One of the hardiest, most forgiving species and a great beginner carnivorous plant! The pitchers are filled with secretions that attract, and will also digest, insects that land on the slippery little covers and fall into the pitchers. Make sure the pitchers always have a little fluid in the bottom. If the plant is moved so the natural secretions drain out, fill each pitcher with about 1” of distilled water. Grow in partial sun to bright shade with good humidity and air ventilation. They require constant moisture, distilled water, and low fertility (do not fertilize!). Protect plants from temperatures below 50°F.
This tropical pitcher plant is a scrambler, often found tangled in bushes and tree branches in its native range. The pitchers grow off the tips of the leaves and range from yellow-green, to red, to speckled, orange, purple, and a variety of configurations in-between. Lower pitchers grow 7-9″ tall, and produce abundant simultaneous pitcher development so you might have a dozen healthy pitchers on one plant at a time.
Remember, no tap water!
A fun and unusual tropical to grow.
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Keep soil wet or damp at all times. Placing the pot in a saucer or tray of distilled water and keep. You can also block the drainage holes so water doesn’t drain away. You can also collect rainwater for your carnivorous plants!
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Grow carnivorous plants in a sunny location when indoors.
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Use nutrient-free soil, like a 1:1 mix of blond peat and perlite.
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Mist them, add a humidifier, or put a pebble tray underneath the plant to keep the air around your carnivorous plant humid.
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Bring plants indoors for the winter. When moving them out in summer protect them from the direct sun.
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Carnivorous plants need insects to survive because they get little or no nutrition from the soil. You can also feed them alternative food sources like fish flakes and freeze-dried bloodworms.
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Remove old pitchers, traps, flower heads, and leaves as they fade.