It looks like a magical floral drinking vessel from the fairy kingdom. But especially for small insects it is anything but charming: the pitcher plant.
Among the carnivorous plants, the Venus flytrap is probably the best known. The most beautiful by far is the pitcher plant (Nepenthes). Their red-green to red-orange pitchers look like elf-like drinking cups, but they have an extremely insidious function. Because the plant vessels serve as pitfalls for living prey. However, this does not detract from the ornamental value of Nepenthes, which is why the tropical plant is a real asset, especially for planting concepts á la indoor jungle.
Special features of the pitcher plant
Nepenthes is a very special eye-catcher as a houseplant. The carnivorous plant forms differently shaped ground and high pitchers, which can grow up to 50 cm tall, depending on the species. In the wild, the pitcher plant uses them to catch flying insects and small birds as well as crawling animals and rodents.
As deadly as the pots are, they are decorative in the room and give it an extraordinary tropical touch. Careful selection of species is extremely important, however, because there are pitcher plants that grow from 20 centimeters to 20 meters in almost every size. On the other hand, the different pitcher plant species also have very individual cultural requirements.
Notes on Pitcher Plant Cultivation
Since the pitcher plant originally comes from Southeast Asian tropical countries such as Malaysia or the Philippines, it is unfortunately not hardy. The plant therefore needs warm temperatures between 25 and 30 °C all year round. In addition, the plant is used to a high humidity of 70 to 90 percent from its tropical home. For indoor culture, it is therefore advisable to either keep them in a terrarium or to select special types of culture. Recommended Nepenthes species for indoor keeping are e.g.:
- Nepenthes gracilis
- Nepenthes madagascariensis
- Nepenthes pervillei
- Nepenthes rafflesiana
- Nepenthes truncata
- Nepenthes alata
- Nepenthesbrubidgeae
- Nepenthes ventricosa
Location & substrate for pitcher plants
In general, pitcher plants prefer a location in the light semi-shade or in full sun. For the terrarium this means that artificial lighting may be necessary.
The right substrate for Nepenthes should have a neutral pH and be well drained. The soil composition is similar to that of succulent substrate and should be individually composed of components such as
- Activated Charcoal,
- Expanded Clay,
- Coconut fibers,
- Perlites
- and Sphagnum Moss
mixed together. It can be beneficial to have some experience growing succulents, orchids, and tropical plants.
How to properly care for pitcher plants
❍ Water and spray pitcher plant:
Nepenthes needs constantly fresh and moist soil, especially during the growth phase, whereby waterlogging and prolonged dry phases should be avoided. It is best to use lime-free rainwater or mineral water for irrigation.
Regular spraying of the pitcher plant is advisable to maintain the humidity outside of terrariums.
❍ Fertilize pitcher plant:
In the wild, Nepenthes obtains essential nutrients from digesting prey. For this purpose, the plant forms a digestive secretion with an extremely acidic pH value in its pitchers, which serves to decompose the prey. Therefore, never empty the plant pitchers, otherwise they will lose their digestive function and die.
❍ Feed Pitcher Plant:
You can feed Nepenthes flies and other insects, but they should still be alive if possible. You can find suitable live food, for example in the form of mealworms or grasshoppers, in well-stocked pet and fishing shops. As an alternative to feeding, fertilizing with conventional orchid fertilizer is also possible.
Note:
The pitcher plant digestion process takes about two days. During this time, tended pitchers should not be re-fed. Feeding also creates digestive odors, which you should be prepared for.
How to propagate a pitcher plant
Nepenthes can be propagated either by seeds or cuttings. The seeds form in summer and are sown directly after the fruit has ripened without pre-drying.
Top cuttings, on the other hand, are best taken in spring. Make sure you have oneCut off as long a stalk as possible so that the cuttings root well. Then plant it immediately in a growing substrate. In this video you will get everything explained again in detail:
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