Post by clonem on May 20, 2014 11:00:50 GMT -5
Depending on your situation and how many plants you grow, I've found the following two things to be helpful. The first is due to the biodiversity (bad insects) where I live. It is very wooded in my neighborhood, so there are large quantities of nasties that might otherwise really slow down my Sarracenia due to potential damage. I just picked off, of all things, a tomato hornworm from inside a flower under the petals! I was looking inside because I noticed a section of petals just plain missing. It was around an inch long. Anyway, around once every 6 weeks or so (I don't time it), I apply a systemic insecticide (Merit 75) via top-watering.
The other tip I have, is because of the long, hot summers here, when the temperature often doesn't even drop below 70°F at night. That, combined with stagnant water (which I confess I often don't change out) can lead to not-so-nice media in the pot. So, around once a week (again via top-watering), I apply a product called Oxy Blast! It comes in either quarts or gallons. I get it through Better Grow Hydro, although it is available elsewhere as well. Your goal is to mix it down with water to a level of 30ppm. You determine the amount to use by purchasing test strips made for measuring peroxide levels, also available at the mentioned site. I only bought five to get an accurate testing. Oxy Blast! is 10% hydrogen peroxide and 90% deionized water. The 30ppm rating adds beneficial oxygen to the growing media, and effectively controls some pathogens as well. I determined that, with the eye dropper I use, I need 20 drops of Oxy Blast! per gallon. With under 100 plants in my collection, both of my suggestions are ok.
These tips are just a couple of things I do which are helpful to me. I water my Nepenthes every time with Oxy Blast!, and they are healthier than without it.
The other tip I have, is because of the long, hot summers here, when the temperature often doesn't even drop below 70°F at night. That, combined with stagnant water (which I confess I often don't change out) can lead to not-so-nice media in the pot. So, around once a week (again via top-watering), I apply a product called Oxy Blast! It comes in either quarts or gallons. I get it through Better Grow Hydro, although it is available elsewhere as well. Your goal is to mix it down with water to a level of 30ppm. You determine the amount to use by purchasing test strips made for measuring peroxide levels, also available at the mentioned site. I only bought five to get an accurate testing. Oxy Blast! is 10% hydrogen peroxide and 90% deionized water. The 30ppm rating adds beneficial oxygen to the growing media, and effectively controls some pathogens as well. I determined that, with the eye dropper I use, I need 20 drops of Oxy Blast! per gallon. With under 100 plants in my collection, both of my suggestions are ok.
These tips are just a couple of things I do which are helpful to me. I water my Nepenthes every time with Oxy Blast!, and they are healthier than without it.