Ventricosa is really an intermediate...it's one of the easiest to grow in nearly any conditions. I don't know much about low landers...hopefully paul will show up and comment on that.
First Vivarium!
- Thread starter RazzleFish
- Start date
Alright well my viv does get a drop at night of about 5 degrees or so but it is starting to get colder so I expect the drop to get more and more extreme but never getting out of control as I will be putting a heater in the water (set at 72F) which should control the air temp as well. During the summer months I don't expect to see this kind of a drop in temps if at all. Will this cause problems? For the rest of the plants, I am hoping this will cause flowering.
I see conflicting info on what category it really is...D'Amato lists it as a highlander in his book as does Michael Catalani on his NepU website but he also says it works well as an intermediate.
I've been growing my vent. as an intermediate pretty much since I got it, and it's growing like mad. The pitchers are continuing to show signs of development size, shape and color wise. It'll be fine in your conditions. Low landers like it hot and humid all the time...
The black jungle website lists it as a highlander and a lowlander...
The black jungle website lists it as a highlander and a lowlander...
Alrighty, then I'll see if I can get one!
I haven't been able to find much info on care other than keeping them moist, humid and the lighting so I have a few questions. I doubt crickets or mealworms will be attracted to the pitcher so do I need to "feed" them? Do I have to do anything special with them that I wouldn't do to a normal houseplant?
The bubbles from my sponge filter seem to send little drops of water flying around the tank. I moved it away from the divider a little bit but I can still see some water flying into the peat. Do you think this will cause any problems with N. ventricosa? My plant and filter(s) will be as far away from each other as I can get them but I know they sould only be watered with rain water but I don't know how I can stop this.
Thanks again!
I haven't been able to find much info on care other than keeping them moist, humid and the lighting so I have a few questions. I doubt crickets or mealworms will be attracted to the pitcher so do I need to "feed" them? Do I have to do anything special with them that I wouldn't do to a normal houseplant?
The bubbles from my sponge filter seem to send little drops of water flying around the tank. I moved it away from the divider a little bit but I can still see some water flying into the peat. Do you think this will cause any problems with N. ventricosa? My plant and filter(s) will be as far away from each other as I can get them but I know they sould only be watered with rain water but I don't know how I can stop this.
Thanks again!
I just thought about this but what about MTS? I was thinking about using them in the aquatic section but in my other tanks I've seen them crawl above the water line, but never actually leave the tank. I ask because I don't know how they would affect the plants and also if they would move enough to attract my frogs. The more I think about it, the more I say no just beacuse I don't want my frogs trying to eat one and having it get stuck. But now this leads me to my next question of apple snails (Pomacea diffusa) and ramshorns. I don't see a problem with apple snails as long as they don't decide to munch on my plants but do you think any ramshorns that decide to go wondering will cause an issue?
You could certainly try feeding them small crickets or mealworms. Heck, some people use fish food! I haven't fed my ventricosa (yet) but it is still doing well enough. Some people use a diluted orchid fertilizer or something similar to get them those extra nutrients.
Here's a thread on Nep feeding...http://www.terraforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83259
If you search around that forum or the web you can find loads of info on ferts as well...
As for the drops of water those could certainly become an issue if they get too close to the plant if your water is fairly hard. Anything above 100 ppm or so is unsuitable. A build up of minerals is a death warrant for these plants.
Thanks for the link!
I haven't tested my tap water hardness in awhile so I don't know the number right off my head but what do you mean by 100 ppm? I always measure in degrees KH and degrees GH. I assume that is ppm TSD, right? I don't have a TDS meter but in a tank this small, premixing the water with distilled and tap wouldn't be hard at all. Also I have already noticed a slight tea coloration in the water due to the little amount of peat that found it's way in so I expect that to make the water even softer.....
Sorry, yeah I meant in terms of TDS. Not many places in the US have water that low in minerals from the tap.
So would mixing in some distilled water to the tap help? Since I don't have a TDS Meter, what numbers should I aim for in therms of GH and KH?
