The carnivorous pitcher plants from the tropics fascinate us above all because of their extraordinary diet. We give tips on how to keep it indoors.
The pitcher plant (Nepenthes) absorbs nutrients from the soil, but also from insects that land in their traps. For this reason, too, it is becoming increasingly popular as a houseplant. Would you like to keep a carnivorous pitcher plant in your home? We give you some hints on how the Nepenthes can also thrive indoors.
Pitcher plant: flower, origin and properties
The pitcher plant (Nepenthes) is the only genus in the pitcher plant family (Nepenthaceae). To date, over 100 different species are known, some of which grow like a semi-shrub and others look like lianas that can cling to other plants with tendrils. New species continue to be discovered and hybrids bred, most of which include our hardier houseplants.
Pitcher plants are native to Southeast Asia, but some species are also native to India, Australia and Madagascar. The Nepenthes is mainly found in the always humid tropics and can grow at different altitudes. Depending on the occurrence, a distinction is made between highland and lowland species, which have different temperature preferences.
The leaves of the Nepenthes consist of three components: the leaf-shaped part, a tendril emerging from it, with which the plant can also gain support, and the pitcher trap at the end of the tendril. The flowers arranged in grapes are rarely seen on our indoor plants.
The Nepenthes belongs to the carnivores, i.e. flesh-eating plants. Their pitchers are passive pit traps that attract their prey by scent or color. There is nectar on the edge of the pitchers. If the prey now settles on the edge of the can, it can easily fall into the can and no longer climb out on the smooth walls. At theSoil is a highly acidic liquid with a pH of 3 where prey is broken down and digested. After about three months, the pot dies. The lid of the jug is immovable and serves to protect against rainwater, which could wash the prey out of the jug or dilute the digestive juices too much.
The most beautiful Nepenthes species
There are many different types of pitcher plants, some of which are presented here. However, the commercially available plants are mostly robust Nepenthes hybrids, i.e. plants that have been created from different species by crossing.
Pitcher plants from the warmer lowlands
These species prefer constant, warm temperatures between 20 and 35 °C.
- Nepenthes ampullaria: This popular pitcher plant has quite small, rounded pitchers. Unlike most of its relatives, Nepenthes ampullaria uses insects as well as other organic material such as bird droppings for nutrient uptake.
- Nepenthes mirabilis: This species has elongated pitchers and has a large distribution area. The color of the pitchers can range from green to yellow to red. As a lowland Nepenthes, it prefers steady, warm temperatures.
Pitcher plants from the colder highlands
These species are used to temperature fluctuations. In nature, it is usually warm during the day at around 25 °C. At night the temperature drops to 15 to 10 °C. The air humidity usually has to be particularly high at up to 90% for the highland species.
- Nepenthes macfarlanei: This Nepenthes also impresses with its pitcher coloration. The yellow-green pitchers are bulbous and usually speckled with red. The highland species is native to Malaysia and can cope well with temperature fluctuations.
- Nepenthes aristolochioides: This pitcher plant is endemic to Sumatra and is also a highland nepenthes. The unusual pot shape with the side opening makes this type particularly popular. It has therefore been collected on a large scale and is now considered endangered in its homeland.
Planting Nepenthes: location, soil and co.
Pitcher plants are somewhat peculiar in their attitude, which is why some site conditions must be observed. However, if the Nepenthes is cared for properly, it can produce splendid pitchersdevelop, which are also helpful in fighting flies.
The pitcher plant hybrids that can be purchased from us are usually quite robust and were bred from species of medium altitudes. A constant temperature between 20 and 30 °C is often recommended here. The location of the pitcher plant should be bright. In its homeland, too, the Nepenthes usually grows in sparse forests. However, you should avoid locations that are permanently in full sun, as the pitchers could be damaged by excessive light intensity.
Of particular importance is the high humidity, which should be up to 90% depending on the species. Here, too, the indoor pitcher plants are a bit more modest and happy with a humidity of around 60%. The substrate of the Nepenthes must be permeable and low in nutrients. To loosen up the soil, a little expanded clay can be mixed in, for example. In addition, the substrate should be slightly acidic. For this reason, carnivore soil often has a high peat content. In order to avoid using peat, there are attempts to produce a substrate made of pine bark, perlite and quartz sand. Here, too, an acidic pH value, good aeration and mineral nutrients are ensured.
