mattynatureboy44

Got any pictures of your greenhouse you could post, and possibly a few plants to maybe lure a few more members to your open day?

All good ideas thanks, but I don't know where to get hold of a shotgun or flamethrower? so I went with a plastic Hawk and the wire idea.

Pretty much full sun for most part of the day, but does receive bright shade morning and evening. I just chucked a few pings in there last year and the year before, and the they actually seem to do a lot better for me outside in the bog than in the greenhouse. I would recommend a raised bog like you mentioned, wish I had of done that myself on all my bogs it reduces pests and the plants seem to grow better and get better colour than in a ground level bog (well in my garden anyway).

Some of the outside plants for comparison. They definitely look to be doing better than the sarra's in the outside bogs. Only problems I have is with slugs, one has eaten the top of one of the pitchers. Anyone got any ideas apart from slug pellets to discourage them off the bog, annoyingly they seem to like flytraps and Darlingtonia. WP_20130619_027 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_026 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_025 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_024 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr

Nice plants, the Dudley and Eden Black already showing nice dark colouration.

Yeah ones Bill Bailey and the other is Sanguinea Black Jack, very easy going vigorous neps in my opinion especially Bill Bailey.

Nothing special, some are in Pure live Sphagnum moss some in peat/perlite or live sphagnum/perlite They are just in with the Sarras in the greenhouse in full sun. They also grow quite well outside in a couple of home made peat bogs and containers but are a few weeks behind those in the pics.

Thanks Neil, Can you give me any advice on the best way to pollinate them?

Tried a packet of seed of these in the garden, I also tried the common spotted orchid I think I sowed about 5,000 seed in total in different locations around the garden. That was 2 years ago and nothing ever appeared.

Not the best summer or spring this year but these don't seem to mind. This is probably the best they have looked for me. WP_20130619_020 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_019 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_017 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_016 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_021 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr

Well done Koen, I may give it a try.

Hi Mort, Thanks here are some close ups sorry for the bad quality my camera has died so I only have my phone camera. WP_20130619_012 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_011 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130619_008 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr

Do you know how to tell if they are female or male flowers? From what I have read it does not seem straight forward with these plants, also do you know the best way to pollinate them? be good to attempt to get some seeds if it's possible.

Never had a Nepenthes flower for me, but 2 have for the first time this year. Mind you I have got no idea what to do with them. WP_20130617_066 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130617_073 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130617_072 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130617_071 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr WP_20130617_065 by mattynatureboy44, on Flickr

Nice pics Luis, It does look dark, I am looking forward to mine arriving in the post and a Triffid Albany Black, thanks Luis.

Anyone got any good ideas to stop pigeons sitting on top and shitting all over the greenhouse roof??

Really enjoyed the day everything looked fantastic again, thanks for the plants. Matt

That's the one I use and I find it's pretty good.

Happening for me too, been going on for a few days.

John, if your talking about potting up the plants you just got off me I would just stick to the peat/perlite mix I wouldn't start experimenting until you get a few spares to try with first. They have been growing in about a 50/50 peat perlite mix and they sit in water most of the time and are kept in 9cm pots and they seem to thrive. They are pretty hardy plants although I do reduce watering a bit throughout the winter. I find They can also benefit from an occasional top watering from time to time.

Lovely tidy greenhouse and plants look very healthy.

Sarras have already survived a winter or 2 in the tub, the tub itself is very heavy and unmoveable and the bottom will fall out if moved. At least if the Ceph does die it will hopefully die happy and mildew free

I have a Cephalotus that I am sacrificing for the sake of experimentation. Every year without fail it suffers from powdery mildew it has annoyed me too much now, as yet again it is covered in the stuff. Others in the same place and conditions don't get any really but this particular plant always does and it gets it bad. I got Fed up with it this year so I put it outside in my bog tub about two weeks ago. The bog tub receives very good light and full sun all day, it gets no winter protection but so far any plants I have put in this bog have survived the winter OK. It is sending up a small flower stalk but the mildew only looks slightly better if at all. I plan on leaving it out all winter in the bog as I don't mind if I loose it (I expect I will) I will keep this updated by adding photos of it to prove it's left out there all summer and winter and to see how it does and to see if the mildew clears up now it's in it's new permanent home. June 2013 WP_20130608_003 by mattybadboy44, on Flickr WP_20130608_001 by mattybadboy44, on Flickr WP_20130609_025 by mattybadboy44, on Flickr

Does anyone in and around the Essex area fancy doing a car share to one or more of the open days this year? was thinking of Mike Kings, Bristol Sarracenia and Gardenofedens. I don't mind driving or catching a lift and sharing the fuel costs etc. Message me please if anyone is interested.

12 years did they all die in that one year? did any survive? To be honest I only put ceph clones in the unheated greenhouse when I have one or 2 spares of them first just to be safe. I was just surprised at how well they look and how they have grown in there. To be fair I have only had 2 winters with them being in there under my belt, so I may change my views in the future if anything changes. But for now I can only go on go on my own personal experiences and observations which has been positive so far. I understand or so I have been told there are a few Nurseries here in the UK that grow them in unheated greenhouses year round.