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Post by vraev on Mar 9, 2007 9:58:22 GMT -5
Hi guys, Finally! After all that whining...and waiting...the nep took its time...but I guess it has now acclaimatised to my 60% humidity from the foil and the gro light. I am getting 2 pitchers to open soon....and I have 3 more pitcher buds ready to go with another one rubbing the printer side . However, of the 4 shoots in the pot....the big one is vining and not making the regular thicker pitchcer buds....but more like viny tendrils. TOTAL: 1 almost new pitcher done + 1 pitcher..u see in the pic here the red one + 3 buds + 1 semi inflated pitcher. How do I cut the plant and favor basal growth? Would that mean I should expect a new offshoot?? here are some pics: where along that vine can I make the cutting and in what shape?? And what can I do with that cutting?? I have some live sphagnum on the side in a tub....very little! Can I put it in that?? cheers, vraev
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Post by lloyd on Mar 9, 2007 10:07:54 GMT -5
If you don't want to cut just arrange a stem so it bends down or even better so part is lower than where it comes out of the ground. Eventually a side shoot will grow from where the bend starts. When the shoot is big enough you can either air layer it until it roots or just remove it and root it in some light moist medium.
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Post by mabudon on Mar 9, 2007 10:15:10 GMT -5
Lookin pretty good Varun!! The "skinny" growth from the basal shoots is normal, so no worries You can cut that climbing stem basically wherever you like, it makes little difference really, it more depends on how big of a cutting you want to have to play with, tho cutting pretty close to the base would be easiest and likely produce the best results for the "mother" plant I'm no expert on rooting Neps, but the ones I have been able to get to grow, I just stuck them in "whatever I had laying around" (sage advice from Rick Hillier, thanks man, and only slightly sarcastic on the "sage" part, it worked out great) As long as it's suitable for CPs to grow in it'll work, tho it's advisable to make the mix as airy as you can- mine rooted in a mix of a little sand, some perlite, a little sphagnum and a bunch of plain ol peat moss Just stick the cutting in there and keep it moist until it looks like it's growing and bob's yer uncle And if you aren't too concerned about losing the cutting, you could even try rooting it an plain old water (well, CP water but you know, nothing added to it) It supposedly works for many of the "Sturdier" species Keep us posted Bro!!
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Post by vraev on Mar 9, 2007 12:13:21 GMT -5
Thanks guys! I guess I will make a cutting near the bottom....then make pieces of that one. I can actually put this up here for people who want to give them a go as well.
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Post by Rick Hillier on Mar 9, 2007 15:22:08 GMT -5
Like Carl mentioned, I've always just stuck the shoots in whatever media the original plant was/is happy in. Generally, if a nep will grow in a given media, it will likely root in it if the conditions are good.
Regarding cuttings, try not to make the cuttings too long - maybe 3 or 4 leaf nodes in length, and it sometimes helps to cut 1/2 of each leaf off to help the plant minimize water loss.
>>> Rick <<<
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Post by vraev on Mar 10, 2007 2:12:40 GMT -5
Thanks for the guidance guys! I am happy to say that the first pitcher that started all the way from a leaf bud has finally opened. Looks sooo cute.......RED.....I never imagined that the gro and sho light was good enough....but the colouration on the pitcher says taht it is good enough for the ventrata. I am still kinda nervous about doing this though....I am too wimpy to get an exacto knife near the nep....After 4 months...it finally adjusted and I am happy that i can see more pitchers on the way. brrr..... But, carl said he will be coming soon.....I rather do it then I guess....I was trying to do it today and just couldn't go through with it.
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Post by lloyd on Mar 10, 2007 18:48:36 GMT -5
Vraev, I'm not trying to make fun of you or your squeamishness about cutting your nep but aren't you trying to become a doctor? :-)
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Post by vraev on Mar 11, 2007 0:27:38 GMT -5
yeah! lol! well.......human beings can respond......"a little more to the right"....."nope! thats bad!" ...lol! well.....I guess the other reason is that its been 4 months and FINALLY it started pitchering...the only offshoot not growing pitchers is the one that is vining....I guess thats why I am this squeamish!
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