Question
Image of N. Hamata
N. Hamata
QUESTION: Allexperts,
I got this N. Hamata about a month ago. It has stayed at this point for about 2 weeks. It has done nothing. It is like it has been frozen in time. Is Something wrong? I I will attach a photo to this email. If there is anything else you need please let me know.
Sincerely,
Weylin
Grow Info:
Water= Distilled , watered every other day; not allowed to sit in water.
Humidity = 40-70%
Temperature = Day time- 72-76degrees ;Night time= 69-64 degrees
ANSWER: Hi Weylin,
Nepenthes hamata can be slow growing anyway, so this is part of it. You might consider switching this plant over to either live or New Zealand sphagnum moss. In nature most photos I've seen of them they are growing in moss. A little bigger temperature spread could help also. If you could get it in the upper 50's at night, that is going to be more what they are used to in nature. Your humidity is just right. Bright and cool is what these seem to do best with. Continue to fertilize it about once every two weeks with a weak solution sprayed on the leaves.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Allexpert,
What if I don't have access to either live or New Zealand Spaghnum Moss? I have Orchid moss. Will the plant die if I don't switch over to either live or New Zealand Spaghnum Moss? Its Currently potted in Spaghum moss , Orchid Bark, Peat Moss, and vermiculite.
What can I do to get the plant into the upper 50's at night?
Thank you for helping me.
Sincerely,
Weylin
ANSWER: Hi Weylin,
Your orchid moss may be either New Zealand or Chilean Sphagnum. Just look at the label. Either one is fine. N. hamata is just used to a mossier mix. I recommended New Zealand sphagnum because it has the best quality. It won't die the way you have it now, but you asked for ways to make it grow better, so this is part of finding a way to optimize the growth. We have to do stuff like this all the time when something isn't doing well, and we don't always know exactly why.
http://www.calwesttropical.com/index.php/categories/sphagnum-moss
http://www.usorchidsupplies.com/29-sphagnum-moss
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=new+zealand+sphagnum+moss&tag=googhydr
These sources took me a five minute web search. Many big-box pet stores have Sphagnum moss in their reptile supplies.
You'll have to be inventive on finding a way to get the temperature down at night a little. I don't know what your house is like. If you have your plants in a room separate from the rest of the house, you could just crack a window a tiny bit. Putting the plant in a window would do it too since it would be colder at night that way. You would just need to be careful when the sun is out.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Allexpert,
Thank you for the help. One last question. If I just recently, repotted the plant into the current potting mix, could I repotted into the mix that you describe in your last response? Thats repot the plant twice with in 30 days. Thanks Again.
Sincerely,
Weylin
AnswerWeylin,
That would have been nice information to know in your first post. Nepenthes always have a certain amount of transplanting shock. That is what's happening to your plant. My advice is to just leave it alone. You have to give the plants at least a month before you start to see recovery, especially with a sensitive species like N. hamata. What's happening is the plant is putting it's energy into root repair. If the plant was growing alright before in the spot you have it, your conditions are probably fine. Don't mess with the colder room since you would need to get the temperature up during the day, them cooler at night. Just leave it where it is and give it time. It would be fine to water it with some Superthrive to help the root recovery. Just be sure to follow the directions on the bottle for dosage.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
