Date: Wed, 11 Jun 1997 23:58:48 GMT From: Peter Cole <carnivor@flytrap.demon.co.uk> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg2289$foo@default> Subject: Re: H.heterodoxa
> From: "Mellard, David" <dam7@ATSDHA1.EM.CDC.GOV>
> To: "'CP List'" <cp@opus.hpl.hp.com>
> Subject: H. heterodoxa
> Message-ID: <339C14C7@SmtpOut.em.cdc.gov>
>
>
> I purchased a H. heterodoxa recently at the ABG cp conference and it's not
> doing well. This is my first Heli, so I'd appreciate advice from anyone.
>
> Here's the history. The plant was in mix in a plastic pot and was wrapped
> in plastic. I added a hole for air exchange and put it under fluorescent
> lights. This weekend (the cp conference was several weeks ago) I removed it
> from the plastic (it looked fine) and set in a 55 gallon aquarium filled
> with a layer of dead sphagnum moss/rock perlite/charcoal and topped with
> live sphagnum moss. It's still in the same mixl and plastic container. The
> aquarium was set up this weekend,too. It is not sitting in water.
>
> The low temp is around 68 F and the high temp is around 78 to 82 F . The
Perhaps a little cooler - my Helies can hit 82-84F on hot
summer days, but like it cooler, and the nights are almost
always much lower - down to 50-something or less (40 in winter.)
They do much better under artificial light for me, on a
photoperiod of 13/15 hrs (winter/summer)
> light is about 18 to 24 inches above the plant. Humidity is 80 - 90%. I'm
Sounds too high to me - mine do best at 50-60% (and do OK at
even less,) though I try to mist them daily when the temps are
into the 80s.
IME good ventilation is extremely important - sealing them up
in a case is an open invitation for mould. I've been told
they're fine at higher humidities when this is ambient
(ie: in more tropical regions,) because ventilation is not
compromised .
> still playing with the set up and may add a small fan and an opening to
> allow air exchange. Right now, the aquarium top is covered with Saran wrap
> until I have a glass top made.
If the sides are higher than the plants are tall, then I
would think leaving it open topped would be fine -
humidity will be increased, especially if you plant up
lots of live sphagnum in there.
> I will check the roots tonight. For future reference, could someone
> recommend a potting mix for heli's.
I grow mine in 4 parts perlite to 1 part peat. This is
loose enough to make repotting easy (use a peatier mix
and you'll end up snapping all the roots off!) I bury
the roots in this and then add a 1-2" layer of live
sphagnum to support the rhizome - this helps maintain
humidity and has a naturally anti-fungal nature.
The pots are sunk into peat:sand in a 3 foot terrarium
under 4 striplights 24" above the soil (with a kitchen
foil reflector.) I water the whole terrarium through the
pots every day or two, but they don't reach the water
table.
these plants (particularly adults,) are tougher than many
people give them credit for - they're still comparatively
uncommon in cultivation and expensive, but that doesn't mean
they're difficult if you avoid some of their particular
dislikes:
- frost (some may survive light frosts, but it's hardly to
be recommended!)
- poor ventilation
- excessive heat, especially direct scorching sun (if you
can grow them under lights in preference to sun, do so.)
> Oh, yes, the plant. A couple of leaves have shrivelled up at the top since
> putting it in the aquarium. I've also noticed that there's no water in the
> pitchers. Should I add some rainwater? Advic?
I doubt it will do any harm, but the plant will adjust
eventually. The shrivelling is probably mostly a reaction
to being carried about to and fro the conference - I expect
it will settle in once it's had a bit of time to recover.
Hope this helps,
Peter
__________________________________________________________________________
Peter Cole,Cambrian Carnivores,::Carnivorous Plants and seeds for sale -
17,Wimmerfield Crescent,Killay,::http://www.flytrap.demon.co.uk/cchome.htm
SWANSEA SA2 7BU, WALES, UK ::mailto:carnivor@flytrap.demon.co.uk
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