🌿 What are the 2 parts of a good substrate for nepenthes? - The right texture you need for the roots

What is the best substrate for nepenthes? Is my nepenthes substrate to compact?
Should you change the substrate of your nepenthes?
Because if you just got your plant from a nursery you probably should, to prevent roots from suffocating or to be poisoned.
Or maybe you did the last repotting more than 4 years ago and now it’s due time.
In this video, I will show you the different types of substrate you can use and how much to mix them.
One of the important things to keep your plants for many years is to have the correct substrate.
The problem is, when you buy a plant from a nursery it's often in pure peat and that's not good.
If this has happened to you before, you searched the internet and found that there are many, many ways to create this substrate and that can be confusing.
0:00 What are the 2 parts of a good substrate for nepenthes?
That's why I would like to split this video into two parts.
3:30 Part 1: The ingredients:
3:39 - Dried Long Fiber Sphagnum Moss (LFS)
3:51 - Peat Moss
4:05 - Perlite
4:17 - Coco Husk Chips
4:53 - Orchid Bark
5:03 - Vermiculite
5:17 - Silica Sand
5:37 - Activated Charcoal
6:01 - Akadama
6:03 - Kanuma
6:52 - Aquarium Gravel
8:55 Part 2: The density recipe.
To buy Long Fiber Sphagnum Moss:
Amazon CA: www.amazon.ca/Spagmoss-Premiu...
Amazon US: www.amazon.com/Sphagnum-Moss-...
To buy Perlite:
Amazon CA: www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B084...
Amazon US: www.amazon.com/Bonsai-Pumice-...
(This 4 links are not affiliate so I don't get anything when you click.)
#windowsillnepenthes
Why this channel?
I plan to show you how other nepenthes growers from around the world grow their plants on their windowsill.
If you are interested and want to show us your plants, contact me so that I can arrange an interview.
(All you need is a recent smartphone and a good WiFi, I'll take care of the software).
To know more about this project: • Why this channel needs...
This project interest you? - Subscribe to this channel:
/ @windowsillnepenthes
Want to support my channel? - Buy me a coffee!
www.buymeacoffee.com/Windowsi...
Happy growing everyone!
R.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

3:30 Part 1: The ingredients. 8:55 Part 2: The density recipe. What substrate do you use? Share your recipe!

[@danfromcarniculture943]

Spagnum and perlite is my go to.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@danfromcarniculture943 what ratio? 50/50 or 70/30 sphagnum/perlite?

[@danfromcarniculture943]

@@WindowsillNepenthes 70/30 I used to do 100% sphagnum but that was giving me issues

[@redtobertshateshandles]

Sphagnum and washed sand. Plants grow well. I will try yours.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@redtobertshateshandles Silica sand works great (even if as it's small, it won't make big pocket of air around the roots). Play sand tho will leaks minerals.

[@joshuamohle4116]

I was happy that I had a Carnivorous plants nursery 15 minutes away from my house. When I got my pitchers I saw they had sphagnum moss wrapped around their roots but in my carnivorous pots I have sphagnum moss and perlite on top of orchid bark for my pitchers and my flytraps are the moss mixture on top of peat moss with perlite. Which I've learned from others in my part of the world that sphagnum moss helps protect the plants roots from the sun.

[@sarrakitty]

The mix I use is sphagnum, orchid bark, perlite and charcoal. Sphagnum and orchid bark are the main ingredients and a bit less of the other two. I don't really measure precisely but I'd say maybe 1.5-2 parts each of the bark and sphagnum and part each of the perlite and charcoal. My nepenthes are growing well in it!

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Thanks for sharing!

[@dzintralewis3073]

Thank you for the video

[@badangnaive3141]

i only used sphagnum moss and coco chunks but thanks to your video I'll find some perlite or pet moss

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Perlite last forever compared to to Coco. :)

[@leobolander3124]

I use a 50/50 mix of sphagnum moss and perlite and it have worked really well, have had no issues with that.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

In 90% it's working. But it didn't work for fancy species like lowii, rajah, etc. ;)

[@leobolander3124]

@@WindowsillNepenthes Do you think that you can use coconut fibers mixed with perlite because thats the only thing i got at home, or will it be to drained?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@leobolander3124 That's a lot of drainage and very little water retention. In a super high humidity environment that could work and it will dry very fast. You will need sphagnum, or at least peatmoss...

