Kovachii basket update

[Rick]

Here's an update on the kovachii seeding I got from Glenn Decker in July 2011. If you go to the thread I started on basket culture you can see what it looked like as a single growth 9"LS plant.

So today:

The original growth is indeed the two yellow leaves (that sacrificed themselves for the new growths). The roots are coming out of the basket on all sides and the bottom. The individual leaves on the new growths are 12" apiece, the plant span is pushing 20" with the leaves being somewhat upright. I pulled that small yellowing leaf off the bottom of the new growth and found a whole new growth sprouting.

I have seen it twice now (in print) that K lite will ultimately cause death from K deprivation, as it is just a matter of time before all the stored K in old growth is used up.

Logically this cannot be the case for seedlings that have no old growth with stored up K to tap into. The total biomass of this plant is now multiple times greater than the original plant and the moss I stuck it in. Realizing that plants really make the most of their mass from thin air (as far as carbon and water go), it doesn't appear that this plant is nutrient deprived by the present fert regime after 19 months in this system.

 

[mormodes]

Picture me whining in jealousy, like a german shepard puppy at the end of its leash.

 

[wjs2nd]

Looks great! What kind of humidity do you have? I like using moss (sphag) but it usually drys out pretty quick for me.

 

[biothanasis]

They look great!!!

 

[Rick]

Looks great! What kind of humidity do you have? I like using moss (sphag) but it usually drys out pretty quick for me.

It pretty much stays above 70%.

Besides the wet wall, I have a fogger hooked up to a humidistat (set at 70%). Often the gauge is ready 80-90%.

 

[wjs2nd]

Thanks Rick. I really like the basket culture but it think, with my grow conditions, I would have better luck using S/H culture. I don't have a kovachii yet but would like to get one. Was it the 99.00 dollar one you bought from Glen?

 

[keithrs]

I'm jealous Rick!

 

[NYEric]

Good luck. Pk is not easy to grow.

 

[Rick]

Thanks Rick. I really like the basket culture but it think, with my grow conditions, I would have better luck using S/H culture. I don't have a kovachii yet but would like to get one. Was it the 99.00 dollar one you bought from Glen?

Yup (don't tell my wifeoke

 

[JeanLux]

Dramatic growth for a 18 months' period !!!! I am going to buy some more material for baskets !!!! Jean

 

[dodidoki]

Very nice plant, Rick!
My experience , too, that kovachiis like high humidity.

 

[quietaustralian]

Looking good. Just wondering if the new growths were lacking in K so the original growth took a dive. Joking!

 

[Rick]

4 new growths just started up last week. The biggest leaves are now 12-14" long

 

[Shiva]

It would be nice to compare this to other kovachiis of the same age growing in different mediums.

So I'll volunteer a first picture of my kovachii ('Jewel' x sib)

It has three growths with the two back growths, each making nearly 20 inches leaf span. The plant grows in Aussie Gold Mix watered by and ebb and flow system once every day. I add a dose of high pH water (8pH) to the plant every few days. The plant is about the same age as yours and the pot is mostly filled with roots.

 

[Rick]

Looking good Shiva!

What are "back growths"?

 

[Shiva]

I meant old growths at the back. :rollhappy:

 

[Rick]

I meant old growths at the back. :rollhappy:

Where they previously bloomed, or was one the original seedling?

 

[Paphman910]

It is growing in pure moss?

 

[Carper]

Great growing Rick. Are you feeding the k-lite strength and ph the same to the pk as all your other plants. What is the ph of your k-lite that your giving them?

Gary
UK

 

[dodidoki]

Both are very great looking plant! Can't wait to see their flowers!