BioGold: My Nepenthes' Saviour.
The fertiliser comes in the form of triangular prisms that smell of ammonia and rotting fish. We (Steve LaWarre (of Frederik Meijer Gardens) and I)wondered whether Nepenthes would benefit from this weak, organic fertiliser. The only concern we had was that of pitcher production, which usually ceases (as we all know)when a Nep is fed the wrong way.
Some time later, after having applied BioGold to several N. rafflesiana plants, we found that the new growth was almost twice as large and healthy, as well as the pitchers. So at this point, I went around the collection with a handful, plopping just one piece on the growing medium for each Nep that seemed to need it. All the plants that have received this treatment have increased in size and vigor. Pitcher production has increased and it's amazing. So far, all the plants I grow have responded wonderfully! The only drawback is the green algae, but this doesn't even seem to bother germinating Nepenthes.
I have also found that the fertiliser helps boost the size of a 4" mature plant to it's proper size and vigor. So if i find a plant that seems slightly retarded in growth, I give it a shot and sit back. My N. merrilliana was one of my slowest growers at 3", and now it is double that size after two new leaves, and is raging.
I believe a nursery in Texas supplies the US with BioGold. If anyone is to get any, purchase the most basic one (Original), which is what Steve LaWarre and I use.
Good growing!
The fertiliser comes in the form of triangular prisms that smell of ammonia and rotting fish. We (Steve LaWarre (of Frederik Meijer Gardens) and I)wondered whether Nepenthes would benefit from this weak, organic fertiliser. The only concern we had was that of pitcher production, which usually ceases (as we all know)when a Nep is fed the wrong way.
Some time later, after having applied BioGold to several N. rafflesiana plants, we found that the new growth was almost twice as large and healthy, as well as the pitchers. So at this point, I went around the collection with a handful, plopping just one piece on the growing medium for each Nep that seemed to need it. All the plants that have received this treatment have increased in size and vigor. Pitcher production has increased and it's amazing. So far, all the plants I grow have responded wonderfully! The only drawback is the green algae, but this doesn't even seem to bother germinating Nepenthes.
I have also found that the fertiliser helps boost the size of a 4" mature plant to it's proper size and vigor. So if i find a plant that seems slightly retarded in growth, I give it a shot and sit back. My N. merrilliana was one of my slowest growers at 3", and now it is double that size after two new leaves, and is raging.
I believe a nursery in Texas supplies the US with BioGold. If anyone is to get any, purchase the most basic one (Original), which is what Steve LaWarre and I use.
Good growing!