Post by Nepenthes33 on Aug 11, 2016 21:38:18 GMT -5
Germinating instructions:
First make sure you have the correct medium "soil" to grow your seeds on. There is many different kinds and ratios, such as live sphagnum moss, coco coir, peat, perlite, and vermiculite. I perfer a mix of 40% dead long fiber sphagnum moss, 40% perlite, 10% peat, and 10% orchid bark with a thin top layer of 60% peat and 40% crushed perlite. It is also a good idea to sterilize the soil in the microwave for a minute or two to kill any fungus spores that may be present, also make sure you use a planter with good drainage. Plastic containers work best. Fill up your planter with the medium of your choice and wet it down so the seeds will stick to the soil and not blow away. Now your ready to sprinkle the seeds on top, DO NOT cover them with soil they need light to germinate (its a good idea not to breath while your sprinkling the seeds, they will blow away). Now water them (I use a misting bottle so not to flush the seeds under the soil) make sure you use ONLY distilled water, tap water has to many chemicals and minerals in it and will kill the seeds and seedlings. Now put the container in a zip lock bag or an aquarium with a cover to keep the humidity high. Its a good idea to spray the seeds with water often and keep the soil wet at all times. The temperature should be keep around 90° and in bright indirect sunlight or artificial lighting like a fluorescent bulb, make sure you dont use incandescent bulbs they get to hot and it is the wrong kind of lighting. Keep the light on for 14 to 16 hours a day. Thats it!! Now the hardest part, waiting!!! Germination for nepenthes can take anywhere from weeks to months, sometimes even a year! So don't give up on them just keep the the conditions right and they will eventually germinate. After germination grow as a lowland or highland nepenthes depending on the type you are growing.
First make sure you have the correct medium "soil" to grow your seeds on. There is many different kinds and ratios, such as live sphagnum moss, coco coir, peat, perlite, and vermiculite. I perfer a mix of 40% dead long fiber sphagnum moss, 40% perlite, 10% peat, and 10% orchid bark with a thin top layer of 60% peat and 40% crushed perlite. It is also a good idea to sterilize the soil in the microwave for a minute or two to kill any fungus spores that may be present, also make sure you use a planter with good drainage. Plastic containers work best. Fill up your planter with the medium of your choice and wet it down so the seeds will stick to the soil and not blow away. Now your ready to sprinkle the seeds on top, DO NOT cover them with soil they need light to germinate (its a good idea not to breath while your sprinkling the seeds, they will blow away). Now water them (I use a misting bottle so not to flush the seeds under the soil) make sure you use ONLY distilled water, tap water has to many chemicals and minerals in it and will kill the seeds and seedlings. Now put the container in a zip lock bag or an aquarium with a cover to keep the humidity high. Its a good idea to spray the seeds with water often and keep the soil wet at all times. The temperature should be keep around 90° and in bright indirect sunlight or artificial lighting like a fluorescent bulb, make sure you dont use incandescent bulbs they get to hot and it is the wrong kind of lighting. Keep the light on for 14 to 16 hours a day. Thats it!! Now the hardest part, waiting!!! Germination for nepenthes can take anywhere from weeks to months, sometimes even a year! So don't give up on them just keep the the conditions right and they will eventually germinate. After germination grow as a lowland or highland nepenthes depending on the type you are growing.
