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Post by walterg on Nov 4, 2009 13:17:07 GMT -10
Dave,
If the frequently high local police force are any indication, there's already plenty of THC in Afghanistan. I saw a very mellow officer about to keel over on CNN this afternoon. There was a documentary aired on PBS last week about 4 crop plants particulary significant to American and world history. The author made the point that law enforcement's crackdown on marijuana farming forced the activity indoors, resulting in the need to breed plants that would not grow 12' tall. The direct result of that effort was something like a 25x increase in the intoxicating strength of the product. So, American taxpayers, through the efforts of the FBI and police in the USA and Mexico, essentially funded the impetus to turn old fashioned plain-Jane Mary Jane into Chronic, etc. Oops.
I have germinated a lot of seed (NEPENTHES seed) from Sumatra this year, but also from Sulawesi, Sabah, Kalimantan, Papua, etc., and a whole lot of hort hybrids from growers in Thailand. I have some on the way from Vietnam this week. 'tsall good.
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Post by shawnintland on Nov 4, 2009 14:41:20 GMT -10
Hey Walter,
That TV series was based on a book called "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollen. Pick up a copy if you (or any other forum'ers) can. It's a great read. I only caught the last part of the 'apples and the tulip' segments on an Australian Broadcast Network ...hoping to find it on DVD sometime. The author makes a point about certain plants 'attracting us' as a means to spread their DNA, and he does a great job of it! Too bad he wasn't a 'nep guy'. ~Shawn
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Post by philgreen on Nov 5, 2009 7:39:57 GMT -10
I have germinated a lot of seed (NEPENTHES seed) from Sumatra this year, but also from Sulawesi, Sabah, Kalimantan, Papua, etc., and a whole lot of hort hybrids from growers in Thailand. I have some on the way from Vietnam this week. 'tsall good. SNAP except Thai hybrids. But I can add (I'm sure you do too) West & Central Java, and Thai species. Walter - I'm sure people would be interested to know when you remove the lids (at germination / shortly afterwards ??). I use a very similar food container (used pastie trays) but I don't use lids at all (mine stay open). It's good to know the same stuff (brothers & sisters) will be getting spread around on both sides of the 'pond' Great setup by the way.
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Post by walterg on Nov 6, 2009 3:59:38 GMT -10
I usually leave the containers closed until I judge that the seedlings are ready for transplantation. Then I open them halfway for a week or two, watching carefully for stress. After transplanting, I use a plastic curtain or some other means to acclimatize the seedlings slowly to the less humid open atmosphere.
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obregon562
Nobiles
"I do believe Im feeling stronger everyday."
Posts: 387
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Post by obregon562 on Nov 22, 2009 8:03:23 GMT -10
i too am reading botany of desire. Great book. Anyway, great set up walt! Im trying to set up a seed room for myself. How bad is bad for your electric bills?
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Post by walterg on Nov 22, 2009 8:35:38 GMT -10
Between plant lights and electric cooking and hot water, I've had bills between $200 and $300 per month for almost 30 years. Please don't multiply it out for me. I don't want to know.
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Post by boris on Nov 22, 2009 11:46:22 GMT -10
I get similar invoices. I divide it for you. That's less than 10 US $ the day. Great setup
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kain
Insignes
Posts: 144
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Post by kain on Nov 23, 2009 16:36:41 GMT -10
Walter, what is your "normal medium" for your post-seedling Nepenthes? Lots of people use LFS, but some use peat and perlite and the guys I get my plants from use cypress bark mulch and perlite, though it sounds like they are transitioning to rock wool now. What's your recipe?
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Post by walterg on Nov 23, 2009 19:01:06 GMT -10
Potting mix is something between a black art and a religion. I have plants potted in so many different mixtures, I can't give you a recipe. All too often, I just use whatever is on hand at the time, and mix components together until the mix seems to have the right properties. I've been using more coconut husk chips in recent years, and have some things potted in it and nothing else. My various mixes have included coarse perlite, LFS, tree fern, coconut husk chips and peat, sphagnum peat, gravel, and fir bark. Rock wool is one thing I have not used. A few years ago I even tried putting some plants out in the horse manure pile, just because it ran against conventional wisdom, and I wanted to test it. They died.
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kain
Insignes
Posts: 144
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Post by kain on Nov 24, 2009 17:17:55 GMT -10
Hey, the horse manure was worth a shot. You never know 'til you try, right? Personally, I haven't had the nerve to try anything so radical. Although, now that you mention it, there is that ventrata... Thanks, Walter.
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Robiii
Nobiles
Grow the new world
Posts: 262
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Post by Robiii on Nov 26, 2009 18:23:55 GMT -10
Hey Joe, I'm pretty sure the only people who call it "pot" are not only not tokers, but they are also using a term "pot plants" which could be confusing to overseas readers who often use the term to describe any plant that is grown in a pot. Everyone who smokes bud I know refers to marijuana by its cultivar name ('Bubba Cush' or 'Sour Diesel', for example). There are so many fantastic cultivars available now from Canada and California, it just boggles my mind And gives me hope for a brighter future as fewer and fewer people consider this awesome plant as a threat (a threat to what exactly?? Warfare? We should drop tons of weed on the Middle East, maybe they could finally mellow out--LOL). When people say "pot" to me, I think about a cooking vessel. Anyway, back to CP's: Walter, I'm starting to think of your set up as "Sumatra Gardens" As I'm under the impression most of your seedlings Neps are from Sumatra... Well I'm here to stay. Love the side topics and how it all ties together. Sadly my seed growing has only produced maybe 6-9 2-3 inch plantlets but I have hope for the future with my first batch growing from seed to 1 1/2" in 8 months and on top of that my first female bloomed and so far 90% + of the pods are looking promising. As for the mixes I hope to find some reasuring results this coming year.
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Robiii
Nobiles
Grow the new world
Posts: 262
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Post by Robiii on Nov 26, 2009 18:26:01 GMT -10
Dave, If the frequently high local police force are any indication, there's already plenty of THC in Afghanistan. I saw a very mellow officer about to keel over on CNN this afternoon. There was a documentary aired on PBS last week about 4 crop plants particulary significant to American and world history. The author made the point that law enforcement's crackdown on marijuana farming forced the activity indoors, resulting in the need to breed plants that would not grow 12' tall. The direct result of that effort was something like a 25x increase in the intoxicating strength of the product. So, American taxpayers, through the efforts of the FBI and police in the USA and Mexico, essentially funded the impetus to turn old fashioned plain-Jane Mary Jane into Chronic, etc. Oops. I have germinated a lot of seed (NEPENTHES seed) from Sumatra this year, but also from Sulawesi, Sabah, Kalimantan, Papua, etc., and a whole lot of hort hybrids from growers in Thailand. I have some on the way from Vietnam this week. 'tsall good. Ahh the doc: 'Botany of Desire', i believe that was incredible.
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