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This is a Nepenthes mix. It contains many species,
including mirabilis, gracilis, sanguinea, truncata and
many more that are only sold in this mix, but I cannot
specify. 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 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. 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. Full sun is
recommended for Nepenthes. 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.
Highland Nepenthes tend to be slower growing than lowland
and require a lower night temperature than day
temperature. Nights range between 13-17°C and days 23-29°C.
Night temperatures absolutely must drop below 17°C for
seedlings of most species to survive. Highlanders will be
happy with a minimum relative humidity of 60%.
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 one part peat for one part
sphagnum moss. You can also use a mix of equal parts of
sphagnum moss peat, 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, but more for lowlands, and watering should
be done when the soil starts to look dry on the top.
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