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By Adriana
Posts:  126
Joined:  Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:47 pm
#360515
First I have to say, "pinguicula" always reminds me of that Italian song https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Funicul%C ... icul%C3%A0 , it comes into my head every time I read the word.

Second, I am wondering if BonsaiJack soil would work for Mexican pings https://www.bonsaijack.com/shop/premixe ... -soil-mix/ ?

Third, I am wondering if Mexican pings need a true dormancy with lower temps and shorter days; California Carnivores says you can give less water once the leaves change, but you needn't worry about forcing it if it doesn't happen. What do you think?

Thank you.
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By evenwind
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Joined:  Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:16 pm
#360591
Personally, I'd go with the soils produced especially for pings by places like California Carnivores, Cascade, Curious Plant or other specialist CP growers. Not saying that pings won't grow in BonsaiJack's mix but why not maximize your chances with a dedicated mix? As far as dormancy, mine get shorter hours and less water in the winter. Some care, some don't. Some go into dormancy in the winter, some in the summer, some not all, and most whenever they feel like it. Right now I've got a two headed Lautner - one head is fully carnivorous and the other looks like a pine cone. I guess I'm saying it's probably a good idea for you to go ahead and adjust your light, water and maybe temps seasonally, and maybe they'll do their thing. Or maybe they won't. I don't worry about it like I'd do for temperate pings or VFTs.
By Adriana
Posts:  126
Joined:  Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:47 pm
#360665
Thanks evenwind. Well I already have the bonsai mix, so I was wondering if the content was appropriate for Mexican pings: 40% Pumice, 40% Turface, 20% Pine Bark Fines, all 1/4". I can add perlite or peat or coir, I have all of those. What do you think?
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By evenwind
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Joined:  Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:16 pm
#360671
As long as already own it, sure give it a try. The only thing I don't personally like is the pine bark but even ICPS includes it as a possible ingredient. Just don't leave them in there indefinitely - pine bark breaks down over time.

http://www.carnivorousplants.org/grow/g ... Pinguicula
By Adriana
Posts:  126
Joined:  Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:47 pm
#360672
I'm sorry if this is a silly question, but wouldn't any organic ingredient, including peat, break down over time? The bark shouldn't be any different?

That article says commercial houseplant mixes with extra perlite may be fine, too. It's interesting.
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By evenwind
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Joined:  Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:16 pm
#360677
Peat is going to last a long, long time. Bark, not so much so. There's also something called the "nitrogen draft" where ageing bark removes nitrogen from the surrounding soil. It's probably no problem at all for a mostly-mineral mix but I come from the world or orchids and ageing bark makes me uneasy. Perlite's no problem at all; coir's okay but it has to be washed thoroughly to get all the salt out.
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By hungry carnivores
#360694
Honestly, pinguiculas are very easy in terms of soil. I used to grow mine in Miracle Gro Perlite simply since it was the cheapest stuff around. That and sakrete sand. Now I use peat/perlite, love it lots more.
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By Adriana
Posts:  126
Joined:  Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:47 pm
#360699
@evenwind Yes I have a TDS meter and soak, rinse, soak, rinse etc till we're under 20. I know the goal is less than 100 but I would rather err on the safe side.

@hungrycarnivores lol that's just want I wanted to hear!
By optimus prime
Posts:  850
Joined:  Mon Jun 22, 2020 12:26 am
#360729
Adriana wrote: Thu Jul 30, 2020 8:20 pm @evenwind Yes I have a TDS meter and soak, rinse, soak, rinse etc till we're under 20. I know the goal is less than 100 but I would rather err on the safe side.

@hungrycarnivores lol that's just want I wanted to hear!
I’m not gonna lie I thought you said std instead I’d tds😂😂
By xanthoparmelia
Posts:  349
Joined:  Tue May 29, 2018 10:02 pm
#362040
Bonsai soil and many ping media recipes share a lot of common components. The only ingredient on the product listed that I'm not familiar with using is pine bark fines. I suspect it would work, but I wouldn't take that as gospel.

In my experience, Mexican pings are resilient and easy growers. I've tried many mixes and they seem to be tolerant of everything that I've tried so far. I'm constantly experimenting and tweaking things, but this is the standard mix that I use for most of my pings:

Equal parts coarse calcined clay (turface), fine calcined clay (oil dri), peat, perlite, and silica sand. I also add trace dolomitic lime to the mix.
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By Adriana
Posts:  126
Joined:  Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:47 pm
#362047
Thank you for weighing in! Does the lime have to be dolomitic or can it be gardening (calcinic) lime? I just think with such a coarse mix, it will just wash away. You don't find that to be the case?
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By Apollyon
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Joined:  Tue May 05, 2020 2:49 am
#362062
Adriana wrote:Thanks evenwind. Well I already have the bonsai mix, so I was wondering if the content was appropriate for Mexican pings: 40% Pumice, 40% Turface, 20% Pine Bark Fines, all 1/4". I can add perlite or peat or coir, I have all of those. What do you think?
I also grow bonsai trees and found the transition to pings to be very easy lol.

Personally, I use 4 main ingredients. I use Peat moss, perlite, silica sand, and turface in equal parts. I add about a tablespoon per cup of soil mix. So what I usually do is add a cup of each ingredient and 4 tablespoons of a dolomitic/calcinic blended sand and it works just fine. It's there to neutralize the acidity of the soil from the peat moss and make it more alkaline which they prefer (the lime isn't necessary though). I got the lime measurement from ICPS and haven't had any problems. When the lime and silica sand are blended into the soil. it stays together better than you would think. I would wager it either binds itself to something or it leeches onto them. I'm not really sure. I haven't noticed like a noticeable washout though.

On a side note if you do bonsai you may have one of those bottlecap nozzles you put on two liters (I find that indispensable with mine) for it's gentle stream. I find it's useful for helping to bring pings out of dormancy. Ive had it happen where the plant reacts to the shipping process by entering dormancy. Top watering is a trick some people have used to simulate rainfall and its a cue for the plants to come out. I've had pretty good success with that. Other than that I just bottom water them. It's an exceptionally porous soil so drainage is no issue.
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By xanthoparmelia
Posts:  349
Joined:  Tue May 29, 2018 10:02 pm
#362077
In my experience, the addition of lime provides negligible or imperceptible benefits. Regardless, I've always included anyway (could help, doesn't harm). A media mix with lime would theoretically align more closely with in situ substrate of many ping species (growing on limestone or gypsum walls). Not sure about the difference between dolomitic vs calcinic, other than the Mg content. And for watering, i handle pings similarly to succulents. I almost exclusively top-water, allowing the soil to dry a bit before watering again. These are just the guidelines that have worked for me. As you can probably tell, there are many effective cultivation practices.
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By Adriana
Posts:  126
Joined:  Thu Oct 24, 2019 8:47 pm
#362105
Thank you! I got my delivery today. Pinguicula "Sethos" and ehlersiae "Victoria". Hopefully I keep them alive.
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By Apollyon
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Posts:  1663
Joined:  Tue May 05, 2020 2:49 am
#362111
Did you get your victoria from ebay? I'm just curious because it looks so much like what I received from a seller. Mine is crazy. I've gotten about 8 pullings from it since I've owned it and the thing responds with a rapid flush of growth and now has 5 offshoots from the main body. I almost want to let it ride to see what it looks like lol.

I'm sure you'll do fine with them. They're much easier than bonsai trees. If you give them a lot of light they will color up very nicely, especially the Sethos.

On a side note, if you decide you want some more pings later on down the road, let me know. I have a bunch of types that I'm propagating.

Good growing!
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