Ideal conditions for pitcher plants are kept in a greenhouse or terrarium. There it is much easier to keep temperatures and humidity in the high range. However, only small, compact species should be kept in the terrarium, otherwise it can quickly become too cramped. In addition, the terrarium should be in a bright, but not directly sunny place, or you have to work with artificial light sources.
Summary: Plant Pitcher Plant
- Location: Bright, without direct sun, 20 - 30 °C and high humidity
- Substrate: poor in nutrients, permeable and acidic
- Optimal conditions are easier to create in a indoor greenhouse
Care for pitcher plants: the most important tips
Probably the biggest challenge when caring for pitcher plants is the high humidity. The Nepenthes should be sprayed with rainwater regularly, even several times a day in summer. An automatic water atomizer can be used for this, for example.
Do you have to feed pitcher plants?
The Nepenthes does not need to be fed as they all need itobtains nutrients from its substrate. However, there is nothing wrong with putting an insect in the pot from time to time. However, care should then be taken to only feed one insect at a time so that the plant does not have to digest too much at once. Also, to start the digestion process, the insect should be alive.
Water and fertilize
It is best to use rainwater or distilled water for watering. Boiled tap water can also be used if necessary. The irrigation water is then not poured directly into the substrate, but into the saucer. The plant fetches the water it needs itself and the humidity is also increased. The substrate should always be moist, but both drying out and waterlogging should be avoided.
The pitcher plant does not need to be fertilized. It has a rather low nutrient requirement, which it covers from its substrate. If she needs more nutritional elements, she uses her traps and mainly digests insects. If the Nepenthes does not have access to insects indoors, you can add a little liquid fertilizer to the substrate two to three times per growing season. For example, our Plantura organic citrus & Mediterranean fertilizer is suitable for this, which supplies the Nepenthes with iron and magnesium, among other things, which they otherwise mainly absorb from their prey.
Hibernate Nepenthes
In the home of the pitcher plant, there are no cold winters, which is why overwintering the Nepenthes indoors is actually quite easy. It is best to just stay in a warm room in a bright place. Due to the dry air from the heating, it is important to ensure a consistently high level of humidity. For example, the plant can be placed on a saucer filled with expanded clay, which is then watered regularly. Too little light and moisture can easily dry up the pitchers and stagnate growth in winter, but the plant usually recovers in spring.
Pruning Pitcher Plant
The Nepenthes doesn't actually need pruning. However, if a cut is made, it will also sprout again under good conditions. Brown, dried up and dead plant parts can also be removed so that the plant no longer has to invest energy in them.
Repot pitcher plant
Each Nepenthes species grows at a different rate. Slow-growing species should be repotted every two to three years, and fast-growing species every year. Even if the pot is completely rooted, you should repot the pitcher plant. This is best done early in the growing season in spring.
Dried pitchers: what can you do?
It is completely normal for the pitchers of the Nepenthes to dry up. They last about a year in good conditions and are then discarded. Dry pitchers can also be the result of air that is too dry or too little light. It is best to place the plant in a brighter place and put a glass over it to increase the humidity. Already withered pitchers or leaves can be cut off so that the plant invests its energy in the growth of new leaves.
Propagate Pitcher Plant
The pitcher plant is propagated by cuttings. To do this, cut a 10 to 15 cm long shoot from the central stem. The cut is made between two leaves, the plant is "decapitated", so to speak. In order to reduce the transpiration surface, i.e. to curb water loss, all leaves should be cut back in half, except for the top two. The cutting is then planted in sphagnum moss or nutrient-poor and acidic substrate that must be kept moist at all times. A plastic bag over the pot increases humidity. Remove the bag regularly to avoid mold growth. After a few weeks, roots and new shoots should have formed and the cutting can be repotted. It is best to propagate only thriving pitcher plants during the growing season so that the mother plant can sprout again.
Since the pitcher plant never flowers in indoor culture, propagation via seeds is only possible with purchased seeds. The Nepenthes seeds should be fresh as germination capacity decreases quickly.
Are you fascinated by the carnivorous diet of Nepenthes? We introduce you to some other carnivorous houseplants.