMT 8
SO CAN CEMENT USE TO GROW NORTHIANA TOO? *Faint*....theoritically yes, if you can make them into pebbles. My experience with water kept in Cement tanks will be alkaline. Is it really so hard to get limestone? Come on. You can also use corals. Can buy from Aquarium shop. |
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Post by cindy on Sept 18, 2007 10:21:21 GMT 8
Corals can be used....only and only if they are free from salt. Best way is to take from your aquarium if you keep freshwater fish at home. I have a tank for my puffer fish and the gravel has some coral chips as buffer. I took some out, soaked them in clean water to rinse off excess nitrates and poked the coral bits into my pot of N. campanulata. It was just an act of desperation because my N. campanulata hasn't grown much in 2 years. So the nearest thing to limestone I have at home is coral chips. But seriously, it worked. In the past 6 months, it has been putting out larger and larger leaves. The pitchers are much larger too. |
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Post by tarence on Sept 18, 2007 10:27:45 GMT 8
Isaac : i guess it`s not difficult to get limestone, just that we can`t tell the difference & we`d rather not risk it. cement, coral, yes, we know what that looks like.
Cindy : you think it`s ok if i buy coral from the aquarium shops then soak it for a week before using ? i`ll wash the coral in-between as well of course.
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