Cultivation
Little information has been published on the growing requirements of N. fusca. In 2004, professional horticulturist Robert Sacilotto wrote an article for the Carnivorous Plant Newsletter, summarising measured tolerances of several highland Nepenthes species based on experiments conducted between 1996 and 2001.
Sacilotto found N. fusca to be tolerant of a wide range of conditions; with the exception of plants not treated with fungicides, no test groups showed a survival rate of less than 75%. Nepenthes fusca was found to tolerate temperatures in the range of 10 to 38 °C (50 to 100 °F). A nighttime drop in temperature below 21 °C (70 °F) was necessary for good growth; plants that were not exposed to such a drop grew poorly and produced fewer pitchers. The experiments suggested that N. fusca grows best when relative humidity is in the range of 65 to 90%.
The species seemed to do best in growing media with a high proportion of organic matter (such as a mixture consisting of 10% peat moss chunks, 30% perlite, and 60% of any combination of Sphagnum moss and fir bark). Soil with a slightly acidic pH of 4.5 to 5.0 produced the best results. Optimal soil conductivity appeared to lie between 10 and 45 microsiemens.
An illuminance of 6400–8600 lx (600–800 fc) proved to be optimal when plants were grown under sunlight, high pressure sodium, and metal halide lamps. However, specimens placed under an even combination of Gro-Lux and cool white fluorescent lamps at 5400–7500 lx (500–700 fc) exhibited the most vibrant colours (although growth rates remained the same). Plants moved from the former to the latter light set up showed a significant change in pigmentation; green leaf blades turned bronzy and speckles on the pitchers darkened markedly.
Nepenthes fusca was found to respond well to a quarter-strength fertilizer that was applied to the pitchers. Ants were also an effective food source.
Read more about this topic: Nepenthes Fusca
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