Rare Tropical Pitcher Plants in Your Home – A Full Guide
You find yourself at a hardware store wandering the isles, staring down at a tropical pitcher plant, or a nepenthes “Ventrata”. It's truly unique leaf-pitchers are captivating, and you take it home with you. As beautiful as it is, it is one of the most common pitcher plants in horticulture. In fact, it's been tissue cultured so many times it is nearly sterile.
Not many people know that there are close to 180 species of Nepenthes, all with different colors, shapes, and sizes. There are more being discovered and named every year. There are countless hybrids between the species, passing certain desirable traits and growth habits down to plants. Some pitchers have “toilet” shaped pitchers, some have dazzling striped peristomes, or peristomes with wicked teeth, others get over 1 foot in length, while some stay under just a few inches.
You’re hooked, and now want to know what Nepenthes to buy. Not so fast! First, we have to understand a home’s conditions and basic plant care before we can even think about clicking a “proceed to payment” button.
Basic Nepenthes Care
Like all carnivorous plants, the care is very simple once you understand what the plant needs. Pure rainwater or distilled water is a must! Nepenthes roots are very delicate and cannot tolerate heavy metals or salts. Do not let your plant completely dry out, but do not let them sit in water either. Once the top of the media gets relatively dry, then it is time to water. The potting media has to be void of all nutrients and drain very well. A mix of 50% Long Fiber Sphagnum Moss and 50% Perlite work extremely well for most carnivorous plants. Fertilizer is best put in the pitchers. Osmocote 16-16-16 works for my plants, one per pitcher is sufficient. A bug or two would also make your pitcher plants happy.
Pitcher Plants in Home Conditions
“Why pay for high quality water when the sky makes it for you? The last few days of TN rain has given me a great opportunity to bottom water some of my bigger Nepenthes specimens!” - Faye's Curiosity Shoppe
The most important conditions for Nepenthes, In order, is first temperature, light, then relative humidity. As always, on rainwater and distilled for these carnivorous plants. Some Nepenthes are hardier, while others need extremely specific conditions. An average home’s conditions are as follows: “The ASHRAE Standards indicate the following ideal range of comfortable temperatures for home humidity levels in the 40 to 60% range, based on the season: Summer: 73 to 79 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter: 68 to 74 degrees Fahrenheit”
Of course, this is just an estimate, so knowing your range will help find a plant that thrives in your home. Keep in mind that all nepenthes would appreciate a night-time temperature drop, but some can be acclimated out of it, not all. The temperatures above show that “intermediate” plants will do well. These are plants below the chilly cloud-soaked mountain tops of Sumatra that easily get below 50F at night and above the swampy and hot conditions of lower Borneo. A cross between a “highland” plant and a “lowland” plant will create an “intermediate” hybrid that is tolerant of a wider range of humidities and temperatures. Some species are already “intermediates” as they grow naturally in between that range.
For light, the easiest is your windowsill! Aim for a South window which is best. South-West is another option, but not the greatest. Avoid East or West. Note that when light is hitting your nepenthes, the temperature will go up slightly, better helping some intermediate growers. Nepenthes need a few hours of direct sunlight, then a good amount of indirect bright light. Another option is using grow lights. I use Home Depot shop lights for supplemental light, nothing too fancy. Using a timer, you can set to a comfortable 16hr on, 8 off for best results.
For Nepenthes in your home, 50% - 60% relative humidity is good. Some Nepenthes can dip between 40% - 50%, however they will not thrive and may not pitcher. If you have a greenhouse, or a small humidifier in your home, getting to the range of 60%-80% will have the best results, but is not necessary. Most Nepenthes can be acclimated to 50%-60% happily. Keep in mind during very cold or hot months where your A/C is running longer and harder, your humidity will go down. Make sure to have good airflow!
Nepenthes Species Good for Your Home Conditions
Now onto the fun part! Plants that have hair and thick leaves usually are harder to home conditions. We are going to start with pure species, then head to hybrids. Pure species are slightly more difficult to grow, but not by much if you stick with these plants, in order from most tolerant:
N. Ventricosa
N. Truncata
N. Alata
N. Maxima (would appreciate slightly higher humidity)
N. Veitchii (would appreciate slightly higher humidity)
N. Spathulata (would appreciate slightly higher humidity)
My plants form the list sit in about 50% humidity and a constant 70F with no night drop. They still grow healthily and pitcher profusely. A note, many hardware stores confuse “Ventrata,” a cross between N. Ventricosa and N. Alata, as a pure species N. Alata. If you have a so-called “Alata” from a hardware store, know it is mislabeled!
Nepenthes Hybrids Good for Your Home Conditions
Onto Hybrids! I’ll separate these between “Big Chain Store Hybrids” and “Collector’s Hybrids.” All Chain store hybrids are ridiculously resilient because they can regularly go through somewhat extreme temperatures and humidity fluctuations and still be happy. These are all tissue culture, no specimens, almost all sterile. If you're scared about trying nepenthes out, try a big chain plant first. They are as follows:
“Ventrata” (N. Ventricosa x N. Alata)
“Bloody Mary” or “Lady Luck” (N. Ventricosa x N. Ampullaria)
“Miranda” (N. Maxima x N. Northiana)
N. Lowii x N. Ventricosa
“Rebecca Soper” (N. Gracillima x N. Ventricosa)
“Bill Bailey” (N. Singalana x N. Ventricosa)
The collector’s hybrids are really only found from specialized nurseries or private sellers. There are too many to label that would fit household conditions! Basically, 80% of any species crossed with N. Ventricosa or N. Truncata will work wonderfully. Any species crossed with N. Ventricosa or N. Truncata inherit their extreme humidity and temperature tolerance (as an added bonus, N. Truncata usually passes on its huge size to offspring!). A “highland (cold mountaintops)” plant crossed with a “lowland (hot swampland)” plant will also work. If you see a “highlander” or a “lowlander” that isn't fit for your conditions, try to find a cross between it and N. Ventricosa and N. Truncata! I will list some of my favorites, however, know that there are an unlimited number of possibilities with these wonderful plants!:
N. Spathulata x N. Hamata
N. Sibuyanensis x N. Robcantleyi
(N. Veitchii x N. Platychila) x N. Truncata
N. Lowii x N. Ventrata (seedgrown)
N. Aristocoloides x N. Thorelli
“MiMi’s Kiss” (N. Ventricosa) x (N. Maxima x N. Talagensis)
“Suki” N. Rafflesiana x Sibuyanensis
A good tool to use to see if a plant you'd be interested in will work in your conditions is, what I call, The Nepenthes Calculator by Tom’s Carnivores! Plug in two species, mother first then father, and you will get a temperature range result as well as pictures of both of the parents. It’s a tool beginners and Experts benefit from immensely! https://tomscarnivores.com/resources/nepenthes-interactive-guide/
I hope this in-depth beginner guide helps you care for some truly amazing plants. If you ever have any questions or would like to see plants I have in stock, feel free to find me at Faye Butterflies & More on FaceBook, a local oddity shop full of carnivorous plants, insect displays, and falconry education! - Ashley DeBondt, Nashville Plant People Community Member since Feb. 2023
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