Date: Wed, 18 Mar 1998 10:36:00 -0500 From: "Mellard, David" <dam7@cdc.gov> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg961$foo@default> Subject: Heliamphora
I have a Heliamphora heterodoxa with some odd leaf behavior. After
maturing, the leaves eventually turn brown at the opening (lip?) and
this progresses until the entire picture is brown. It doesn't appear to
be fungal since the brown is not dry and not wet. The pitchers are a
bit odd in their shape. They never really attain the tubular shape I
see in pictures but rather appear like a tube that's been pulled a bit.
This makes the lower part of the pitcher very narrow and the opening of
the pitcher somewhat drawn. The color is a light green. There is no
red or bronze color on the pitchers. The plant is about 8 to 10 inches
from the light. It keeps producing pitchers so it's not declining.
Here's the growing conditions. The Heliamphora is growing in a pot
submerged in live sphagnum moss in a terrarium. Beneath the live moss
is dead long-fibered moss containing perlite and charcoal. A 2-bulb
fluorescent light containing Excella full spectrum light stays on about
14 to 16 hours a day. Humidity is high because the Nepenthes in the
terrarium are pitchering like crazy and paphs are doing well and
backbulbs from orchids are rooting like crazy. It's watered with
rainwater occassionally and hasn't been fed except recently when I
tossed a few dried flies in for fun. The problem was occurring long
before the feeding. Daytime temps are in the 70's and nightime temps
are probably in the 60's.
The mix probably needs changing since it's a year old. But my guess is
that it needs more light. Comments are welcome.
Thanks in advance,
David
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