[@spirit006theassassin]

This video helped me a lot. I rescued a small nepenthes on a clearance sale. I don't really have any experience with them. I am more of a cactus grower.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Cool 😃 I think a lot of questions you may have are covered on the channel.

[@BlaisZeroni]

I would be so curious if you tested a self watering system and what mix would work well for that. I have a chronic illnes and repotting/watering/misting, things like that if they can be easier it will help me a lot. I can have a flare and be out for a week or two, and always super stress on my neps instead of focus on healing. Self watering pots would help me a lot!

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

I know some people do us self watering pots, I'll try to interview some if I can.

[@BlaisZeroni]

@@WindowsillNepenthes that would be awesome!

[@mattiamedieval1777]

I use sponges actually ! I put 2/3 cm on the bottom of the pot and then fill it with the rest of the media .

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Interesting! Why? To save cost and substrate?

[@mattiamedieval1777]

@@WindowsillNepenthes No , it’s because it doesn’t rot so I can fill 1 cm maximum with water under the pot in the summer without having root rot ! Here in Sicily , Italy, it has been so hot lately and so it helps a lot to keep the soil humid .

[@mattiamedieval1777]

@@WindowsillNepenthes Here in Italy there are some people that use only sponge to grow carnivorous plants and they actually have great results!

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@mattiamedieval1777 First time I hear about that :) Would you accept an quick interview about it?

[@mattiamedieval1777]

Unfortunately I can’t because of my parents … But there’s a guy in Italy who’s an expert in carnivorous plant ( nepenthes included ) ! He’s the one that got me into using sponges in the substrate , maybe you could ask him for an interview . His nickname on yt is “Piante Carnivore di Pigliamosche Advisor” Hope you the best , bye 👋

[@Yabbily]

I tried to use LFS, peat moss, coco peat, coco chips, perlite, pumice, diatomite, and rice husk for nepenthes and flytrap in the past 6 years, they are all OK. Though I found coco peat + perlite + rice husk is the cheapest recipe.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

You are right. I would just add that coco peat need a lot of drainage. It retain a lot of water! I'm also trying it now on a few neps. :)

[@plantguy9]

Aquarium gravel leeches minerals. Was going to use it for a terrarium as a drainage layer but tested it with my TDS meter after it was in rainwater. The mineral count was too high.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Thanks for sharing that!

[@a_sleepy_mosskin1357]

If you use sphagnum peat moss, what kind of soil mix do you recommend with it?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Add some drainage like perlite, sand or orchid barks ;) Anything that will prevent the substrate to compact.

[@Fullblown671]

I have a couple of questions if you don’t mind: 1. Do you need to sterilize the long fibered sphagnum moss or orchid bark before you use it? 2. Does coco chips/fiber need to be thorougly rinsed before use because of the salt content? 3. Would pumice be a better alternative to perlite? Thank you.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

1/ Sterilizing is better but not mandatory. I don't do it. 2/ Coco chips yes I would. But it depends of the brand. 3/ It's only a question of price I think.

[@Fullblown671]

@@WindowsillNepenthes Cool! Thanks for the reply!

[@tequilahowell4674]

I would love to buy a plant-plants from you

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Maybe one day but I'll only be able to sell in Canada.

[@carmineavventurecarnivore2246]

Hi! What kind of substrate do you recommend for a Mediterranean climate (very muggy summer, 30-35 degrees and very humid winter near 5-10 degrees)? I keep my Nepenthes inside the house in the winter, outside in the summer. Thank you very much!

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

50/50 Sphagnum/Perlite but reducing watering during winter. With this summer temperature you will have to research what species accept it. Probably Lowland?

