Question
QUESTION: This summer i made a cutting of my nep maxima plant.  i made one rather large one, instead of a few little ones. i included 4 leaves instead of 2, and didnt' use rooting hormone (the last 2 cuttings i did didnt seem to take) and i'm VERY excited to say after 3 months of attention, my cutting has developed inch long roots!!  Forgive my excitement, this is a first for me!  At what point to i plant this cutting into a soil mix and place it out into the open with my others?  And would there be anything wrong with planting it into the same pot as the maxima that i cut it from?

ANSWER: Darren,

This will be the time to transfer it.  If you have it in high humidity, you'll need to transition it slowly to allow it to harden off, and develop longer roots.  Putting it in with the mother plant is fine if there's room.  I also recommend watering with a Superthrive solution.  This seems to help the transition, and encourage root development.


Good Growing!

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I was not housing it in high humidity. i had it in an enclosed 10 gallon aquarium that was stood vertically, and had it sitting in about a half inch of water with a light source placed directly outside the tank(i did this for the relative humidity). i'm planning on opening it up to regular house humidity slowly over the next week.  if u have any better recommendations, please let me know. the top two leaves are still bronze/green, and the cutting is still growing at the top (slowly, but still growing). any specific fertilizer requirements?  i did not fertilize it at all while it was in the 'rooting process'

ANSWER: Hi Darren,

Opening the plant up to normal humidity like you're doing is just the right thing.  After your plant has been potted up for about 3 weeks a weak orchid fertilizer would be good.  Use no more than 1/4 tsp. per gallon of water of powdered orchid fertilizer.  You can apply it either as a foliar spray or water the soil with it once a month.


Good Growing!

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So i've opened the cutting to the regular house humidity for a few days now.  Here is the deal, the cutting is still growing from the top and has (over the 3 months time) unfolded 2 new leaves, and they are generally smaller than the other leaves on the cutting.  My question is this... Do i let the cutting continue to grow from the top?  Until its healthy enough to have the top snipped?  Or do i snip it now and have it start on growing a new vine that will produce pitchers?  There are currently no pitchers formed on the cutting.  I have worked this hard for 3-4 months, i dont want to throw it all away.  Please advise...

Answer
Hi Darren,

Since the cutting is growing, it sounds healthy.  I wouldn't cut it off.  Once you transplant it, it will probably start producing pitchers.  If you are trying to get a lower node to sprout you can cut the top later.  Just let it grow for a couple of months first so it can better develop roots.

Good Growing!

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