bomdia foristas,
Miguel Pandini :
Citação:
But, I only can't understand a little thing: why Nepenthes X hookeriana (an extreme lowland hybrid, from warm places) would need refrigeration to grow...?
I didn't said that anywhere, but you are right, a N.X Hookeriana doesn't need night cooling : I grow mine outside, in the open "green house", now.
but if you live in a cold country, like me as I was in France, then you need a warm terrarium for your plants.
you need a difference of the temperature between night and day (average of 15°C is perfect) for :
- Nepenthes sp. , comming from
high altitude, as said in the message before
- Nepenthes sp. coming from intermediate altitude, of course only the hight altitude clones
- Heliamphora sp. , but some species thrive well at 20 to 25°C
- some highland Utricularia, depending from were they come
in fact, the "problem" is to provide to your plants a difference of temperature, and this year round.
if you live in a place were the average of temperature between night and day is "important", like day = 35°C , night 20°C , then you wont need a cooling system...in Europe, we have different seasons, and if we want to grow these specialized plants witch need a year-round equal day-night temperature average, then we have to build such a system...it's a must.
by the way : it's the same problem if you want to grow Sarracenia sp. or Drosera sp. from Europe or Canada for example. of course, the "installation" to overwinter your plants will consist in a little box stored in a compartment of your fridge...it's smaller, but the problem is the same

everything depend on one factor : were do you live, and what are the conditions you'll be able to give to your plants ?
if natural conditions are not "enough", then you have to use artificial skills...no choice
you must also consider one thing : what is the value of your collection ? what are the plants for you ? if they are important for you, and if you want to see them growing well, then you will have to give them the special conditions that they demand...another question : how much cost one highland Nepenthes ? in Europe, for some rare plants you can pay up to 150 to 200 euro for a small, 3 to 5cm in diameter tall plant...if you have 10, or 20, or 30 plants like these, you will loose many money if your plants die away because of bad life conditions...