What are Nepenthes?
Nepenthes are carnivorous plants known for their
oddly shaped pitchers, which grow at the ends of
their leaves. Many of the plants are extremely rare
and are not often available for purchase. There are
two types of pitchers produced by the plants: large,
spectacularly colored ground pitchers, and narrow
aerial pitchers. These plants also produce flower
spikes usually colored in yellow, green, or
mahogany. However, the flowers are small in size and
are not nearly as interesting as the pitchers.
Nepenthes plants are either male or female. They
cannot be self-pollinated.
Pitchers on the end of the leaves allow the
plants to collect their food in nature, as they grow
on extremely poor soils and have developed pitchers
as a method of trapping insects in order to dissolve
them and assimilate their proteins, sugars, and
nutrients into the plants for their own development.
They have special digestive glands for attracting
insects and slippery hairs for keeping them in the
pitcher, as well as enzymes to dissolve them. There
are different cycles of natural organisms that live
in the plant as well. In nature, they can be found
growing in sphagnum mosses, in straight silica sand
on limestone cliffs, or wherever there are mosses
and sufficient moisture for them to germinate and
grow.
Nepenthes Culture
Watering & Potting Medium:
Nepenthes grow best in water retaining medium such
as New Zealand sphagnum moss. Replace the moss as
the moss breaks down, about every 2-3 years. Use
only clean water, such as rain, distilled, or
reverse osmosis water (Municipal water has too many
minerals). Keep the plants damp, and try not to let
them become totally dry in between watering. Water
heavily and thoroughly, feeding lightly with Grow
More Urea-Free 20-10-20 fertilizer every three to
four weeks at ¼ strength. Too much fertilizer might
slow down pitcher production.
Growing Habits:
Nepenthes can vary in size from small (8-12" tall)
to quite large (40-50' in nature). Many Nepenthes
are vigorous, climbing vines and will need to be cut
back from time to time to keep them manageable.
Light:
The plants can tolerate a wide range of light
depending on the species, plant size, and
temperature. There are highland plants, lowland
plants, and plants that grow in somewhat
intermediate conditions. They can be grown
successfully in the home as windowsill plants or
under artificial lights such as our P.L. Lights
systems.
Check out our current
Nepenthes offerings.