Nepenthes Planting Medium
Everyone is talking about sphagnum moss as the best medium for Nepenthes. But where in the Philippines can I get them?
I have been fooled so may times on several local garden shows who sells the most sought after moss. But to my disappointment,
its no sphagnum moss but just an ordinary moss taken from some rain forest. Whether I like it or not, I have to be contented in using the
coconut husk. I was successful using it on orchids, bromeliads and anthurium so I have no doubt that it wont work on Neps.
The coconut husk is actually the outer covering of a coconut fruit. Take not that its not a nut but a coco fruit of a coco tree from
the coco palm family (thats what the song says). And also did you know that this tree is considered as the "tree of life" in the Philippines
as every part of this tree is being put into some use. Anyway, the coco husk is still very abundant in our country and you can get them cheap. I have already tried using this
medium on the first batch of Nepenthes that I ordered from Malaysia. Out of the 13 bareroot plants, I was able to keep 7 plants alive. I am not really sure
if I can blame it from the medium that I used or maybe on how I handled. Once thing is sure though... All of those 7 Neps that survived are now very much happy
with the medium. Ill see it again this time when I got my next batch of Nepenthes this July 2003.
What I normally do to the coco husk is to cut them about 3 inches long, soak it for an hour on rain water and
arranged it verticaly on the outer most part of the opening of the pot. Then I took some of the fibers and used it to wrap
the portion of the plant that needs to be buried in the planting medium. More fibers are placed around the plant
to stabilized them. Then I water the plant again before putting them into the plant rack. Take note that I advice you to use a rack
so it wont get in direct contact with the ground. This is to avoid termites from invading your planting medium. However,
If you intend to use hanging pot, which I am using now, you shoudnt worry about termites. Unless they have mutated to develop wings,
you are guaranteed safe from them ...
Hanging Neps
I have also tried using the commercialized cocopeat which are available in the market as blocks. But my alata doesnt seem to like it.
I said it didnt like it at all as it began to rot and died. Looks like it retains much water than the husk and my alata doesnt like it too wet.
Anyway, until now im contented using the coconut husk and so are my Neps... Happy husking !!!