I was recently asked for the following information, so I decided to share it with everyone:
P.S. Some species respond favorably to the addition of coral sand, but not all. Piinguicula gypsicola is one that does.
Additional comments: Whenever growth appears to be slowing, I dust the leaves with dried insect powder, then spritz the leaves with a little 40ppm fertilizer solution.
If you haven't realized it by now, I am a tinkerer. I am constantly thinking up new things to try, so that my cultivation and propagation success might improve. Some things have helped, some haven't. I have just recently discovered the benefits of this new media blend, I had used it with a few different Mexican species, they had developed root systems that bound together a one-inch deep plug of the media and most of these roots were still alive. Ordinarily in an organic-rich media, though the plants appeared very healthy and were growing well, upon removing them from the media it became apparent that they had virtually no root system to speak of. Except for a few roots about 1/4 inch long growing around the perimiter of the "root ball", the central roots were usually all dead and rotting. I have not yet converted all, or even most, of my Mexican Pinguicula into this media, but, all those so far transferred have responded very well. I must give credit to Pyro and Eric for their contributions to the idea of using a mostly mineral media.
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Supplemental Addition:
I've come to realize that by using fluorescent lighting I may be providing more of the UV levels these plants are used to in their natural habitats and this may be part of my cultivation successes.
For details of variations in UV radiation reaching the earth at various altitudes and latitudes, here is a link to one source: U.S. EPA.
For example, the expected UV exposure in Oaxaca, Mexico is here. I compare that with my local UV, here at Tucson, AZ. I consider my exposure here in Tucson to be high, and it is, but nothing like closer to the equator or at high elevations close to the equator. Anything North of our latitude is significantly lower in overall UV exposure.
PinguiculaMan was my former user name. My formula for success with Mexican Pinguicula is not very mysterious:
Ingredients --- Light: strong cool-white fluorescents - 4 foot lamps in narrow-reflector, shop light fixtures, mounted as close as possible to each other (side by side); Water: purified, low mineral content is good, but not essential, many Mexican species and the hybrids derived from them can tolerate fairly high mineral concentrations in their water and media; Pots: square plastic, usually 2" x 2" x 2-1/4", for some plants a larger pot may be needed; Media: 1 part Schultz aquatic plant soil (sintered fullers earth) and 1 part 20 or 30 grit silica sand --- pre-moisten the sand (not wet, just damp) and blend a very small amount of iron oxide powder into the sand before mixing all ingredients together, I mix thoroughly while lightly spraying with a 40ppm solution of 20-20-20 soluble fertilizer with trace elements (which is absorbed by the aquatic plant soil and fortifies it); Trays: shoe box size polyethylene plastic trays, I spray paint the rim white with spray paint formulated for plastic; Amendments: dried, powdered, insects with a small amount of Trichoderma harzianum inoculum mixed in.
Directions --- fill a pot with media, set it into a container of water with the level just below the top until it is wet and settles, remove from container and set where it can drain, poke an appropriate sized planting hole in center of media, sprinkle with insect powder amendment, place plant in hole, gently firm media around plant base and roots, add label as per your personal preference, set pot(s) into tray containing about ¾ inch of water (replenish water as necessary), place tray(s) under fluorescent lights (vary the timing of the lights somewhat to simulate natural photoperiod seasonal changes), keep temperatures in human comfort range and observe progress.
P.S. Some species respond favorably to the addition of coral sand, but not all. Piinguicula gypsicola is one that does.
Additional comments: Whenever growth appears to be slowing, I dust the leaves with dried insect powder, then spritz the leaves with a little 40ppm fertilizer solution.
If you haven't realized it by now, I am a tinkerer. I am constantly thinking up new things to try, so that my cultivation and propagation success might improve. Some things have helped, some haven't. I have just recently discovered the benefits of this new media blend, I had used it with a few different Mexican species, they had developed root systems that bound together a one-inch deep plug of the media and most of these roots were still alive. Ordinarily in an organic-rich media, though the plants appeared very healthy and were growing well, upon removing them from the media it became apparent that they had virtually no root system to speak of. Except for a few roots about 1/4 inch long growing around the perimiter of the "root ball", the central roots were usually all dead and rotting. I have not yet converted all, or even most, of my Mexican Pinguicula into this media, but, all those so far transferred have responded very well. I must give credit to Pyro and Eric for their contributions to the idea of using a mostly mineral media.
-----------
Supplemental Addition:
I've come to realize that by using fluorescent lighting I may be providing more of the UV levels these plants are used to in their natural habitats and this may be part of my cultivation successes.
For details of variations in UV radiation reaching the earth at various altitudes and latitudes, here is a link to one source: U.S. EPA.
For example, the expected UV exposure in Oaxaca, Mexico is here. I compare that with my local UV, here at Tucson, AZ. I consider my exposure here in Tucson to be high, and it is, but nothing like closer to the equator or at high elevations close to the equator. Anything North of our latitude is significantly lower in overall UV exposure.
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