| |
Nepenthes madagascariensis is endemic to the East coast
of Madagascar and is one of the two species which you can
find in Madagascar; the other one being Nepenthes
masoalensis. It is found at low altitudes, growing below
around 1000 meters. Tropical pitcher plants generally
grow as vines, climbing over other plants, and may grow
as epiphytes, growing on other plants in the forest
canopy, or as low shrubs. That plant grows well as a
hanging basket plant inside the home, in a hot greenhouse
or in a terrarium in your home.
The leaves are long and lance-shaped, growing in a
rosette fashion from a central climbing stem and
terminated with a tendril. The tendril is used both to
support the plant as it climbs up through the undergrowth
and the trap itself which forms from it.
The traps start out at first as a small swelling,
but quickly expand to their full size over the course of
several weeks. The lid opens to reveal digestive fluids
in the bottom of the trap. Prey is attracted by the gaudy
colours and nectar produced by the trap, under the lid,
which does not close and around the rim. The pitchers of
Nepenthes species have a smooth lining. Insects and other
small animals that are attracted to the pitchers cannot
maintain a grip on this slippery surface and fall into
the pitcher. Once they move their way inside, they lose
their footing and slip into the nectar. The nectar is
also quite intoxicating. The lower section inside the
trap is covered in digestive glands and these quickly
dissolve the soft parts of the prey, leaving the remains
to drop down to the bottom into the soup.
The plant has two types of traps, lower and upper. While
in some species the upper and lower pitchers look similar,
there are others where the two are so distinctly
different that you would swear they are two different
species. The upper pitchers are generally smaller than
lower pitchers, often lacking wings, and attached to the
tendril at the back. These upper pitcher tendrils, before
forming a pitcher, will often curl around an object such
as a branch, to give the climbing stem support. Nepenthes
are dioecious, male and female flowers exist on different
plants. If you have several plants, and a few are
blooming, then you may be able to pollinate them.
Hardiness zone 10, (1°C/35°F) in Winter. In Madagascar
the sun always is very strong and day temperature can
often be up to 35°C all over the year. At night, it
falls down to a minimum of 18°C. Full sun is recommended
for Nepenthes. Light will color the traps of a
distinctive red mottling color on the tops of the
pitchers. Growing Lowlands usually requires a hot house
or a heated terrarium. It seems fine at 80°F. Short day
periods and cool temperatures are the most dangerous for
the plants.
Species of Nepenthes grow on soils that are poor in
nutrients or on other plants where nutrients are not
readily available. Plants, such as some Nepenthes, that
grow on other plants, but do not take nutrients from the
supporting plants, are referred to as epiphytes. In order
to grow in places that are poor in nutrients, Nepenthes
have adapted a carnivorous lifestyle, which supplements
their intake of nitrogen and other nutrients. The soil
needs to be light and airy. All the plants grew in a very
wet acidic sandy soil. Use pure peat moss. You can
also use a mix of equal parts of peat moss, perlite,
vermiculite and long-fibred sphagnum moss.
The plants should be watered regularly but should not be
left standing in water at any time. Try too keep them
warm and humid but not stagnant and wet. Use rain water
or distillated water, hard city water will kill your
carnivorous plant. Lowlands and Highlands Nepenthes like
high humidity, and watering should be done when the soil
starts to look dry on the top.
|
|
