Hello! I'm brand new to carnivorous plants and rapidly becoming obsessed with Nepenthes. I've already ordered a copy of Savage Garden, expected to arrive sometime next week, and have been reading online all week.
Anyway, I'm working on researching some intial Nepenthes plants to start my collection (haven't ordered anything yet) and could use some good advice. Here's my situation...
I live in Atlanta, GA (Zone 8). I'm willing to keep the plants in several locations, but I expect that initially they'd have to be indoors since it's winter and can get quite cold outdoors. My locations are:
1. On a covered and screen part of the deck behind the house, facing NNW.
2. Same deck, but on the open portion that is not covered or screened. More room and light than #1.
3. Under the deck, on a concrete patio area. This offers the largest amount of space in a single area.
4. Inside the house, where it may be too dry and the temp is generally in the high 60's to mid 70's depending on time of year. I could potentially set up a terrarium if needed.
5. In the basement, where it is less climate-controlled. We have sort of a garage storage room that doesn't get heated/cooled.
Then, presumably I'd take the plants indoors during the cold part of the winter no matter which location they usually lived in. Also, I work from home so it should be fairly easy to mist the plants during the day. So, which location sounds like it would work best? Highland or Lowland? Anything else you need to know?
I am willing to consider a small inexpensive greenhouse along the lines of something like this or maybe slightly larger. If it was larger though it would have to go under the deck:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0C55N3KTEJQ8AAAJ9DVJ
Also, I've been considering two different options of how to start out. Would I be better off to buy several less expensive but small plants (3-4"), or would it be more worthwhile to put the money into a single larger plant (6-8"+) that might be hardier than a young plant would be? Should I wait until the weather warms up before ordering or is it OK to start now?
I'm also open to advice on species. I've read enough to know the most common beginner species include N. ventricosa, N. sanguinea, N. ramispina, N. 'Judith Finn', etc... but I would welcome additional recommendations that would work well in my setting and particularly with regard to hybrids and 2nd level plants just beyond the super-basic ones that would probably grow well - I have it in mind to pick up maybe a couple of beginner plants and then one semi-intermediate plant and see if I can tackle that.
A couple of potential 2nd level plants I might be interested in include:
N. specabilis "Giant", N. macfarlanei, N. spectabilis x ventricosa, N. bongso or N. inermis x bongso, and almost anything with teeth on the peristome. Also open to suggestions as I'm sure there's tons of great stuff I haven't even seen yet.
Anyway, that ought to be enough for now Thanks!
Anyway, I'm working on researching some intial Nepenthes plants to start my collection (haven't ordered anything yet) and could use some good advice. Here's my situation...
I live in Atlanta, GA (Zone 8). I'm willing to keep the plants in several locations, but I expect that initially they'd have to be indoors since it's winter and can get quite cold outdoors. My locations are:
1. On a covered and screen part of the deck behind the house, facing NNW.
2. Same deck, but on the open portion that is not covered or screened. More room and light than #1.
3. Under the deck, on a concrete patio area. This offers the largest amount of space in a single area.
4. Inside the house, where it may be too dry and the temp is generally in the high 60's to mid 70's depending on time of year. I could potentially set up a terrarium if needed.
5. In the basement, where it is less climate-controlled. We have sort of a garage storage room that doesn't get heated/cooled.
Then, presumably I'd take the plants indoors during the cold part of the winter no matter which location they usually lived in. Also, I work from home so it should be fairly easy to mist the plants during the day. So, which location sounds like it would work best? Highland or Lowland? Anything else you need to know?
I am willing to consider a small inexpensive greenhouse along the lines of something like this or maybe slightly larger. If it was larger though it would have to go under the deck:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0C55N3KTEJQ8AAAJ9DVJ
Also, I've been considering two different options of how to start out. Would I be better off to buy several less expensive but small plants (3-4"), or would it be more worthwhile to put the money into a single larger plant (6-8"+) that might be hardier than a young plant would be? Should I wait until the weather warms up before ordering or is it OK to start now?
I'm also open to advice on species. I've read enough to know the most common beginner species include N. ventricosa, N. sanguinea, N. ramispina, N. 'Judith Finn', etc... but I would welcome additional recommendations that would work well in my setting and particularly with regard to hybrids and 2nd level plants just beyond the super-basic ones that would probably grow well - I have it in mind to pick up maybe a couple of beginner plants and then one semi-intermediate plant and see if I can tackle that.
A couple of potential 2nd level plants I might be interested in include:
N. specabilis "Giant", N. macfarlanei, N. spectabilis x ventricosa, N. bongso or N. inermis x bongso, and almost anything with teeth on the peristome. Also open to suggestions as I'm sure there's tons of great stuff I haven't even seen yet.
Anyway, that ought to be enough for now Thanks!
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