Cultivation
Nepenthes



Among many carnivorous plant growers, the genus Nepenthes (pitcher plant) with its many different, colorful pitcher is one of the most popular. There are about 100 species, which I find quite interesting, but unfortunately almost all species can become very large (up to 30 m high). This takes many years, but after a short time some species fill an entire terrarium. In my opinion, the most suitable is a greenhouse or a very big terrarium.
The species can be divided into highland and lowland species. The flowers look rather unspectacular in this genus. For successful pollination you need a flowering male and a flowering female, because Nepenthes are dioecious.

I have only a few species and hybrids due to lack of space and a flower fable:




Highland

Light: bright
Humidity: >60 %
Temperature: Day: 20-25 °C, night: 10-15 °C
Substrate: Peat-sand-perlite-sphagnum mixture
Watering: no accumulation of water or just a little bit, water from above
Propagation: Seeds, shoot cuttings


Nepenthes tenuis

My own experience:
A relatively simple highland Nepenthes that grows quickly and forms beautifully colored pitchers.
So far I haven't had any problems with this species in the terrarium (basement) and only had to cut it back once, because it climbed too high and was then burned by the lamps. A new side shoot developed pretty quickly.


Level of difficulty: mittel

Nepenthes tenuis
Pitcher
Nepenthes tenuis
Pitcher
Nepenthes tenuis
Pitcher






Lowland

Light: bright - partially shaded
Humidity: >60 %
Temperature: all year around 20-30 °C
Substrate: Peat-sand-perlite-sphagnum mixture
Watering: no accumulation of water or just a little bit, water from above
Propagation: Seeds, shoot cuttings


Nepenthes albomarginata

My own experience:
I received this species as a seedling a few years ago. Since then it has been growing in a terrarium.
What is special about the pitchers is the white border, which can form a nice contrast to the colorful pitcher. This plant has thus specialized in certain termites as prey, which use the white fluff as a source of food.


Level of difficulty: leicht

Nepenthes albomarginata
Pitcher
Nepenthes albomarginata
Pitcher




Nepenthes x ventrata (alata x ventricosa)

My own experience:
This hybrid has been hanging on the south side for a few years now and becoms sometimes really huge. For this reason, I have to cut back the old shoots every few years. The pitchers are relatively unspectacular and turn deep red in the sun. By the way, Nepenthes x ventrata is well suited for beginners and can be found in almost every hardware store.

Level of difficulty: leicht



Nepenthes "hybrid"

My own experience:
One of my first plants (may appear to be a hybrid of N. ventricosa and N. inermis). At the beginning I had some problems, because it didn't want to produce any pitchers in a corner that was too dark. But when I changed the location, it formed beautiful pitcher and many offshoots. And then after a while it started climbing again. Just like x ventrata, I always cut this plant back after a while.

Level of difficulty: sehr leicht




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