hey! i recently moved from a south facing window to a south east facing window, i would love to get a new pitcher plant as mine has succumbed to the heat in this room. i have a humidifier and keep it going 12 hours a day, is there a specific species i should look for? i had a nepenthes alata before but i would really appreciate some advice on which type to go for! pics for interactions:)
Try a gaya, or St. Gaya. I’m surprised the alata couldn’t handle it they’re usually pretty tough. Keep the plant close to the humidifier and most importantly make sure it’s getting 10+hours of strong light. Depending on where you are a south facing window is perfect but you will benefit from a small grow light over winter-most of the problems I see for neps are that they’re not getting enough light and not in the right substrate (losing water too fast) Gayas pitcher well, a ventricosa is also a sturdy choice. If its heat and not lack of humidity that’s your concern stick to “lowland” varieties. They can take high temps as long as they’re watered and kept in proper humidity. Check out windowsill nepenthes on YouTube for tips on keeping neps in a window :D
1 gilla i totally should’ve added in my post that i abandoned my plants for 6 months after the big move. not my proudest moment but other things needed to get done in the new house, this is not my ideal set up but it is good enough for the time being
0 gillningar but i was worried that having my stand up against the radiator would cause problems for my new pitcher plant, i just wanted to check and see if there was a variety that could withstand heat better than an alata
0 gillningar hey! i was looking into purchasing a new plant tonight and was wondering if you’d recommend a grow light on the lower shelves where the alocasia is, the pitcher plant will go in the hanging basket that is there and i just want to make sure i have all the stuff i need. i was also curious on your opinion on purchasing the “rebecca” variant, i love the color red and her pitchers are beautiful, but i will go with one of the other varieties if it would be better suited in my space. most mornings with sun the room is between 86-90 degrees fahrenheit, but i have the humidifier on an automatic timer to keep my humidity loving plants humid in the morning sun
0 gillningar A grow light is a great idea, especially during the winter and low light days. It will ensure growth isn’t interrupted and your plant continues to pitcher. If the room is consistently at that high of a temperature you should go for a lowland variety. If it drops at night by at least 10 degrees you can opt for an intermediate or highland plant. Another important thing is making sure your nepenthes isn’t ever drying out so chose your substrate based on that. I have the most luck on my windowsill keeping them in long fiber spagnum moss mixed with chunky pearlite but just fluffy moss can be fine on it’s own. You can opt for something more mineral based like an akadama if you have problems with things like algae but really in your conditions the moss should be fine. Keeping the humidifier next to it will also keep its pitchers from drying out. When you get your new nepenthes do a “plastic bag acclimation” where you cover the whole plant with a plastic bag and slowly open it over time to adjust to the humidity of your environment. You can Google nepenthes plastic bag acclimation for a better explanation on that or I can help you with it once you get your new plant. It’s important to note that pitchers will lose their liquid often in transit and should be refilled with distilled/RO water (same water you use to water it with hopefully) they won’t be able to really digest bugs with the water but it will keep the pitchers from drying out upon arrival. Once the plant successfully opens and new pitcher it will be able to catch bugs with that one. Don’t worry about that much though-light and humidity and water/substrate are the keys to success here. Don’t ever let it dry out, but don’t let it sit in water. Around the time the substrate feels like a ring out towel is when it’s time to do a good soak again. And at the risk of repeating myself, they can take a ton of bright light-10+ hours a day. That’s very important. Oh I’ve been rambling I’m sorry XD are you talking about nepenthes Rebecca Soper? I think that’s a great cultivar it’s generally easy and you supposedly don’t have to be as intense about light with it. You got this!
1 gilla thank you soo much!! i appreciate this more than ever, and yes that’s the one i was talking about lol
0 gillningar In my experience succulents and neps might have similar light needs, but extremely different water and humidity needs it might be hard to keep them happy in the same place. I am absolutely in awe of your string of pearls o.o
0 gillningar i’ve had success with keeping my humidifier going for 12 hours a day on low, and on hot days turning it up a bit. also call me crazy but i feel like the succulents on the top and more tropical humidity craving plants towards the bottom where the humidifier is has worked for me. i’m in northern nj so the winters are a bit rough i try to keep the room above 68 degrees at all times
0 gillningar tysm!! she’s almost 3! i’ve had her since spring 2021. my best friend calls her the “chandelier” of my plant set up
0 gillningar