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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Jun 12, 2014 12:59:13 GMT -5
I know they have small pitchers so they can digest insects. After so many feedings do I have to clean the insect shells out of it? its no big deal to me I just wanna be prepared. Please keep in mind this is my first pitcher plant and I know less than nothing lol !!
posted wrong please move this
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Post by lloyd on Jun 12, 2014 17:54:41 GMT -5
Don't fuss with your plants. They don't need to be cleaned.
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Post by Avery on Jun 12, 2014 18:25:35 GMT -5
I think Cephalotus are intolerant of over-feeding, but others may disagree. I've only fed young pitchers on my plant very small amounts of freeze-dried bloodworm, but the pitchers didn't last for very long so I stopped doing this. When its (first) adult pitcher opens, I will give it some freeze-dried bloodworm which should boost growth. I also have small (but harmless) insects roaming around in my terrarium, and I'm sure they've wandered into the immature pitchers along the way.
Cephalotus are sensitive plants, and you shouldn't have to clean out pitchers, because you shouldn't be feeding them large amounts of food. If you feed lightly, the food will slowly dissolve in the pitcher fluid and the plant will be able to utilize it, as opposed to just turning black and dying. That being said, my plant has taken a very long time to reach maturity from a rooted leaf pulling, so maybe I'm doing something wrong!
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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Jun 12, 2014 19:42:07 GMT -5
you shouldn't have to clean out pitchers, because you shouldn't be feeding them large amounts of food.
I asked that because along with feeding I want to put it outside now and then to feed and was just thinking what if a insect or hard shelled beetle fell inside and the pitcher could not digest parts of it. I have 2 plantlets, already it has tiny pitchers but none open yet.
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Post by hal on Jun 12, 2014 19:57:00 GMT -5
was just thinking what if a insect or hard shelled beetle fell inside and the pitcher could not digest parts of it? These plants live outside in Australia. I'm sure they have to deal with hard-shelled insects and the odd dingo. If they can't digest it, they won't, but it won't harm the plant to have something inert in the pitcher. Trying to clean it out would do more harm than good.
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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Jun 12, 2014 20:11:41 GMT -5
So can these plants expel shells should there be alot in the pitcher??
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Post by lloyd on Jun 12, 2014 20:18:15 GMT -5
The general consensus is that you don't have to worry about this.
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Post by roraima on Jun 13, 2014 0:42:37 GMT -5
I think Cephalotus are intolerant of over-feeding, but others may disagree. I've only fed young pitchers on my plant very small amounts of freeze-dried bloodworm, but the pitchers didn't last for very long so I stopped doing this. I've found the same thing to be true, especially for one of my Ceph clones in particular. After it produced copious amounts of pitchers last year I decided to "reward it" with a big dose of FDBW. Well the "reward" really set the plant back as the pitchers quickly yellowed and took a long time to return.
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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Jun 13, 2014 8:52:15 GMT -5
I watered the ceph's this morning and 1 looks like it raised the pitcher off the surface and last night I could make out the dark teeth on the rim of it...does this mean anything? they are plantlets now and still show tiny pitchers
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Post by hal on Jun 13, 2014 9:23:18 GMT -5
It means it's growing. Business as usual for a healthy plant.
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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Jun 13, 2014 9:50:48 GMT -5
Good! being my first one I thought this was a bad reaction and once again I killed it lol !!
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Post by H2O on Jun 13, 2014 10:51:58 GMT -5
Dennis I think you need to put your plants somewhere you feel is a good spot and just leave then. Don't touch them, move them, fiddle with them or be constantly watching them. Just water the tray when needed and you'll be fine.
The worst thing you can do with some of these plants is to be constantly messing with them. Some of the plants I have inside and outside haven't been touched or moved in over a year. Simply rotating a plant 90 degree can mess with it. So try your best to find a good spot and let it settle in.
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Post by Dennis A(cook1973) on Jun 13, 2014 12:01:17 GMT -5
I do but its frustrating, I fill the tray with water but the top of the soil stays dry to the touch! I read cephalotus and Pings love wet soil and even then the soil looks wet then its like it dries out!
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Post by lloyd on Jun 13, 2014 13:44:08 GMT -5
Once a soil medium is thoroughly wetted it should wick water right to the top. Before potting make sure all medium is wet and mushy with no dry bits. If you don't let the top dry out the medium should continue to wick water from the bottom to the top. Many of my dews and neps never get "watered", they just sit in the water tray and stay wet all the way to the surface.
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Post by hal on Jun 13, 2014 15:07:21 GMT -5
I do but its frustrating, I fill the tray with water but the top of the soil stays dry to the touch! I read cephalotus and Pings love wet soil and even then the soil looks wet then its like it dries out! Cephs have long roots that will be down in the water at the bottom of the pot. Mexican pings like Aphrodite don't like it really wet all the time and the medium can dry out. You can keep them in a tray with water but let the water dry out and don't refill it for a day or two. Check out dvg's threads on pings and take a look at his pots. He uses dry mineral-based substrate with just a bit of peat in it.
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