Nepenthes - Pitcher Plant 4"

Nepenthes – Pitcher Plant 4″

One of the coolest carnivorous plants you can grow indoors. Nepenthes, commonly called Tropical Pitcher Plants, produce specialized leaves that develop into hanging pitchers designed to attract, trap, and digest insects.

Despite their exotic appearance, Nepenthes can make surprisingly manageable houseplants when given the right conditions. The big three are bright light, good-quality water, and consistent moisture.

Grow in bright, indirect light with some gentle direct morning sun if available. Keep the growing medium consistently lightly moist, but not waterlogged. Unlike many bog-dwelling carnivorous plants, Nepenthes generally should not sit permanently in a tray of water.

Use distilled, reverse-osmosis, or rainwater whenever possible. These plants are adapted to nutrient-poor environments and can be sensitive to the dissolved minerals found in some tap water.

Care

Light: Bright, indirect light. Good light is important for healthy growth, coloration, and pitcher production.

Water: Keep consistently lightly moist. Do not allow the plant to dry completely. Distilled, RO, or rainwater is recommended.

Humidity: Moderate to high humidity encourages the best pitcher development. Established plants can adapt to typical household conditions, but very dry air may cause pitchers to develop poorly or dry prematurely.

Feeding: No fertilizer or insect feeding is necessary for basic survival. If the plant catches the occasional small insect, it will take care of the rest.

Temperature: Most commonly grown Nepenthes hybrids are comfortable in normal warm household temperatures. Protect from cold drafts.

Pot size: 4″ nursery pot.

And no, you don't need to feed it hamburger. Give it good light, clean water, and a little humidity and let the plant handle the hunting.