[@carmineavventurecarnivore2246]

@@WindowsillNepenthes That's right, I only have lowland! My question is mostly for the summer, if just sphagnum and perlite requires more frequent watering or if it's better to add some peat to keep the substrate cooler. I am very tempted to try your substrate, just sphagnum and perlite... "clean substrate" :-)

[@carmineavventurecarnivore2246]

@@WindowsillNepenthes Or rehydrated sphagnum is already a good supply of "freshness"!

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@carmineavventurecarnivore2246 Sphagnum can retain decent humidity even during summer, but I'm more concerned about your winter hight humidity. Don't water too much to prevent root rot. ;)

[@carmineavventurecarnivore2246]

@@WindowsillNepenthes great! Thank you !:-)

[@TheVeggieNerd]

The one question I did not have answered by this video: am I supposed to wash my substrates at all? I watched your coco core video and saw the washing process. Also, can I wash the substrate with just normal tap water? That seems risky.... but I purchase my water right now and it seems wasteful to rinse with distilled water.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

It's recommended to wash it yes, but with clean water. Tap water would simply add more minerals. Can't you use rain water like me to wash?

[@TheVeggieNerd]

@@WindowsillNepenthes I have to gather the rain water I dont have a good collection system. I live in a rental.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@TheVeggieNerd You can buy distilled water to wash the substrate and then use this same water after on regular plants...

[@TheVeggieNerd]

@@WindowsillNepenthes good idea.

[@aoifegalvin4205]

Can I use Coconut fibre soil instead of sphagnum moss ? The mix would then be coconut fibre soil, perlite and coco husk.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Yes but make sure there is no salt or fertilizer on it. Consider putting some in RO water (for 24h) and then test the TDS.

[@aoifegalvin4205]

Perfect thank you. I got loads of pitcher starts and tips this year and that’s as far as I got. I think it’s because of the soil as it’s in the same soil that I bought it in

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@aoifegalvin4205 probably in 100% peat moss so not enough drainage. ;)

[@BlaisZeroni]

When I repot my nepenthes, how can I expect my plants to react? How long before they recover and are back to normal? Why do nurseries put the plants in pure peat? Seems it kills a lot of carnivores for new growers and scares them away.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Depending on the roots damage, but 1-2 months should be the back to normal. And repotting in a good substrate will make the plant grow faster so you won't loose. And nurseries use peat moss because that's not expensive!

[@florianmatejezuk5610]

Is orchid bark actually Pine Bark?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Yes I think so ;)

[@florianmatejezuk5610]

I pre orderd veitchii x mira and burkei x hamata from Borneo exotics. Sooo... Do you think they will do well if I can't assure them that night drop between october-april? I can keep them just in 22-25 C° range. Thank you!

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@florianmatejezuk5610 These plants sounds great :) It's possible they pitcher less during summer if night temp are too high, but if you make sure you provide good light, that could work. I have hybrids that prefer summer and other prefer winter...

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I used coir and it wasn't good.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Right? You will see in my next video that is possibly what killed some seedlings. Looks like only big plants accept that.

[@kmakiri9156]

It should be said that coconut husk or cocohum mostly contains lots of salts. Coconuts often grow at the seashore and if they are produced on plantations they get fertilized. It is safer to soak it for some days before use in distilled or rain water and do a water change every day to wash out the salt.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

I use triple watched coco husk, that's working great. Also, check next week video as we will talk about using coco to grow nepenthes hamata ;)

[@redtobertshateshandles]

I tried fine coir as a sphagnum replacement and it killed the plants.

[@codeman1419]

I don't know of any company that puts out coco croix that's not washed and they also use different methods to kill off bacteria . (Not saying tgere isn't companies like that but I've never seen one

[@louisgreen3071]

@@WindowsillNepenthes Does it still work if I've just washed it through with rainwater myself?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@louisgreen3071 I know a few people from Philippines and India that do that with success. I guess it depends of the brand 🤔

[@simona1136]

Are you VERY tiny or is your table very big? 😁🤣

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

I'm not big 😆