P. poldinii

[Pyro]

Joe,

That might work. My mix doesn't have any 'basic' ingredients per say and I have never checked to see if it truly is basic or acidic. Just for those interested here is what I use 4:1:1:1:1:1:1:1:0.5 of perlite:vermiculiteotting soil:lava rock:milled sphag:sand:charcoal:clay pelletseat.

 

[Vertigo]

Is dolomite the same as lime? or a type of?

So it's either dolomite or oyster shells so far...back to the lab.

 

[The Griffin]

Dolomite is calcium magnesium carbonate, and you should be able to get it at a fish/aquarium store. I believe some African cichlids prefer a substrate of this stuff.
Ironically(pun), you can get laterite and flourite(a cheaper form of laterite, which looks nothing like the popular mineral-ie green,clear-purple that you see at gem shows) at fish stores, too.

Regards,

Joe

 

[Vertigo]

Anyone know anything about Calci-sand for reptiles? Supposedly a natural calcium carbonate substrate. Hehe, plus you can get it in 'glow-in-the-dark'.

 

[Pyro]

Calci-sand would probably be out. Is designed to be easily metabolized by herps so I am guessing there has been some kind of 'modification' to it. But there is always something to be said for experimentation (but usually on a plant you have spares of

)

 

[The Griffin]

I have bearded dragons and I went with the stuff that is actually ground walnut shells, as it's less expensive. calci-sand is like $10 a bag.
Now, I wonder how the ground shells would work for some cp like small Nepenthes? I might have to wash some and try it.

Regards,

Joe

 

[Vertigo]

Hmm, as far as the calcareous substrate for the P. poldinii, I think i'm going to go with trying some of Tamlin's tuffa sand. Maybe it'll do a little better if it feels somewhat closer to home.

So far we would have for a mixture:

perlite:vermiculite:tuffa sand @ 2:2:1

Not really sure what else may be needed. I have a bag of sand labeled as "Western Desert Sand" but i'm not really sure if this sand is good for cp's at all.

I may toss a little peat into the mix in a few, or provide a layer of milled sphagnum on top of the mix.

Other than that, it actually looks like this plant would do well growing out of Tamlin's tuffa rock.