Re: Cephalotus die-off.

John H. Phillips (phillips@library.ucsf.edu)
Tue, 28 Sep 93 08:53:28 CST

I recently transplanted my Cephalotus because of an enormous investation of
earthworms and an anaerobic condition in the lower part of the pot. I washed
all the soil off the roots and repotted in my perlite/fine orchid bark/peat
Nepenthe mix w/ a little sand added, using sphagnum in the bottom of the pot
to prevent soil loss. I also cover the pot w/ the top of a 1 gal. plastic
water bottle, w/o cap, to provide humidity. I keep it outside out of bright
sun, do not use a tray or saucer, and water from the top (chopped live
sphagnum keeps the perlite from floating around). My plant is growing
beautifully, suffered no dying back and I've had no trouble with spider
mites since the transplant. I should also mention I live in Berkeley, CA
where we have fairly high humidity year round with all the fog we get and
very little very hot or cold days. I've bee curious about all the incidents
of Cephalotus dying off and growing back and problems w/ anaerobic soil,
and am now experimenting w/ the use of a soil mix usually used for
Nepenthes. John Phillips