FlytrapCare Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 I've just recently started getting into Heliamphora. I'm debating on what media to use. Right now I only have a juvenile H. nutans and it appears to be happy (putting out new growth) in my preferred potting mix of 50% peat, 30% silica sand and 20% perlite. But I've read that many people use only live sphagnum. I've got an order of a few more Heliamphora coming soon (H. minor, H. heterodoxa and H. pulchella) and I'd like to get an opinion from a few of the more experienced Heliamphora growers in order to help me decide what to plant them in. Also, if you've noticed that different species prefer different media, please make note of that as well. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
loligo1964 Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 My preferred compost is either live sphagnum for the youngest plants or, more commonly, a 1:1:1 mix of live sphagnum, pumice, and perlite . . . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drosera5150 Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 Hello mmlr38, I've been growing several species and hybrids in pure live sphagnum for years with no problems. Recently, I've been adding a little perlite in the media I root my divisions in, to add a little more "airyness" to the media. I believe this helps with good root development and cooling of the media for the more finicky species, especially for the younger plants... Happy Growing, Brian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimscott Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 Far from being experienced, I was told to use LFS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlytrapCare Posted December 12, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like live sphagnum or a mix of live sphagnum or long fibered sphagnum with perlite should work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RL7836 Posted December 12, 2009 Report Share Posted December 12, 2009 For my 1st attempt at growing an H. minor a few years ago, I divided a plant received in a trade. Two parts were potted into different peat-based mixes & the 3rd in 100% live LFS. The peat-based plants did not thrive, barely putting out any pitchers. The LFS plant has grown fairly well and is now in need of a repotting. Since then, I've potted up a few more heli's in mixes based on live LFS, sand & APS with very good results. I don't consider my initial results with peat-based media definitive by any means but since the other mixes are doing well I'll probably keep going in that direction, at least for a while... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
av8tor1 Posted December 13, 2009 Report Share Posted December 13, 2009 cypress based mixes, various blends of cypress bark, LFS, APS and sand Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlytrapCare Posted December 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 14, 2009 Thanks everyone for the replies. Would anyone mind sharing with me the APS you use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
av8tor1 Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Thanks everyone for the replies. Would anyone mind sharing with me the APS you use? Schultz and Pond Care are the two Ive used. Pond Care Schultz and Turface is a less expensive alternative (same basic product, different packaging) SOME versions of "oil dry" and cat litter are also about the same, but its hit or miss... varies regionally not worth the gamble, stick with the Schultz or Pond Care until you know what to look for Av Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlytrapCare Posted December 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Schultz and Pond Care are the two Ive used. Pond Care Schultz and Turface is a less expensive alternative (same basic product, different packaging) SOME versions of "oil dry" and cat litter are also about the same, but its hit or miss... varies regionally not worth the gamble, stick with the Schultz or Pond Care until you know what to look for Av Thanks Av! What local retail store might I be able to find these at? Is this something that a local hardware store would have? Or HD or Lowes? Or is this something that's more of a specialty item that is easiest ordered online? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
av8tor1 Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Too bulky to order online... shipping would be a killer Try your local hardware stores, Lowe's occasionally carries the Schultz brand APS... HTH's, Av Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andreas Wistuba Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Hello all, after using a mix of dead Sphagnum moss, perlite and a little peatmoss for years, I recenltly started to add a good portion of "Aggrofoam" which greatly enhances airation of the substrate. The peatmoss (just a small portion) enhances coloration under my conditions (....I have no clue, why....). For Nepenthes I use the same substrate but started to add pine-bark a while ago. I'm still testing if the bark has any negative effect on Heliamphora as I'd like to use as few different mixes as possible. I always mix by look and feel, so don't ask me for exact proportions.... Bye Andreas Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlytrapCare Posted December 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 Too bulky to order online... shipping would be a killerTry your local hardware stores, Lowe's occasionally carries the Schultz brand APS... HTH's, Av Thanks Av, will do! Also, thanks for the input Andreas. The plants I have coming my way are actually from your nursery, so maybe I'll try to repeat the soil mixture they were growing in. Any idea what Aggrofoam is called in the US? Is it similar to or the same as rock wool? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amori Posted December 15, 2009 Report Share Posted December 15, 2009 I've only recently started collecting a few Heliamphora myself, and opted for an inorganic mix of 1cm Rockwool cubes, lava and perlite. So far, very good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RL7836 Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 ...and Turface is a less expensive alternative (same basic product, different packaging) I was unable to find name-brand APS anywhere locally so I checked the Lesco website to find local Turface suppliers. Picked up a 50lb bag for $10 & change... SOME versions of "oil dry" and cat litter are also about the same, but its hit or miss... varies regionally not worth the gamble, stick with the Schultz or Pond Care until you know what to look for I was leery so prior to use, I checked the Turface for dissolved solids for several weeks. No issues...Based on a Terra member recommendation, I also picked up some Napa oil dry (specific part number). While it had the same particle size, there were color variations within the mix (unlike the Turface). I shared some of both mixes with other growers and they reported back that the Napa stuff killed some plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted December 17, 2009 Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Thanks for the replies everyone. Looks like live sphagnum or a mix of live sphagnum or long fibered sphagnum with perlite should work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted December 18, 2009 Report Share Posted December 18, 2009 (edited) I've only recently started collecting a few Heliamphora myself, and opted for an inorganic mix of 1cm Rockwool cubes, lava and perlite. So far, very good. I too am trying an inorganic mix of 50:50 horticultural LECA and and 1cm rockwool cubes, in a passive hydroponics setup. Too early to say how the plant fairs in it though. Edited December 18, 2009 by mobile Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest UnstuckinTime Posted January 29, 2010 Report Share Posted January 29, 2010 I bought mine from a plant show this most recent fall, and it has been planted in a cyprus bark-living Sphagnum moss mix, with the bark close around the plant roots and moss growing all around it. I give it a splash of water each night as i turn the lights off, and it has rewarded me by sending up bigger and bigger pitchers, with nice coloring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry Copeland Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 I have just repotted my Heliamphora minor plants. All I could use was what I had available that I thought would provide great water movement with some water retention. So I made up a mix that I could use for Darlingtonia and Epipactis (a native orchid). It is made up of cypress mulch, river sand, assorted orchid barks, sphagnum peat moss, and granitic gravel. I had to make sure the barks, cypress, sand, and peat moss were wet before mixing in the gravel. My mixture was 1 part of everything except the gravel with it being 5 parts (by volume, not weight). I really like this mix. Hope to see great responses from all the different plants I used it for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebulon Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 Hey guys, Can I ask, HOW do you actually pot the plants, if you use LFS and Perlite as the media? I assume LFS is the type of Sphagnum that is still alive? So, do you arrange the moss into the pot so that the growth tips are on the surface, or do you just maul them into the bottom of the pot? I use the same media as I use for Nepenthes, 1:1:1:1 chipped orchid bark, peat, Sphagnum moss and sand. I have my Heliamphora heterodoxa in that mix and, well, it's growing, but not very fast. It has a wonderful coloration on the lips of the juvenile pitchers, but it's just growing so slowly. It's still a child, no adult pitchers. Thanks for help! Greetings, Jarkko Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenofeden Posted March 31, 2010 Report Share Posted March 31, 2010 I normally use dried Sphagnum. Wet it first, break up the lumps, then loosely mix with the perlite, then put the whole mix in the pot. Plant your Heliamphora. Top it with live sphagnum. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest kgrudz Posted April 2, 2010 Report Share Posted April 2, 2010 LFS is long fibered sphagnum and it is not alive, rather it is the dead kind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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