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Carnivorous Plants/Perlite
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Question
I was on the website of ICPS (International carniverius plant society) and there was an article on Nepenthes and it stated that perlite leached minerals into the soil. My question is this true and should I worry about it.
Thank you
Rick
Hi Rick,
Perlite can have a small mineral content, but perlite is mostly silica. A small amount of minerals is of little consequence to Nepenthes. We have used perlite with all of our carnivorous plants for years. You might be referring to the thread talking about companies that fortify their perlite with fertilizer which is a different story than it having a mineral content. Miracle-gro and Shultz put fertilizer in their perlite. Again, this wouldn't harm Nepenthes since they don't mind a small amount of fertilizer, but it would be disastrous for plants like Venus flytraps and sundews. All of our perlite comes from Supreme Perlite in Portland, OR.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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Sarracenia Northwest
Expertise
If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!
Experience
With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again.
Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.
No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.
Just the straight facts from guys who grow and propagate
thousands of carnivorous plants each year.
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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTION: We no longer answer how-to questions (i.e. How do I propagate...?; How do I grow...?). Instead, we help growers by diagnosing a specific plant problem and offering solutions (i.e. Why is my sundew not producing dew?; Is now a good time to divide my Sarracenia?; Why are the traps turning black?; What's a good substitute for perlite?; Why didn't my seeds germinate?; Can you identify this carnivorous plant for me?) For general plant care, please read our care sheets on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets For business questions: http://www.cobraplant.com/contact |
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