She has come back home to stay. Finally (N lowii x truncata)

[SirKristoff]

After 5 years of being away from the hobby, I am making my way back in, however I will no longer be holding any form of open house, or invitations to my place unless it is someone with good reputation. After the plant theft a few years back, my trust has been broken and will take some time to build back.
Yesterday I received what was left of my original Nepenthes lowii x truncata, the mother plant of which was stolen from a friend of mines greenhouse. The problem there is the only people who knew about that plant its location were on this forum, and this forum alone.... I do not know who, I do not know why. We have suspicions, as one individual contacted both myself, and the person in posession and offered to pay a pretty penny for the plant, which we denied and mysteriously 2 weeks later the greenhouse was broken in to, and the lowii x truncata as well as 2 large truncata and a macrophylla were stolen.
Either way, shes here to stay.

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[Dexenthes]

Wow I had no idea that this happened to you, very sorry to hear it.

If the plant was stolen, how did you manage to recover it? Glad to see its got pitchers and glad to hear your back!

 

[amphirion]

Getting back in the game.... Me too! Funny timing!

 

[SirKristoff]

This is a basal cutting that was taken shortly before the plant was stolen. Thief overlooked it because it was in a different part of the greenhouse.
They cut thru the plastic pannel and crawled under the bench.
Whoever it was, knew exactly what they were looking for and was probably pretty fast about it. Like i said, because of that, our list of who it could be has been narrowed down quite a bit.

 

[Grey Moss]

Congratulations on reacquiring such a beautiful plant. It is terrible that someone felt the need to actually steal the mother plant and quite senseless. The best part of these plants is to share their beauty with others. Seems like luck was on your side with taking that basal cutting.

 

[SirKristoff]

The cutting was taken by the friend who was in possession of my plant at the time, lucky for him as well I suppose. It was not easy for him to give it back, because he felt at a loss as well with the plant being stolen... First cutting will go back to him when its ready again, but that will likely not be for a year or more... Hopefully the plant continues to increase rapidly in size now with being introduced to stronger light, and more consistent and controlled temperature/humidity. It was doing phenomonal with him already as it was... Just so sad that someone felt the need to steal that plant, but as ive said before, i get a chance to see her grow all over again....

 

[DragonsEye]

Truly a shame that some lowlife stole your plant. Sadly you're not alone.

There is an older couple I help out when they come to sell at a couple local orchid shows. The husband is very into slipper orchids. He succeeded in making a hybrid between two species of Cypripedium (terrestrial orchids commonly referred to as "lady slippers") that no one else ever had. He had one plant make it to maturity. It had a lovely flower so he had it registered and named after his deceased father. It was planted amongst a host of other Cyps. Someone came and dug up/stole that particular plant and only that plant from the flower bed. While they have a very clear idea of who the thief likely was, they have no proof. Sadly, not only will they never get the plant back, they have not succeeded in remaking the cross. In addition, because cyps do not take well to root disturbance, the odds are the plant died from the trauma.

 

[Nep Lover]

SK Im glad to see you back into the swing of things even if it is a slow uphill, we all have to start somewhere. As for what happened Im sorry and i hope this plant continues to do well fo you as it did before. Its sad that people have to go and do things like this just because of being denied a plant even with a money offer. this is a great looking nep. I feel you on being cautious with people and you have every right to be. Its sad that there are people like this in our community but at the same time it happens in others as well.

Im glad to see you back and i hope everything takes off. Again sorry you ended up going through this, its difficult and take your time with letting people in. Its one thing that you should ultimately feel comfortable with even if it ends up just being family. anyways Im also back into the swing of things and just starting to get some dews together! I wish you luck and a great year of growing!

 

[SirKristoff]

Thanks Nep Lover, it's not been as slow of an uphill as expected, a couple generous people have sent me nep seeds and some cuttings. Sarrs and VFTs are all still waking up here tho haha.
So far so good on the lowii x truncata. New leaf that has developed since it arrived is getting quite large... really enjoying the T5 lighting.