Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes )

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Plant Details

Category: Flowering Houseplant

Light: Bright Light

Bloom Season:

Height: 6-12" /

15-30cm

Space: 10-12" /

25-30cm

Zones: 11, 12

Lowest Temp: 50° to 80°F /

10° to 27°C

Colors: White

Basic Care

Thrives in boggy conditions. Keep the bark mix moist throughout the growth and bloom season. Remove faded flowers for best display.

Water

Keep well-watered.

Soil

Half fine milled bark and half perlite.

Feed

Not necessary.

detailed care guide →

Cascading

Heat Tolerant

Ornamental Flower

Shade Loving

Containers

Hanging Baskets

Features

A fascinating plant for its strange appearance and its carnivorous activity. The “pitchers” produced by the plant are a means of luring in insects, trapping them in the fluids of the pitcher, and then absorbing the nutrients as the insect dissolves. Native to lowland wet regions of Sri Lanka. A true specimen plant. Fun and educational for kids to grow.

Uses

Perfectly suited to hanging baskets to display the pitchers to best advantage. A single plant on a plant stand would also allow the pitchers to dangle freely. Thrives in hot humid conditions and would do well near a bright bathroom or kitchen window.

Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes ) Care Guide

If the plant was purchased in a pot, then it is probably already in a quality potting mix and requires little more than watering and grooming. Epiphytes rarely need to be repotted.

Epiphytes grow on other plants. They can be grown in a light, well-drained mix of bark, composted peat and perlite, or, rather than growing in a pot, epiphytes’ roots can be wrapped in sphagnum moss and the entire plant can then be mounted onto wood or other surfaces.

When repotting, start with a good quality, sterile bark mix. Select a container with a drainage hole or be prepared to drill holes for drainage if there are none.

Prepare the container by filling with potting mix up to 2” (5cm) from the rim of the planter. Make a small hole in the soil slightly larger than the root ball either by hand or using a trowel. Insert the plant into the hole and press soil firmly around the roots and just covering the root ball. Once potted, water thoroughly to settle the soil and give the plant a good start.

Epiphytes prefer the bark mix to dry in between thorough watering. Check the bark mix moisture with your finger. If the top inch (3 cm) of bark is dry, it’s time to water. Apply water at the soil level if possible to avoid wetting the plant. Water the entire soil area until water runs out the base of the pot. This indicates that the soil is thoroughly wet. Discard any excess water that has accumulated in the pot’s saucer.

Epiphytes that are not potted in a container should be misted well at least three times a week, more often if the air is dry. Mist all the foliage so that the water can absorb through the leaves. The plant can also be submerged in water for two to three minutes, once a week for a more thorough watering.

Most epiphytes require little or no pruning. Cascading forms can be trimmed back to maintain a preferred size. To prune, choose a point along the stem where the leaves branch. Cut just above this point so the buds for new growth aren’t removed.

Some plants will re-bloom on their own, but others may have very specific day-length or temperature requirements to flower again. A bit of research may be necessary to determine what is needed to encourage future blooming.

Fertilizers are available in many forms: granulated, slow-release, liquid feeds, organic or synthetic.

Liquid fertilizer is the best for plants that aren’t potted in a container. These types of epiphytes absorb the plant food through the leaves. Select a product with a nutritional balance of 20-20-20 and dilute it to a quarter the recommended strength.

Slow-release fertilizer is the best for potted epiphytes. Select a product with a nutritional balance of 20-20-20 and lightly sprinkle the plant food at the base of the plant.

Too much fertilizer can damage plants so it’s important to follow the package directions to determine how much, and how often, to feed plants.

Companion/Combination Plants

Venus Fly Trap (Dionaea muscipula)

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Pincushion Flower (Scabiosa caucasica)

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Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes )

Plant Details