A Comfortable Place for Periuk Monyet-Monkey Cup

As much as 10 pots of nepenthes ampullaria and 20 pots of N. gracilis belonging to Ir Widyastuti's collection at her backyard looks barren. The pitchers, leaves, and stem of pitcher plant dried up, whereas, the plant was put at a shaddy place. After being investigated, it happened to be that the medium was the cause. The medium used was too dry so that the plant was in a scarcity of water condition for its growth. That is the reason why the plant dried up and died.
The same case is also experienced by Wahyu Nano, a nepenthes gardener in Batu, Malang. The massive death of 100 pot N. maxima which he got from a friend is irreplaceable from his memories. And again it was the medium which caused it. 'I only used soil as the medium,' Wahyu said. As a result, the medium was too dense that made the splash of water stagnate.
The plant medium is often treated like a stepchild. Ornamental plants hobbyists often utilize various supplements and fertilizers so that the appearance of the plant is prime. Whereas, all of those used will not work best if the medium is not appropriate.
The case is that the medium becomes a 'reservoir house' for the nutrient elements before it is sucked by the root, and distributed to the stem, leaves, and flowers. If the medium is perfect, the plant growth will be optimum. All kinds of medium can be used for nepenthes, as long as the formula is exact. It could be either a sole medium such as sphagnum moss or the mixture of several medium. Florida S Marbun, the owner of Ridho Orchids in Cikole, Bandung, uses fern as the medium, the same medium she employs for her orchid collection.
Fern is able to save ample water, but its drainage and aeration are very exellent. It has a great number of air cavities that enable the root to grow freely. A cut of fern is able to produces 40% pores or holes. Periuk monyet can grow well albeit using a sole medium.
According to M Apriza Suska, a nepenthes hobbyist in Bogor, sphagnum moss is the most secure to be used as a medium because of its good nature. It can hold water as much as 8 times the volume of its own weight because it has a lot of air cavities. The other advantage is because of its exellent drainage. Mixture
Other hobbyists and gardeners prefer an inexpensive combination of mediums. Imagine to use sphagnum moss solely, the cost must be high. It costs Rp35.000 per kilo of sphagnum moss. While it only costs Rp12.500/kg for other mediums such as burnt paddy husk. In addition, the ease in obtaining the medium also becomes a consideration. Burnt paddy husk, fern, or coconut fiber dust is easier to be obtained than sphagnum moss. Sphagnum moss is only available at large agricultural shops.
Ideally, kantong semar-other term for nepenthes in Indonesia-requires porous and damp medium. Porous medium can be identified: crumbs and there is no stagnant water when watering. Stagnant water is a paradise for mold. Eventually the plant will die. The indication of a damp condition is that the medium is always damp but not muddy. Periuk monyet grows well at pH 6-7.
There is no exact standard medium for the Nepenthaceae family member but there is a basic principle which is always employed, i. e., the growing place consideration. The height of place and humidity influence the composition of the medium used. On the mountain range or where rainfall is high, a very porous medium is chosen so as to make the water easily drains out of the pot. On the contrary on a sunny place, it is better to choose any medium which can hold water longer so that the medium will not dry easily.
Agus Setyo Yudhanto, Yanuar, dan Ferry Siamena, a nepenthes hobbyist di Surabaya, utilize the mixture of one part of cocopeat and one part of burnt paddy husk as medium. Each medium has its own duty. The coconut drainage and aeration dust-other term for cocopeat-are able to hold water in an enormous amount and for a long time, thus the humidity stays high. On the other hand, burnt paddy husk less absorb water. However, it makes an excellent air aeration. As a result, the medium is not too dense so that the plant is safe from being rotten.
In South Bandung, Ir Uhan Suhanta, a nepenthes hobbyist, uses the mixture consisting of one part of cocopeat and one part of burnt paddy husk medium. The owner of Kineka Flora Gemilang nursery also adds one part of fern and one part of pumice. 'Cocopeat is functioned to save water. Pumice maintains pH. While burnt paddy husk and fern maintain porosity,' said the man who was born in Yogyakarta 39 years ago. Based on variety
Dr Purbo Djojokusumo, the owner of Kreatif Flora di Pancawati, Bogor, West Java, utilizes three parts of andam-fern humus-and one part of burnt paddy husk. A mixture of those medium is used for kantong semar which has roots. On the other hand, for nepenthes which has no roots yet, such as cuttings, a sole medium will be enough, for example is burnt paddy husk. 'It is just that the placement must be under a sheltered place. Otherwise, the leaves will dry,' he said. Cuttings requires 80-90% shading, while rooted kantong semar only requires 60-70% shading net.
After wrestling with nepenthes for a year, Wahyu finally found the perfect medium for kantong semar. At the plantation located on the elevation of 900 m above sea level, he utilized a different formulation for each variety of kendi kera. For the epifit species, burnt paddy husk medium and fern is chosen with the comparison 1:1. While for nepenthes terrestrial, for example N. gracilis, soil and fern medium is used. The composition is 1:1.
Another alternative is by using the medium taken from the origin of periuk monyet. Such is done by Ceko Mulyando, a nepenthes hobbyist in Bogor. The student of Institut Pertanian Bogor, Agricultural Faculty, majoring in Horticulture, uses clay originated from Wonosobo for a reason that N. gymnamphora which he collects comes from that area.
Various alternative of growing medium can be used for nepenthes. Nevertheles there is one thing should be kept in mind that before the medium is put into the pot, make sure that at the bottom of the pot has been given articles with cavity. Some brick fragments or styrofoam which has been cut can be an option. Styrofoam is required to prevent water from stagnating inside the pot.
Now it is time for you to decide the perfect growing medium for your favorite nepenthes. Make sure that the medium stays porous and moist. Your selected medium will be ready to be the witness of periuk monyet life.