Now first, I am talking about your really hardy specimens here... not the uber sensetive ultra highlanders and what not...
but here is basically what I am thinking...
I have on my desk two home depot nepenthes (well, 2 pots, actually about 5 plants) and a ventricosa. I water with distilled water and mist with distilled water daily. Humidity is around 45% in my office.
I am thinking about putting one of the home depot, or maybe the ventricosa outside to see if, after being adapted to a harsher environment (humidity wise, my office is lower than outside, but I don't have any sun, only artificial light) it can take growing outdoors in one of my shady spots.
Thing is, I know it will start drinking water like a pig, and until I have an RO unit, going through half a gallon a day of RO aint gonna happen. (thats about 25 cents, and it would add up.) Do you guys think a nep can take tap water? I mean, I can observe yearly re-potting to keep the mineral levels low, but let me tell you why I am thinking this.
When moderate care is given at home depot or lowes, nepenthes always seem to be the last surviving plants, at least in my area.
Nepenthes are really different than most CPs we grow, their tissues seem tougher, they are more drought tolerant, (i.e. you forget to water, they sometimes amaze you with their come back ability)
nepenthes seem to be the most 'different' at least to me, of all the CP's, and I am wondering if they generally, have been coddled in care because of the company they keep.
Any thoughts?
I think, barring serious objection, i will test with one of the home depot varietis and see what happens... water every day with tap (san antonio does not chlorinate heavily as our water is typically filtered 70 some odd years through the aquifer before being pumped back out of the ground, it does have high dissolved solids though.) and once a month, flush with a gallon of pure RO.
Your input is appreciated!
but here is basically what I am thinking...
I have on my desk two home depot nepenthes (well, 2 pots, actually about 5 plants) and a ventricosa. I water with distilled water and mist with distilled water daily. Humidity is around 45% in my office.
I am thinking about putting one of the home depot, or maybe the ventricosa outside to see if, after being adapted to a harsher environment (humidity wise, my office is lower than outside, but I don't have any sun, only artificial light) it can take growing outdoors in one of my shady spots.
Thing is, I know it will start drinking water like a pig, and until I have an RO unit, going through half a gallon a day of RO aint gonna happen. (thats about 25 cents, and it would add up.) Do you guys think a nep can take tap water? I mean, I can observe yearly re-potting to keep the mineral levels low, but let me tell you why I am thinking this.
When moderate care is given at home depot or lowes, nepenthes always seem to be the last surviving plants, at least in my area.
Nepenthes are really different than most CPs we grow, their tissues seem tougher, they are more drought tolerant, (i.e. you forget to water, they sometimes amaze you with their come back ability)
nepenthes seem to be the most 'different' at least to me, of all the CP's, and I am wondering if they generally, have been coddled in care because of the company they keep.
Any thoughts?
I think, barring serious objection, i will test with one of the home depot varietis and see what happens... water every day with tap (san antonio does not chlorinate heavily as our water is typically filtered 70 some odd years through the aquifer before being pumped back out of the ground, it does have high dissolved solids though.) and once a month, flush with a gallon of pure RO.
Your input is appreciated!
