1、Pitcher plantsTropical Pitcher plants are impressive plants, needing humidity and warmth. They can divided into two main groups - highland plants, and lowland plants, but there is some cross over where you find the intermediate ones. The produce two typed of trap - lower traps formed on lower growth
2、, and upper pitchers formed when the plants get larger and start to climb. The lowland plants like temperatures of around 25oC all the time, with a slight drop in temperature at night. They are very intolerant of low temperatures (we have lost many to a power cut in the winter!) They also like humid
3、ity of 80% ideally. These things need to be quite constant, so monitoring is important. If you dont have suitable tropical greenhouse, a terrarium can be a good place to grow lowland plants, though they may well out grow it. All Nepenthes can be pruned of they get too big. Highland plants like a flu
4、ctuation in temperature, particularly between day and night. Ideally it should be 20oC during the day, and 15oC at night, but some will tolerate temperatures just above freezing at night. Humidity should be no less that 60%. Many highlands will grow well on a windowsill, the back of a conservatory o
5、r in a shower room, but grow well in a warm greenhouse. Nepenthes like good light, but not the baking sun. They benefit from artificial lights in the winter as our days are so short. If grown in a greenhouse, 50% shade is needed. Watering Do not place in water trays. Water from the top and make sure
6、 they stay damp. Mist regularly -at least daily. This is very important, as humidity helps trap formation. If the tips of the leaves are drying before they produce traps, they need more humidity. Plants can be placed on gravel trays to increase humidity, or grown with other plants to help create a h
7、umid microclimate. If they have arrived through the post with empty traps, just put a little rainwater in each open trap. They will produce their own liquid normally. Feeding Nepenthes can be fed by putting insect or anything into the trap. Id does not have to be alive. . They can also be fertilized
8、 with strength orchid foliar feed about twice a month during the summer months. Just spray it on the leaves. Winter Care Lowland plants need constant conditions, winter and summer as far as possible. This can prove quite expensive in the winter. Many highlands will tolerate quite low temperatures in
9、 the winter, but they will sulk. Traps will die back over the winter starting with the lid, then the whole trap and finally the leaf. Just remove dead parts. Compost Nepenthes like an open compost. Use equal parts of peat, perlite, long fibre moss , and fine orchid bark. However, they are very toler
10、ant of soil so it dont worry if its not exact. Seramis can also be used in the mix. Plant in normal pots or orchid baskets (use moss the line the basket). Tall pots allow the traps to hang over. Hanging baskets are a good way to display them. Propagation Propagate the prunings by trimming to just below a leaf node and dipping in rooting hormone. Wrap the stem in moss with cling film, and place in a propagator somewhere warm. There is around a 50:50 chance of the cuttings taking.
