Has anyone tried to grow Nepenthes using semi-hydroponic (S/H) culture? My S/H experience with Nepenthes is limited to growing a couple of cuttings in S/H for a couple of months. So far, they seem to be doing just as well as other cuttings that were planted at the same time in LFS. But I wonder what the long term prospects are.
For those who are not familiar with S/H, it’s a way of growing plants in a container with inert material. The container has drainage holes, not at the bottom, but about an inch from the bottom, so that any extraneous water drains out, and there is always a bit of water in the container. Some orchid growers swear by S/H. Clay pellets are often recommended as a medium for growing orchids in S/H because they wick up water from the bottom of the container. (However, the clay pellets are quite expensive where I live, so I am using just plain gravel that has been washed.) Many orchids thrive on low nutrient media with moist, but not wet, conditions. Since Nepenthes in general like those conditions as well, it seems like S/H should work. Has anyone tried it for any substantial length of time? For more information about S/H (geared toward orchid growers, though), see www.firstrays.com/hydro.htm.
For those who are not familiar with S/H, it’s a way of growing plants in a container with inert material. The container has drainage holes, not at the bottom, but about an inch from the bottom, so that any extraneous water drains out, and there is always a bit of water in the container. Some orchid growers swear by S/H. Clay pellets are often recommended as a medium for growing orchids in S/H because they wick up water from the bottom of the container. (However, the clay pellets are quite expensive where I live, so I am using just plain gravel that has been washed.) Many orchids thrive on low nutrient media with moist, but not wet, conditions. Since Nepenthes in general like those conditions as well, it seems like S/H should work. Has anyone tried it for any substantial length of time? For more information about S/H (geared toward orchid growers, though), see www.firstrays.com/hydro.htm.