Guest Carnivorous Newbie Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 (edited) Hi, all! The other day, I noticed that all of the pitchers' lids on my Hummer's Giant were closed. From the knowledge I've gained from several of you, I thought it simply to be a humidity problem, as I saw my humidity gauge had registered 30% at one point, and my humidifier was running...? I immediately attended to it and had to put a little water in the pitchers. Upon further inspection, I noticed that the pitchers themselves were softer than normal, as well as a winter leaf and 1 of 2 'baby' pitchers. Not smushy, but soft. I also noticed that the forming pitchers' stems are a little brown around the crown, but the teeny ones look healthy thus far. I've only had this Ceph for a few months now, and I've been watering it from the top around the rim every other day (1/2) on the advice from the seller. Well, it has been getting much cooler in the evenings here in zone 6a, and I just realized that I haven't changed the watering schedule with the temp and humidity changes. So I put a warm burning flourescent directly over it all day yesterday in case it was water-logged in an attempt to 'dry it out' a bit, and the lids have re-opened and firmed up again... all seems well. But is all of this early signs of rot, fungus, pests, etc.? If so, is there anything I can do to save it? And this may be a very silly question, but I know that with orchids (my main staple), I've used hydrogen Peroxide to provide aeration to over watered plants. Would this be advisable for a Hummer's Giant if that was the problem? Could this also be a result of the plant needing a repot? Thanks for taking the time to help. I greatly appreciate it! Edited September 8, 2009 by Carnivorous Newbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 Sounds like C.S.D.S. to me... check out THIS link Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Green Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 I don't think this is CSDS - they don't normally recover. It could be that you've been keeping it too wet. I also wouldn't water from the top now, as a wet crown over winter can easily lead to death. I water all mine from the bottom. keep it more on the dry side now - but not dry. As it's already perked up, it sounds like you caught it in time - only time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petesredtraps Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 I agree with Phil, I think you have been watering it the wrong way and too often. You may have gotten away with it as the new growth looks healthy.For now keep it somewhere where the humidity is moderate and the situation is well ventilated. If it's getting colder the substrate wants to be just damp that's all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Carnivorous Newbie Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 (edited) Thank you so much for your input Phil, Pete and mobile! I greatly appreciate it! I have noticed that the sphagnum on top has been keeping real moist. It still hasn't dried out since yesterday. Would it be safe to go ahead and repot, or at least replace the top layer with some dried New Zealand sphag? Or should I just her recovere a bit before tackling it?I know this may sound terrible, but I have been petrified to repot from the damage one may inflict to the roots (or so I've read), and there are a few roots coming out of the bottom of the pot. The seller told me when I purchased it that a repot was coming soon. Can I get what I need in terms of substrate at the local home improvement store, or do I need to have a rush delivery from an online source? I'm really sorry to sound so ignorant on the topic. I'm still learning and just want to make sure I do everything I can to save her. Thanks again for your help! It really means the world to me! Edited September 8, 2009 by Carnivorous Newbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 I'm not sure that it's an over-watering issue. Mine sit in a saucer of water year round and have done so for several years. I allow the saucer to empty before refilling. Watering from overhead is not generally a good idea though. Daytime temperatures in West Virginia should still be in the mid twenties celcius, are they not? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Carnivorous Newbie Posted September 8, 2009 Report Share Posted September 8, 2009 (edited) I'm not sure that it's an over-watering issue. Mine sit in a saucer of water year round and have done so for several years. I allow the saucer to empty before refilling. Watering from overhead is not generally a good idea though. Daytime temperatures in West Virginia should still be in the mid twenties celcius, are they not? It's been unseasonably cool this year. This past week, we've been experiencing daytime averages of 23C and 9C at night. I keep this Ceph indoors with my orchids, but have an even exchange of outside air using an exhaust fan. I've had to shut it off and close the window on the coldest of nights, but it still stayed cool in the room. The humidity has ranged from 30% to 72%. When I realized something wasn't quite right, I modified the room conditions and have kept the temp at 25C during the day with 60% humidity. The pitcher's have firmed back up and the lids wide open, but the newely forming pitchers are still soft, as well as the winter leaf. Are new growths typically soft, or am I correct in assuming otherwise? I'm hoping by drying it out a bit, it will perk up more. The newer growths look healthy so far, so perhaps not all is lost. I'm hopefull anyway! :) Thanks again for the help! Edited September 8, 2009 by Carnivorous Newbie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linton Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 My two Cephs (red form) are growing in a coarse sandy, peaty mix with some perlite added for aeration. I have dressed the top of the pot with gravel to improve air movement and hopefully reduce the chance of rot attacking either the pitchers where they sit on the soil or the stem itself. A small amount of moss grows at the base of both plants, but does not spread far because of the good drainage that the gravel provides. I top water once a week in winter, more often in the Summer and have not had any problems - there is some debate, but personally I think that good drainage and ventilation is the key to successful cultivation of this plant. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 (edited) The Cephalotus pictured below grows in a mixture of peat and perlite. There is not much perlite and the peat is well decomposed so drainage is pretty poor - water poured on the surface takes ages to drain away. It sits in a saucer of water year round, which is allowed to empty before being refilled. It is in a tall (rose) pot and the small area that is exposed to light doesn't grow any moss. It sits on my kitchen windowsill where there is no temperature or humidity control. I am a firm believer that tall pots are an advantage when growing this species as they allow for good root growth and the surface never gets too wet. I am not keen on using live sphagnum moss, with perhaps the exception of the small species, as it stays too wet for too long in my opinion. Edited September 9, 2009 by mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petesredtraps Posted September 9, 2009 Report Share Posted September 9, 2009 I agree with Mobile entirely on the use of tall pots, and I use this mix-http://www.aqph26.dsl.pipex.com/cephalotusfollil.html ,the deluxe UK mix recommended by Jon. When you've taken the trouble to prepare the mix you just know the plants are going to enjoy it, the only substitute I made was using Supersphag as opposed to shredding live sphagnum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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