Free Range Nepenthes
Jun 19, 2011 13:49:51 GMT -10
Post by voidgenesis on Jun 19, 2011 13:49:51 GMT -10
Can Nepenthes be grown well in communal raised beds for a large free root run?
I am about to put in a new greenhouse for Nepenthes. It is a 4 x 4 m structure that will be covered with clear plastic with large vents opposite the door for natural variation and daytime humidity drops. I live in subtropical Australia at 300 m above sea level, so should be able to have the house open any time we aren't in a drought.
I am planning on going for a no sphagnum/no peat approach so I can fertilize freely. After seeing how they love the chance to get their roots out of the pot and all over the floor when a suitable medium is present I have been considering putting in large raised beds full of coarse pine bark over a layer of doleritic limestone/coral chunks for mineral requirements. The plan would be to put plants in large pots and partially sink them into the raised bed. This means their roots can spread out and down into the raised bed, giving a massive boost to growth and vigor. It also means if I have to move the plant I can prune off the extra roots and leave the plant with an undisturbed rootball in the pot to keep it from being completely shocked (of course I would aim to move them as little as possible)
So my question obviously is- has anyone else seen Nepenthes grown this way? I think the coarse media/fertilising is a well established common approach, but has anyone seen extensive raised beds? I am thinking about 50cm deep would be enough, probably two rows of cinder blocks would do, with smaller plants in the holes, plus covering the rest of the floor to about 20cm. My gut feeling is that the extra depth of the medium would compensate wonderfully for the low water holding capacity, so I could probably do without sand/perlite/etc.
Any advice or experiences would be appreciated.
I am about to put in a new greenhouse for Nepenthes. It is a 4 x 4 m structure that will be covered with clear plastic with large vents opposite the door for natural variation and daytime humidity drops. I live in subtropical Australia at 300 m above sea level, so should be able to have the house open any time we aren't in a drought.
I am planning on going for a no sphagnum/no peat approach so I can fertilize freely. After seeing how they love the chance to get their roots out of the pot and all over the floor when a suitable medium is present I have been considering putting in large raised beds full of coarse pine bark over a layer of doleritic limestone/coral chunks for mineral requirements. The plan would be to put plants in large pots and partially sink them into the raised bed. This means their roots can spread out and down into the raised bed, giving a massive boost to growth and vigor. It also means if I have to move the plant I can prune off the extra roots and leave the plant with an undisturbed rootball in the pot to keep it from being completely shocked (of course I would aim to move them as little as possible)
So my question obviously is- has anyone else seen Nepenthes grown this way? I think the coarse media/fertilising is a well established common approach, but has anyone seen extensive raised beds? I am thinking about 50cm deep would be enough, probably two rows of cinder blocks would do, with smaller plants in the holes, plus covering the rest of the floor to about 20cm. My gut feeling is that the extra depth of the medium would compensate wonderfully for the low water holding capacity, so I could probably do without sand/perlite/etc.
Any advice or experiences would be appreciated.