Laterite

[mindmaze128]

hey ppl

I was over at the ICPS website and I ran a search for past messages of n merrilliana in the CP listserver and ran across an old thread about using laterite in CP mixes. I was wondering if anyone here has any experience with this material. I did a search on google on laterite and I think that I've seen it around here in PR. It looks alot like the clay under the topsoil of my back yard, which is sort of reddish. Could that be a local type of laterite here? Just wondering what you ppl think. I'll see if I can post a pic of my reddish clay tomorow.

BTW: The search page for the Cp listserver is <a href="http://www.carnivorousplants.org/cplist/Search.php

Joel" target="_blank">http://www.carnivorousplants.org/cplist/Search.php

Joel</a>

 

[nepenthes gracilis]

Yeah, laterite is supposed to really help Merrilliana in color,faster growth, and improved life span. Noyt sure how true it is because I would buy some but know NO palce that has any I am not even positive if I have the correct definition of laterite, anyone care to refresh my memory?

 

[swords]

Laterite is used under the gravel/substrate layer in a planted aquarium to provide Iron and trace elements to aquatic plants. I had found laterite in my pots of Sarracenia that I bought at the local garden shop. One thing I would worry about is that laterite has a tendency to become a solid lump of clay when used in a pot (it does not do this when totally submerged in an aquarium).

You can buy laterite at chain store places in the USA like Petsmart & Petco in their accessories dept. A 55oz box of Laterite for like &#3614,99. It comes in a green & yellow box. Don't bother to ask the kid working there-he'll have no idea what you're talking about.


Is Laterite supposed to be good for all Nepenthes or just Merrilliana?
I use a couple drops of a liquid aquatic plant trace element fertilizer called Yamato Green in my fertilizer water. It's sort of like liquid laterite I suppose.

 

[nepenthes gracilis]

Well I have heard on on other Nepenthes as well but Merrilliana is supposed to have the best NOTICABLE results with it.

 

[pthiel]

For information on Laterite you may want to read Robert Gibson's article on it at http://www.cephalotus.net. He goes into great detail on it's makeup.

Cheers,

 

[mindmaze128]

Thanks alot for that link pete, very useful!

I also found a page on laterite, but I gives no clue as to its use as a Cp substrate.

http://www.dupla.com/e037.htm

I swear that the stuff looks like the clay under my back yard! I'm gonna take a pick of it tomorow!!!!

Joel