While most of the plants currently in their winter slumber, I’m keeping myself occupied by growing a few other plants. At my place, I keep a 50 gallon tank filled with a few Nepenthes, Cephalotus, Heliamphora, and a few other things. In The Asylum, I have a smaller greenhouse that I partially bubble wrapped for insulation. That’s where I have a few tropicals just hangin’ out. Here’s a few shots from both of those worlds.
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First off a few shots from The Tank.
The Tank. It is lined with something shiny. Because I like shiny things. And the light makes the plants happy. Yes. Also, notice the 10″ x 20″ trays with the fluorescent egg crate cover that I trimmed over those trays. Excess water drains into the trays after I water the plants, and the crate keeps the plants from sitting in the water while that drainage water contributes to the the lovely humidity in the tank.
Cephalotus follicularis
From the Powazek collection: Cephaltous follicularis growing in a hanging teardrop planter. Brillant.
Speaking of hanging things, I have a recovering Platycerium coronarium that didn’t like how cold it was getting in the greenhouse, so I moved it here. Seems to like it as it’s putting out new growth.
Pinguicula mesophytica bloom.
A young Nepenthes hamata pitcher.
Left: young Nepenthes hamata pitcher. | Right: young Nepenthes burkeii x hamata pitcher.
Drosrea regia vs. moth.
Nepenthes singlana Tujuh x hamata – Red Hairy Form… Beast!
Nepenthes singlana Tujuh x hamata – Red Hairy Form – check out the red/orange fuzz! Sweet!
New pitcher recently opened of Nepenthes singalana Tujuh x hamata – Red Hairy Form.
New pitcher recently opened of Nepenthes singalana Tujuh x hamata – Red Hairy Form – a closer shot of the same pitcher above.
I did a few Heliamphora divisions and some reside in the tank and are adjusting quite well! This is Heliamphora heterodoxa x minor. The older pitchers look crappy but the new pitchers are coming up quite nicely.
A recently opened pitcher of Nepenthes robcantleyi! YEAH! I’ve had this for years and it has never really grown well for me. After moving it into the tank, it immediately let me know it was happy with these new conditions.
Nepenthes robcantleyi. Ugh, that peristome tho. So magnificent. I can’t wait for this baby to put out larger pitchers! The whole pitcher will color up as it gets more mature. Seriously love this plant.
Here’s what I use for some air movement inside the tank – an Evercool computer fan. I currently have one on the left side of the tank but I’m planning to add another on the right side for better air movement.
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And now – a few shots from inside the partially bubble-wrap clad greenhouse inside the greenhouse. (So bontanically inception-y, eh?)
The Nepenthes/Tropical house.
Nepenthes lowii x campanulata
Nepenthes thorelii x aristolochioides
Nepenthes “Eglantine”
Nepenthes burbidgeae x platychila
Nepenthes – Poi Dog Hybrid
Nepenthes Poi Dog – Maxima Hybrid
Nepenthes platychila – new pitcher steadily growing.
From the Powazek Collection: Nepenthes maxima x aristolochioides
Also from the Powazek Collection: Nepenthes spectabilis x platychila
Young pitcher of Nepenthes densiflora x glandulifera
Nepenthes ((eymae x (stenophylla x lowii)) x x trusmadiensis)
Nepenthes spectabilis x singlana
Nepenthes jamban – check out the pitcher in the back.
There’s a slug going for a swim in that pitcher.
I found it that way.
Another angle of Nepenthes jamban – you can see the slug a little better in there.
Nepenthes “Enigma”
Had to throw a bromeliad up in here… (A type of Aechmea, not sure what the species is. You bro experts let me know what it is!)
I did have a lot of losses though and I’m still mourning those plants. As my friend Kinjie told me regarding these plants, “Hey, you gotta learn somehow!” Yes, true, but losing plants is a sucky way to learn! To the left is a Nepenthes densiflora x truncata. You can see some of the cold damage that this baby took. The center of the plant is still alive and there are new growpoints forming where the cold turned the main growpoint into mush. In any event, I’m so very glad that many of the plants survived. Some of the surprises that I found under that overwinter film provided some great comfort, hope, and solace.
