Question
I am going to make a attempt to grow a Heliampora Plant.Can you tell me the easiest species to start with.Should I put it in a terranium or is a pot ok? I will be keeping it in the house under artifical light,should I cover the terranium or not.It is going to be a 8x8 plastic box which I will drill holes in the bottom,it is going to be for that plant only.

Answer
Hi Sammy,

Heliamphora heterodoxa x minor, or H. heterodoxa seem to be the easiest for us.  Terrariums work well for these.  Keeping it potted, inside the terrarium, is the simplest method.  Actually putting soil in a terrarium makes the watering tricky.  Use a partial cover.  You want to increase the humidity, but some ventilation is good.  With your light use about a 14 hour day, and keep the temperature around 75 degrees F.  Be sure to top water the pot a couple times a week, and fill up the pitchers.  Put the pot in small saucer to catch water.  They can have some water in the saucer, but shouldn't have it very deep.  They also benefit from a weak foliar fertilizer about once a month.  Use the usual 1/4 tsp. per gallon of orchid fertilizer applied to the pitchers.


Good Growing!

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