I top water my ceph, and it's been doing very well. Leaves and pitchers grow large quickly (adult pitchers first appeared in March, and those that started growing in April are currently about an inch long), though I haven't checked the root system. I always do my best to not get water on the crown, and when it does happen, the plant is outside in a Boston area summer, so it dries off quickly.
I never thought much of it, but a few days ago I was reading about sudden death syndrome in Cephalotus, and people often point to top watering as the culprit. However, I've also read that plants being to wet can cause them to rot also, which is part of why I decided to top water. In addition, I added trichoderma and mycorrhizal fungi to the soil today, trichoderma because I've read that trichoderma often prevents rot and I know it's been found to be a hyperparasite, and mycorrhizae because they were mixed in with the trichoderma Should I start tray watering instead? Is top watering really the culprit in many cases of sudden death syndrome, and if so, is it a specific kind of top watering or just top watering in general? I'm sure what would be best would be a deep tray with some way of moving the water around and keeping it oxygenated (I've seen an aquarium bubbler as a suggestion), but that is both expensive and seems like overkill for one plant.
I never thought much of it, but a few days ago I was reading about sudden death syndrome in Cephalotus, and people often point to top watering as the culprit. However, I've also read that plants being to wet can cause them to rot also, which is part of why I decided to top water. In addition, I added trichoderma and mycorrhizal fungi to the soil today, trichoderma because I've read that trichoderma often prevents rot and I know it's been found to be a hyperparasite, and mycorrhizae because they were mixed in with the trichoderma Should I start tray watering instead? Is top watering really the culprit in many cases of sudden death syndrome, and if so, is it a specific kind of top watering or just top watering in general? I'm sure what would be best would be a deep tray with some way of moving the water around and keeping it oxygenated (I've seen an aquarium bubbler as a suggestion), but that is both expensive and seems like overkill for one plant.