Question
Hey guys, I rescued a Nepenthes Sanguinea (Orange) and Judith Finn from the Portland Nursery. It was growing in a mix of 50/50 pumice and peat moss.  I rinsed the old soil that the plants were in, and I put it in 2 parts perlite and 1 part peat moss.  Will this new mix be fine I made, or was the other one better?  It's my first time trying this mix for Nepenthes. I know that the Judith Finn is a Hybrid between Nepenthes Spatulata x Veitchii, but is it natural or man made, I'm just wondering. Thank You.

I'm sorry I keep bugging you guys about the soil, there's so many mixes for nepenthes that I can't settle with one.

Answer
Agustin,

A quote from Sam Estes at the Lelani Hapu'u Nepenthes Nursery in Hawaii:  "I don't think they care what you put them in, as long as it drains well, and doesn't have too much fertilizer."  Another grower said, "Some Nepenthes would probably grow on a wet brick."  There is no one perfect mix, just a variety of mixes that work just fine.  Our mix is based on what works well for us here in the nursery with the conditions we keep the plants in.  We hang many of ours, and we ship plants all the time, so a mix that drains, but doesn't drain out of the pots, yet is light works best for us.

If you are going to use a peat/perlite mix I would add some orchid bark also.  This will open them mix some and keep it from compacting, yet hold moisture.  Again, it's not that this is better, it's just that mixes with lots of perlite can be messy since it floats and washes out easily.  The bark will add some desirable qualities.  Again, there is no one perfect mix.  Use what works for you based on your watering habits.

I'm pretty sure Judith Finn is a man-made hybrid.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com