Expert: Christopher Littrell - 10/3/2008

Question
I need to repot a nepenthes from a 3" to a 4-6" pot. It is currently planted in live sphagnum moss (and has been for the past 2 years). I'd like to use a potting mix instead of sphagnum, but am concerned about disturbing the roots. Would the correct procedure be to remove the roots from the sphagnum or leave some sphagnum around the roots and just place it in the new potting soil?
Thanks,
Linda

Answer
Hello Linda,

Nepenthes are tolerant of repotting. The easiest way to repot a Nepenthes would be to clip the old pot off with shears or dig around the circumference of the pot until the entire root clump comes free from the pot with whatever soil is stuck to it. Just lift up with one hand under the clump of roots to hold the weight of the soil and place it in a few inches of distilled water while keeping the plant upright to keep from spilling any pitcher fluid. soaking the roots in distilled water will remove and soften old moss and soil and allow you to start fresh with new soil as much as possible.The plant will produce more pitcher fluid if it accidentally spills, but it can be a little messy.

I would suggest a mix of 1/1/1 of coconut husk, sphagnum peat moss, and orchid bark. Moisten the mix and pour some in a new pot and dig a hole large enough for the Nepenthes roots to point down all the way... crimping the roots is not a happy occasion for plants. Gently feed the roots down into the hole and fill it in with more mix as needed, firming as you go... gently. You will want to keep Nepenthes mix only slightly firmed, just enough to hold the plant upright. Nepenthes do not like their soil pressed down too firmly as that keeps air from their roots and keeps the soil from draining properly.

I would suggest repotting more often than once every two years. Nepenthes grow faster and are more healthy when their soil is changed out and their pot is upgraded to a larger size. I have a N. sanguinea that started off as a 3 inch plant in a 3 inch pot... now, almost two years later, it is 4 feet tall and sitting in an 8 inch pot. Of course, some Nepenthes are faster growing than others, but even the slow growers can benefit from yearly pot/soil changes.

The main things to worry a grower would be humidity drops, drastic temperature changes, and waterlogging. Repotting is not a problem as Nepenthes are actually quite tough plants so far as root disturbance is concerned.

Christopher