Nepenthes cultivation

From: Borneo Exotics (borneo@sri.lanka.net)
Date: Fri Sep 15 2000 - 13:43:51 PDT


Date: Fri, 15 Sep 2000 20:43:51 +0000
From: Borneo Exotics <borneo@sri.lanka.net>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg2793$foo@default>
Subject: Nepenthes cultivation

Hi Folks,

Well, this is the third time in the past fortnight I've tried to post a
message on this list. First time was to apologise for the regrettable
error which resulted in sending a commercial message directly to some (not
all) members of the list. That one disappeared entirely into cyberspace
and never appeared on the list. Another message resulted in just the
header appearing on the list with no message content. Perhaps this one
will make it through!

I'm trying to make good on a long-overdue promise to produce a
species-specific cultivation guide for Nepenthes. Those of you that have
been growing Nepenthes for some time will be well aware that it is not as
simple as classifying a species as 'lowland' or 'highland' and treating
them accordingly. Neps can sometimes be very, very frustrating and
temperamental. For example, anyone trying to produce a spectacular pitcher
on a plant of Nepenthes northiana will know this already. Perhaps this is
all part of the fun and challenge...

Now to the crux of the matter. I actually have almost no experience of
growing Nepenthes in the manner that most people would have to employ. I
have never used a greenhouse or a terrarium. Living in the tropics with
both highland and lowland terrains we simply throw the plants into pots,
put them under fiberglass and shadecloth, water them and they catch bugs
and grow all by themselves. (Well it's almost that simple.) In order to
write a detailed species-specific guide I need input from growers. There
is a wealth of experience out there garnered from many, many years of
experience. Let's try to collate some of it. I propose taking this one
species at a time to start with. Any contributions will be acknowledged in
the write up which will appear on the Borneo Exotics web site.

Does anybody have any specific growing tips for Nepenthes rafflesiana? Do
you notice differences in requirements between the many forms of this
species, for example the 'giant' form or the 'elongata' form as opposed to
the 'standard' form? Any difference in speed of growth. Probelems?
Cures? Ideas? Any info welcome. Photos too. Please e-mail me directly
if you don't want your comments posted on the list.

A quick note about the unsolicited mailing of a couple of weeks ago. We
only commenced marketing plants relatively recently and until that time our
website had been maintained for a number of years purely as a
non-commercial resource for anyone wishing to learn more about Nepenthes.
We have to adjust our thinking now, and it's possibly inappropriate to even
announce web site updates on this list in future. If anyone wishes to
receive direct notification of future updates then please visit our home
page and fill in the list bot found there. The unsoliced mailing won't
happen again.

Best regards,

Rob Cantley
Borneo Exotics

<http://www.borneoexotics.com>



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