FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

So in the Nepenthes Jamban thread there was a little discussion between me, tannerm, and SaluteFlytraps about the water for Nepenthes.
The main question was:

Sakaaaaa wrote:Do the "special" neps need RO/distilled water?

The answer I got was that Low PPM water is safe for CPs and it should be used for nepenthes too.

BUT,
There are 2 nep nurseries near me, and they all grow it the "traditional" way, AKA treating it like any other plant, this includes using normal PPM water. I do that too, all my neps get water straight from the tap.

So that goes back to the original question:
Do special neps need RO/Distilled water?

So that goes back to the original question:
Do special neps need RO/Distilled water?

Treat it as a science experiment and find out.
Then let us know.
1) Get a pair of easily replaced Nepenthes clones.
2) Grow them exactly the same except......
3A) Water one with your local tap water, checking and recording the PPM.
3B) Water the other with RO or distilled water.
4) Observe the differences one year later and let us know.

Good growing,
Mike

Alright. Once I am experienced I will grow 1 cutting in tap, 1 cutting in RO.

What is the PPM of your tap?

Hungry Plants wrote:What is the PPM of your tap?

I have no idea but enough to kill a drosera

Sakaaaaa wrote:

Hungry Plants wrote:What is the PPM of your tap?

I have no idea but enough to kill a drosera

Get a TDS meter. They are relatively cheap and good for the welfare of your plants

Yeah, neps are a little more "forgiving" than other CPs. My TDS count is over 500... no way a nep could withstand that (at least I don't think)!


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tannerm wrote:Yeah, neps are a little more "forgiving" than other CPs. My TDS count is over 500... no way a nep could withstand that (at least I don't think)!


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Holy Cephalotus that's hiiiiiigh!! Some of my NORMAL plants would die with that!

Mine is around 200 and I still wouldn't chants it.

Sakaaaaa wrote:

tannerm wrote:Yeah, neps are a little more "forgiving" than other CPs. My TDS count is over 500... no way a nep could withstand that (at least I don't think)!


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Holy Cephalotus that's hiiiiiigh!! Some of my NORMAL plants would die with that!

Haha, right?


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Pitcher plants in general are more tolerant of higher TDS. Remember that soil fertilization is a fairly common practice with Nepenthes. I have read however that even if the plant will tolerate it, it can cause the media to degrade more quickly.

Nepenthes are certainly more tolerant of PPM, but I'd advise using low-PPM water in case they grow better that way. There's certainly no harm in using low PPM water, but there might be sneaky harm in using tap water. Plus, the people in charge of water treatment in your area could suddenly change something in a way that might be bad for your plants.
If you go with tap water, you should probably do a rinse with distilled water now and then.

Nepenthes are more 'tolerable' being the key word here, but prefer zero tds to very low. They are tropical plants they get quite a lot of humidity and rain so the soil is naturally rinsed of most minerals and salts. Also tap water has Many chemicals in it such as chlorine which Nepenthes don't like to much. If you want your Nepenthes to thrive go with the knowledge that is out there and has been proven to work. Good luck!

It just rained yesterday for about an hour or so. In that time I managed to flood my utrics and collect more rainwater for my "RO refills"

Yes, SoCalExotics, I know they are tropical plants. I'm growing them outside so they get as much rain as possible. One of them is under my wax apple tree so it gets extra humidity