Nepenthesis
Formerly known as Pineapple
ROOT ROT:
Well, I'm really getting into neps. I don't want to jump in and spends tons of cash before I know my neps are thriving. Neps 1-3 I've had for around a month and they have obviously settled in, as they are vinining quickly and/or creating new leaves and pitchers. Neps 4-6 I've had for around three weeks. Two are in the process of creating a new leaf, one (Singalana) isn't really growing much, but is making steady progress on two new pitchers.
My problem is, I really want to go nep shopping again, but I don't want to blow a bunch of money and end up having things die. I think I have a good sense for watering, not letting them dry out too much, not soaking them during watering time, not over-fertilizing. I'll definitely wait until I acclimate them to outside light in the greenhouse before I buy new plants, so I'll find some shade cloth soon.
How long do I need to wait before I can be 100% sure my methods of cultivation are adequate? So how long does root rot take to set in before it's noticed? How long until I notice affects from under-watering? How long does it take before I find out they have too much light in the greenhouse? How long until I notice any other major, simple things that could kill neps? Anything else I need to watch out for or take care of?
SHADE CLOTH:
This brings me to my second question, which is kinda tied with the first. I'm getting ready to slowly move my existing neps to the greenhouse because it's supposed to start warming back up out of winter soon... Well at least it will move into the 40s at night, and the greenhouse warms up to around 80F at the most-lit point of the day.
Right now, the neps are in a 29 gallon "terrarium" with around 20w of fluorescent lighting and 20w of T5 lighting. As stated in the root rot portion, they are growing quickly. They have to make the transition to the greenhouse, so I'm worried about the leaves burning. The greenhouse is surrounded by a pretty good amount of trees, mainly in the back. It's not fully shaded, but it's VERY bright indirect sunlight. It gets about an hour of full, direct sunlight in the morning and less than two hours of full, direct sunlight in the afternoon at this point in winter. It's not like they will be in intense sunlight, because most of the day they are in bright shade.
What percentage of shade cloth would be best for my situation, if I need any at all? What chain stores sell shade cloth in specific percentages? If none, where would be the cheapest place to buy it online? I was told by somebody that shade cloth will warp my two-layer polycarbonate panels. They said to use spray instead, which could be really expensive and unnecessary in the winter, but it would be irremovable. Is this true, or will shade cloth be fine for acclimating them for a few days AND during the 4-6 hours of direct sunlight in the summer, every summer?
TLDR..........
Well, I'm really getting into neps. I don't want to jump in and spends tons of cash before I know my neps are thriving. Neps 1-3 I've had for around a month and they have obviously settled in, as they are vinining quickly and/or creating new leaves and pitchers. Neps 4-6 I've had for around three weeks. Two are in the process of creating a new leaf, one (Singalana) isn't really growing much, but is making steady progress on two new pitchers.
My problem is, I really want to go nep shopping again, but I don't want to blow a bunch of money and end up having things die. I think I have a good sense for watering, not letting them dry out too much, not soaking them during watering time, not over-fertilizing. I'll definitely wait until I acclimate them to outside light in the greenhouse before I buy new plants, so I'll find some shade cloth soon.
How long do I need to wait before I can be 100% sure my methods of cultivation are adequate? So how long does root rot take to set in before it's noticed? How long until I notice affects from under-watering? How long does it take before I find out they have too much light in the greenhouse? How long until I notice any other major, simple things that could kill neps? Anything else I need to watch out for or take care of?
SHADE CLOTH:
This brings me to my second question, which is kinda tied with the first. I'm getting ready to slowly move my existing neps to the greenhouse because it's supposed to start warming back up out of winter soon... Well at least it will move into the 40s at night, and the greenhouse warms up to around 80F at the most-lit point of the day.
Right now, the neps are in a 29 gallon "terrarium" with around 20w of fluorescent lighting and 20w of T5 lighting. As stated in the root rot portion, they are growing quickly. They have to make the transition to the greenhouse, so I'm worried about the leaves burning. The greenhouse is surrounded by a pretty good amount of trees, mainly in the back. It's not fully shaded, but it's VERY bright indirect sunlight. It gets about an hour of full, direct sunlight in the morning and less than two hours of full, direct sunlight in the afternoon at this point in winter. It's not like they will be in intense sunlight, because most of the day they are in bright shade.
What percentage of shade cloth would be best for my situation, if I need any at all? What chain stores sell shade cloth in specific percentages? If none, where would be the cheapest place to buy it online? I was told by somebody that shade cloth will warp my two-layer polycarbonate panels. They said to use spray instead, which could be really expensive and unnecessary in the winter, but it would be irremovable. Is this true, or will shade cloth be fine for acclimating them for a few days AND during the 4-6 hours of direct sunlight in the summer, every summer?
TLDR..........
