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nepenthes gracilis

Nepenthes Specialist
Hi all!!

    Thought I would share some pictures I took today.


bical%20red%20pitcher.JPG

New N. bicalcarata 'red' pitcher

growchamber.JPG

Lowland growchamber

These next two pictures are of my N. ampullaria which hasn't pitchered since July of 2002. If anyone can provide tips on what looks like is wrong with it please repsond! I really appreaciate it, it is a super plant and I would like to get it to pitcher for me. I personally was thinking maybe it isn't pitchering as it may be preparing to flower? All replies welcomed! Also the care of the N. ampullaria are as follows for reference:

Water- RO on the tray system.
Light- 2 4 ft (120 cm) long fluorescent bulbs about 2-2 1/2 ft (60-75 cm0 away from the plant.
Humidity- high, an N. bicalcarata pitchers so I assume it should be plenty high enough but maybe it isn't.
Soil- long fiber Chilean sphagnum moss.
Temperature- low, 70 night 73-75F day time.
amp.JPG

N. ampullaria 'spotted'

amp%20basal%20shoots.JPG

N. ampullaria 'spotted' basla shoots/growth
 
dang that thing is huge!

i duno why it isnt pitchering but the one you sent me is pitchering great
 
Hi Stefano, glad the little amp is doing good! I was talking to a friend earlier on the chat and he told me it needs higher humidity, even higher than a bicalcarata.
 
My N. ampullarias did the best last season when the average daytime temp was 95F. I've been told that amps and bicals especially appreciate very high temps, and yours looks like it gets strong light from the reddening. Also, my amps are kept in deep shade which seems to stimulate multiple basal shoots and strong climbing stems. As soon as winter hit last year and the daytime highs dropped they stopped pitcher production temporarily but it's hard to say if these were the only factors which caused it.
 
My amp is in my terrarium with two other lowlanders that seem to be doing well. Day temps are about seventy and night temps drop as low as fifty... The humidity is whatever it gets to. The bottom of the terrarium is the plants' water tray... Everything is doing amazingly well, despite the low temps and variable humidity (i open and close the thing constantly...)
 
I don't think that humidity is the problem. I have my N ampullaria outside here in PR and it pitchers just fine even when the humidity drops to about 50% during the day. My guess is that the temperature is too cool for the plant. I think that getting the temps to 80 F - 85 F during the day will make it pitcher.

Jœl
 
OK, that's my problem though! I have no way to really raise my temps...no idea how to....at present I have an aquarium heater (seen in the clear jug in the chamber picture) and a hot rock and temps are still only low 70's. Any ideas to heat it more? Thanks!
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I don't know my N. Ampullaria goes through low temperatures (60'F) and humidity (65%) and it stills produce pitchers.
 
NepG,

Get yourself a steam humidifier. It works a lot better than the heater in a jar thing and it'll warm stuff up for you. I used to run one of these when I lived in CO, I had my room (200 sq ft) up to 90 most days, even in the winter
 
  • #10
Howdy Pyro,

Hmm I have an ultrasonic is that the same thing? Or is a steam humidifier hot humid air???
 
  • #11
Steam humidifer boils the water between a few electrodes, so it shoots up steam, hot steam. Thas all that I've got. Hehe...

But like i said earlier. My max daytime temps are 70s for my amp... It's a cutting from Joel's, so I'm not sure that it is an issue of temperature...  =/

EDIT: Could it be light? It seems more viney than mine, and other's I've seen... Just a thought.
 
  • #12
N.bilcarata looks nice!
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  • #13
I think your light is low. I know that two flourecent tubes at 2 feet high don't provide enough light. Especialy, if the length and width of your growing area is relatively large. Just my two cents.
 
  • #14
Se those white reflective papers in the back though? Those reflect LOTS more light, beforehand the light as awfully low.
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  • #15
Nep G I don't think light can be it, I have seen amp in the deepest darkest jungles where it is nearly black all the time and it had pitchers.
Amp and longifolia are the only two I know of that can take it like that.

I would correct the temp first and see what happens.

Cheers, Troy.
 
  • #16
Hi Nep G.,
If you do figure out what is causing the problem, let us know. I have the same problem. My Amp is just sitting there, doing nothing. All my other lowlanders are in the same tank, and doing great (well, the mirabilis is a little weak, but at least it's growing).
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  • #17
I have a little extric heater with a thermosat and it shouldn't cost much to run when the room is 72F. only a few degrees to warm up to 85F or so. I may try that or a heat lamp.

Schloaty, the amp grows but retarded growth, and aborted pitchers are grown. It HAS to be the cold temps.
 
  • #18
All righty! The electic heater was too risky of fire so I remembered I had a halogen light I never use.

So I got to thinking and hey, halogens generate large quantities of heat so I put it in the growchamber and now fomr 72F regular temp it is bumped up to 80F! Anyone thihnk the ampullaria as well as other plants in there will appreaciate it as it is much more and noticably warmer? Thanks!
 
  • #19
WAIT A MINUTE!!! pitchers are not formed on the climbing stems are they?
 
  • #20
Well?
 
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