InnerPathsToOuterSpace Posted September 30, 2014 Hi my fellow corroborites, I went on a day trip yesterday to Nimbin as I hadn't been there in ages despite the fact I live close by. It was a beautiful day and I came in over the ranges from Mullumbimby area which is a route I'd never taken over a windy narrow mountain that came out from behind Mount Burrell/Sphinx Rock, lovely scenic drive. I was browsing the colourful shops in the Nimbin township and came across a plant stall in front of one of the shops and thought I recognised a San Pedro cactus and what I thought looked like some Banisteriopsis Caapi also. Enquiring within confirmed that fact so I snapped up one of the Caapi plants for a good price. She was a little ragged from probably sitting out on the street for who knows how long but has quite a few shoots that have potential of new growth. Here she is: Currently she is in a 15cm diameter pot and is around 40cm tall above the soil line. I have a few plant newb questions: 1. How long will she be happy in this size pot if I put a trellis in for her to climb up, can she still have vigorous growth in the size pot she is in already? 2. How often should I fertilise her at the size she is at and is the seasol I have on hand a good fert for her? 3. As you can see in the photo, she has a secondary vine that to me looks like it doesn't have any new shoots or means for new growth, can I cut this back or does it serve a function to the plant or will start growing at a later date? Thanks for reading and I look forward to some friendly advice 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IndianDreaming Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) The questions you've asked vary depending on where the plant is located, i.e. sunny position, shady, humid, dry etc... I'm no expert but I can tell you what I do and my plant lives and grows. 1. Pull it out of the pot and see what the roots look like, if they're all tangled and turning in on themselves with no space to expand, re-pot. 2. In the spring/summer I fert mine once a fortnight with powerfeed with the recommended dose for a tomato or veggie and it seems to do well - in winter I don't give it anything. It all depends on your location and climate and the health of the plant - experiment, but keep in mind, less is best with ferts 3. If the vine is green, it's alive. Leave it and see. If the vine cracks when you bend it, chop it off. If there's a node on the bit of vine, that's the likely position for new growth, if there's not a node, I don't know - you'd have to talk to someone with more experience than me to tell you if growth will happen on a bare stem Looks like a lovely plant - my instructions above are from a non-expert, so have a crack at it and see if it needs modifying for you area. Edited September 30, 2014 by IndianDreaming Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InnerPathsToOuterSpace Posted September 30, 2014 Cheers IndianDreaming, I was stoked to find her sitting out the front of a shop. I guess that's Nimbin for ya! I live on the coast in far north NSW. She is indoor at the moment but there is a perfect spot outside in a garden corner under a big old tree and some shrubs that gets plenty of shade all day and filtered sunlight under the canopy, maybe a bit of direct sun in the afternoon if at all. I'd imagine it'd go crazy climbing the trees trunk. I was thinking to put her in as big a pot as possible because we are renting, though it's my wifes mums place so there is a bit more freedom, but she isn't ethnobotanically minded so she might just think it is a weed like vine and pull it up if she is visiting as she likes her gardening (so does my wife's grandmother). If it's in a pot I can always take it with me if we move and it isn't likely to get messed with by anyone as it is purposefully in a pot. If I pull the plant out of the pot so soon to check on the roots will it shock her? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IndianDreaming Posted September 30, 2014 If you're gentle with the pot I'm sure it'd be ok. It's a hard decision pot/ground - if you plant in the ground you'll get better growth (generally) and you can take cuttings if/when you leave... if you're staying more than 5 years, I'd go ground, just to see it go berserk! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InnerPathsToOuterSpace Posted September 30, 2014 I'm almost of a mind to go back to Nimbin next week and grab another one as well as a San Pedro. I could put one caapi in the ground and another in a big pot and see how they both do and that way I'll always have one big one to take with me. I also have one from SAB but I didn't realise until recently that they need a much bigger pot than the one she came in so she's been healthy but root bound all winter and I only just put her in a bigger pot We could live where we're at for a long time as it is a beautiful house and spot, it depends as my mother in-law is living in NZ currently and is not sure how long she'll be settling over there. Could be a year, could be ten. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tarenna Posted September 30, 2014 ^^ With 10 years on the Northern Rivers you will be sorted. Get it in the ground now. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InnerPathsToOuterSpace Posted September 30, 2014 Cheers for the advice tarenna, much appreciated! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtarman Posted September 30, 2014 Yeah caapi is wasted in pots...don't get me wrong, if you have no other options they can get sort of medium-sized in a decent size pot, with regular watering and ferts. But these things really need to be in the ground to become what they're meant to be - they need space for their massive root systems to run free so they can take off. I'd say fertilize with fish emulsion as well as your seasol - the nitrogen goes a long way, and between the two you'll get a pretty decent balance of nutrients to your plant. They can be quite heavy drinkers in regards to watering as well...in pots during summer you can find yourself watering twice a day in some climates...Northern Rivers would be a different story...and in the ground, after it's established I daresay no supplemental watering would be needed most of the time, barring dry spells. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InnerPathsToOuterSpace Posted September 30, 2014 Awesome gtarman, cheers! On the majority corroboree vote I think I shall make another visit to that colourful little nearby town very soon to grab another caapi to chuck in the ground so I have both bases covered. One in a large pot for if or when I move and another in the ground for the long haul and to unleash mother aya's true growing potential. On another note, can you still visit Wandjina Gardens by appointment, does Torsten sell bigger caapi plants etc on the premises? It's so close by, I'd love to see where the heart and soul of SAB really lies. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtarman Posted October 1, 2014 Yeah I'm sure Wandjina/the SAB nursery still accepts visitors. I've been there and bought plants before....such an amazing place to visit, and such a massive variety of ethno plants. It's basically an ethnobot's dream come true. Last time I visited they had several different kinds of caapi. I'd 100% recommend going there instead of Nimbin if you can, and checking out all their other plants. Just check their webstore/main site for visiting hours. You might be able to arrange a different time but best to check with Torsten and the nursery manager 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gtarman Posted October 1, 2014 You'd have a much larger selection of cacti to choose from at SAB as well, and waaaaay more knowledgeable staff to help you pick the right ones and answer any questions Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InnerPathsToOuterSpace Posted October 1, 2014 Thanks gtarman, I shall organise a visit to Wandjina gardens real soon! The caapi is in the shady spot outside now up against a fence so she can use the pickets to climb against. New budlet shoots of leaves are growing as we speak and she survived a windy arvo/evening unscathed in her little alcove yesterday. Realised that the seasol I have is already enhanced with powerfeed so will give her a feed within the next week or so. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
