Nepenthes spp . . . Tropical Pitcher Plants
Eighty-years young Denver Botanic Gardens’ super volunteer Larry Knowles and Nepenthes alata at our Information Desk.
There are seventy species of tropical pitcher plants, first described in Madagascar in the 17th century. Insects and animal life are captured and digested when falling into sweet smelling nectar at the base of the modified leaf extensions…pitchers. Fantasy-stories speak of man-eating pitcher plants. Rodent capturing leaves are more realistic. The tropical pitcher plants are heavily vining, and do great in hanging baskets! They are dioecious, each plant bearing male or female flowers; thus, two plants are needed to produce seed. New plants can also be grown by cuttings. See pitcher plants right now at our Information Desk.
March 20, 2009 at 11:57 pm
i picked up a N. alata at one of your spring plant sales oh so long ago. i’m having an easy time keeping it alive… and i know that carnivorous plants typically come from very moist (and therefore low nutrient) soil, hence their carnivorous nature.
however… my poor nepenthes only grows like gangbusters, rarely forming pitcher pods. and when it does, they shrivel up almost immediately.
any advice? i mean, aside from moving to indonesia or something. ~_^
April 2, 2009 at 2:11 pm
The plant seems to be a bit weak. Do not allow it to dryout and give it plenty of sun. Repotting with a light soil mix might rejuvinate your pitcher plant. We do not fertilize our carnivorous plants and we water with RO (reverse osmosis…distilled) water.
Good luck!