Basic Components of Nepenthes Cultivation

[nepsaroundthehouse]

This thread is a very quick primer about Nepenthes cultivation. It's a summary of the basic components of good Nepenthes care. Recognizing these elements and "tweeking" them to your growing conditions will help you cultivate Nepenthes successfully.

[nepsaroundthehouse]

To grow Nepenthes properly, you should consider 6 basic needs: light, temperature, humidity, water, air circulation, and soil. So here's a quick "primer" on these topics.

Nepenthes come from tropical areas where humidity is relatively high. To keep humidity high, you'll see Nepenthes grown in greenhouses, chambers, and terrariums. Growing Nepenthes in controlled environments allows you to maintain high humidity. Humidity outdoors depends on where you live. My humidity averages around 50 to 60%. Nepenthes prefer it above 80% but can tolerate it much lower depending on the Nepenthes. Most Nepenthes I've grown can tolerate average household humidity pretty well. High humidity helps with pitchering. So if your Nepenthes isn't pitchering, it could be a humidity issue.

Temperature is one of the most important conditions for proper growth. There are three categories for Nepenthes: highlanders, intermediates, and lowlanders. Highlanders like it cooler and a temperature drop at night. Their range is from upper 70's to low 80's during the day to upper 40's to low 50's at night. Lowlanders like it warmer so they go from the 60's at night to the upper 80's and low 90's during the day. Intermediates are in the middle. Say mid 50's at night to 80's daytime. Nepenthes can take temperature swings in either direction for short periods of time. Knowing what kind of Nepenthes you have is important for what temperature your Nepenthes needs.

There's all kinds of soil recipes. I like a blend of long fiber sphagnum moss mixed in with peat moss and pumice rock to aid in drainage. Nepenthes come from nutrient poor soils in the wild. Different growers use all kinds of amenities too from charcoal, bark, coconut husks, perlite, to name a few. Probably the most important concern is that the soil drains well. Soil that is constantly wet will likely rot out the roots and the plant will die. So keep the soil on the moist side but don't leave it wet or in standing water like people that grow flytraps and Sarracenias.

Now we get to water. I use reverse osmosis water. The better the water the less dissolved salts that will build up in the soil. I've heard that water that has less than 100 ppm in dissolved salts is good for carnivorous plants. Don't use softened water as that has lots of salts and will kill your plant. When watering, water through the soil. I water the pots and let it drain out. I'll water again when the soil begins to dry a bit on top. Outdoor plants will need more frequent watering than indoor plants or plants grown in high humidity. I've had weeds die before Nepenthes wilt when the soil has gone dry. So it's better to keep your Nepenthes slightly to the dry side than the wet side.

Nepenthes like air movement. Growing them outdoors provides plenty of air circulation so that's usually not an issue. Getting air movement indoors can be provided by simply opening a window. I do this with my windowsill Nepenthes and they seem to enjoy it. Without the air movement the soil tends to stay wetter longer and that can lead to root rot also known as "The Creeping Black Death." Some growers use fans to move air around their plants. Terrarium grown Nepenthes may be difficult to get air movement into. That's okay. They won't die. You just have to be careful not to keep the plants too wet. The lack of air movement means less evaporation in the soil and that can lead to a host of fungal related problems.

Finally, Nepenthes need light. Growing them in the shade will result in poor growth, lack of pitcher production, and death. If growing on windowsills use a south, west, or east facing window. If grown outdoors, place plants in areas of diffused light or limited direct sun until they adjust. Shade cloth can be used too. I like about 50% shade cloth to avoid leaf burn. Once adjusted to outdoor climates, then you can move plants into full sun if desired. Nepenthes grown under artificial lights can have photo periods around 12 to 14 hours of light. Wherever you grow your Nepenthes, make sure they have a good amount of light.