Nepenthes fertilizers

Christopher Creel (ctcreel@hpbs1265.boi.hp.com)
Fri, 1 Mar 96 14:48:08 MST

I have experimented with a great deal of fertilizers and prey for
Nepenthes. The fertilizers I have used are:

1) Epiphites delight at 1/3 strength.
Good results, but I need more time to experiment.
2) Miracid at 1/8 strength
Excellent results, but need to be very careful no to overdue.
3) Peter's orchid fertilizer
No visible results.
4) Fish emulsion at full strength
Good results, but smells horrible
5) Seaweed emusltion
No increase in growth, but enhanced coloration.
6) Dried blood
No visible results and smelled worse than fish emulsion

Prey that I have used:

1) Ants
Fair results. Especially good for small plants
2) Yellow jackets
Good results, but dangerous to work with.
3) Tent caterpillars (Gypsy moth)
Good results. Produces great satisfaction for me, too.
4) Bumble bees
Have no idea... they escaped every time. My wife finally
forced me to let them go. We now have a firm house rule: if they
the prey escapes, we take them outside and let them go (sort of like
during the french revolution... if the giotine (sp?) sticks, the
prisoner goes free).
5) Fish food.
Great results. Especially good for small plants.
6) Misquito larva (pet store)
Same results as fish food.
7) Mealy worms.
Fair results... slow digestion.
8) Store bought crickets
Fabulous results! Don't over feed, however!

I use Superthrive with every watering. It helps tremendously. I
recomend its use with whatever feeding/prey strategy you use. One
warning, beginners should avoid chemical fertilizers.

Chris