The Nepenthes are adjusting the the higher light levels quite nicely on this end. I moved the Nepenthes not too long ago, and since then I’m seeing a lot of new growth on foliage, and more pitchers will soon follow. With some tinkering and moving plants about, I’m getting the hang of growing Nepenthes in this greenhouse. For now, here are a some photos of recent pitchers.
Nepenthes Poi Dog, new pitcher opening up
Nepenthes ventricosa x talangensis
Nepenthes ventricosa x talangensis
Nepenthes ventricosa x talangensis, new pitcher opening up
It’s been some time since I’ve moved the Nepenthes into a brighter area and so far they are reacting pretty well. Some of the older foliage is burning out (to be expected), but the new growth is coming in quite nicely and I can see the difference in the pitchers. I’m pretty excited to see them react positively to their brighter environment.
Nepenthes thorelii x aristolochioides New pitcher on the left formed after moving it into the brighter area.
This last weekend I had a chance to attend the 2013 BACPS (Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society) Show and Sale. Saw lots of amazing plants as well as fellow enthusiasts who have become great friends throughout the years. It was also great to connect with a few new people that I’ve been in touch with online and now finally had a chance to meet in person. I got the impression that they thought I was stranger in the flesh. Yeah, I probably am.
Here’s a few photos from the day! (You can also view on Flickr.)
As an added bonus, here’s some video from the day too! I figured this was a great opportunity to *finally* start a Youtube channel and give this video blogging thing a shot. It’s kinda rough, but it’s a start. Dahlia came along and gave me some help and encouragement to shoot around a little bit. She started her channel as well! If you want to check out some mixed media art, visit her channel: Makita Studio! It’s something a bit out of my comfort zone as I’d rather be behind a camera. Not in front of one. Anyway, We’ll see how this Youtube thing goes. Mosey on over and check out my Pitcher Plant Project channel! Leave comments below on what you’d like to see and I just *may* upload a few more vids… 🙂
Since Jeremiah was in town and wanted to check out local collections, I was glad to have him, Fernando Rivadavia, and D’Aryt Jov Fränk over at my spot the following day. I was just one of his many stops here in the SF Bay Area. Jeremiah is a legendary grower and runs the Colorado Carnivorous Plant Society. He also partners with Leilani Nepenthes in an effort to make some beautiful and high quality plants available.
Jeremiah and DJ: An honor and a pleasure to have been able to meet you! Thank you for coming by and gracing the greenhouse with your presence. Fernando: Keep weeding. 🙂
An amazing weekend full of impressive plants and great company. I’m glad to be part of such a great community of incredible and talented individuals. I certainly wouldn’t be able to make it this far without them. Happy growing everyone!
When I came home just this recent Friday, I was excited to see a big ol’ box waiting for me. A box full of NEPENTHES! Yay! A HUGE thank you to Kinjie Coe for sending all of these wonderful gems. The plants arrived in great condition and I took the them to the greenhouse the next day. I spent my Saturday moving some plants around and potting up the new babies! Now, I’m still doing a lot of tinkering and experimenting with them and seeing how they’ll grow best in my area. I used to grow them under the dome, but there wasn’t enough light getting through because of the shade cloth. The shade cloth was important as it would keep the heat down in the dome, and I thought that it would be bright enough. Well, the plants were still growing, but I was noticing a lack of pitcher production, as well as a slight lack of color. After doing some reading here and there and getting input from a phenomenal Nepenthes grower, I decided to move the plants out from under the dome and into the main growing area. I temporarily placed them at the shadier end of the greenhouse for a couple of weeks just to acclimate them to stronger light. I could tell that some plants were already reacting positively to that shift. Even in the shady spot of the main greenhouse, it was just a bit brighter than the under the shade cloth. Today I was working on setting up an area for them to grow where the light is bright yet not too direct. It’s under a side of the greenhouse that has some light whitewash, as well as by a window so it’s a little cooler than the rest of the greenhouse. I moved some Sarracenia around and made some room behind the anthocyanin free Sarracenia section. I put some crates on top of the water table so the Nepenthes wouldn’t be sitting in the water, yet they’d have the humidity from the water evaporating. Now that I had a larger Nepenthes space set up, it was time to get everything potted and moved!
Above left: Potting up Nepenthes “Pandora” Above Right: Potting up Nepenthes “Song of Melancholy”
Above are two Nepenthes from the bunch that Kinjie sent over that I was quite fond of. In actuality, I really like them all! Thanks again Kinjie! Nepenthes are so fascinating. I’ll post updates periodically now that they are in their new spot. For now, I hope that the plants enjoy their new location.
A couple weeks ago I received some incredible Nepenthes from the horticultural force himself, Paul Barden. The plants have been doing well in the Nepenthes dome. It’s slowly filling up, and am very thankful for the generous additions from Nitrogenseekers! Nepenthes is a genus that fascinates me and I can see why it’s so addicting. Here’s a few photos of the new babies that have made their home under the dome. Thanks again, Paul!
Under The Dome
Nepenthes singalana X (sibuyanensis X ventricosa)
Nepenthes poi dog – maxima hybrid
Nepenthes elgantine
Nepenthes hybrid – exact pedigree unknown.
Possible N. splendiana hybrid.
Just a few random shots from around the ‘house… enjoy!
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Sarracenia oreophila x ‘Adrian Slack’
Nepenthes jamban
Darlingtonia californica peeking out over the edge
Pinguicula “John Rizzi” in bloom
S. (oreophila x ‘Royal Ruby’) x ‘Adrian Slack’ – young pitcher of a cross I did a couple of years ago. I believe that this is a pitcher that was sent up a bit later last season.
S. [(oreophila x minor) x (purpurea x rubra) x leucophylla] x “Green Frog” This is a complex hybrid I did a few years ago. It’s the first time I’ve actually seen some characteristics from this baby.
Sarracenia psittacina This is a large clone from Jerry Addington. It is still dormant and was recently repotted. It does not look like much now, but hoping it throws out some beast-mode behemoth foliage once it wakes from dormancy.
Sarracenia rosea “Big Mama”
It’s currently dormant and recently repotted. Just like the S. psittacina above, I am hoping it throws out some beast-mode behemoth foliage once it wakes.
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Blog warning: I am not a plant expert. No freekin' way. I just love growing these plants and sharing what may or may not work for me. I consider myself a student - always learning, and always growing, sharing what I learn along the way!
The plant material I distribute is propagated by me. I have not, and do not collect field specimens for propagation, for sale, or for any other purpose. I do not sell plants or seeds that have been field collected by me or my contacts to fill plant orders.