Expert: Christopher Littrell - 10/10/2008

Question
QUESTION: As of now, a Sanguinea Blood Red is on its way to my house from Sarracenia Northwest.  I plan to put it on top of my TV.  I have other plants, so the room (about 50 degrees), along with the heat from the other lights, SHOULD be 60-70 degrees during the day and a minimum of 50 degrees at night.  I will have a light about 8 inches from the pot.  The bulb is fluorescent and will be one of those screw shaped, energy saver types.  This one will use about 27 watts and let out 150 watts.  Since the cold weather is fast approaching, I plan to put a gravel and water filled tray underneath the plant to increase the immediate humidity.  Is this growth plan okay?

ANSWER: Hello Talisha,

N. sanguinea require more light than that. If possible, place the plant in an east or south facing window or under 12000 lumens of florescent light. A single 27 watt compact florescent bulb barely produces a maximum of 2000 lumens from what I have seen. The 4 foot long 40 watt shop lights are ideal for carnivorous plant growth indoors. I use 4 tubes in a row in the twin mount shop light hoods and set up shelves in front of south facing windows so my plants, including my rapidly growing N. sanguinea, get some sunlight through the windows and as much florescent light as possible. Each tube from the 40 watt florescent shop lights will produce about 3000 lumens.

You home humidity should be fine. Sarracenia Northwest pre-adapts their plants to low humidity before shipping.

Christopher

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I found a 4 tube fluorescent grow light that gives off a total of 20,000 lumens.  Is that too much?

Answer
Hello Talisha,

No, 20,000 lumens is great. With that you will not need window light at all for your Nepenthes until it gets much larger. Sunlight outside would be about 40,000 to 50,000 lumens and Nepenthes are partial light plants, so they will do well with 20,000 lumens for about 12-14 hours a day. Expect to see pink and red mottling on the leaves and well developed red coloration on the pitchers with that lighting. I grew my Sarracenia Northwest baby N. sanguinea under 12,000 lumens at about 6 inches distance from the light. You will be able to place your plants about 6-8 inches from that light and just let them grow. If you place a cheap Christmas tree light timer, or any light timer you can find really, on the plug, you can set the light to whatever hours you like and just enjoy your plants.

Christopher