Carnivorous Plants/Nepenthes

Advertisement

Expert: - 7/25/2008


Question
Hello, I am from Puerto Rico and is two weeks that I buy a Nepethes Ventrata and a Ventricosa, my question is if the pitcher grow in a time in expecifico during the year, and how long it takes in developing the pitcher until this in function. Thanks

Answer
Hello Francisco,

If I understand your questions correctly, you are asking if Nepenthes only produce pitchers at one time of the year and how long they take to develop.

1.  Nepenthes picher at all times of the year as long as they get enough light, nitrogen from trapped insects, clean, mineral free water, and stable humidity and temperature.

2.  Nepenthes pitchers vary in the time it takes for them to mature since there are over 100 species of Nepenthes that each have different growth patterns. The Nepenthes you have are quick growing and should produce new pitchers every 3-5 weeks from the time you see a new leaf unfurl. Each day, you will see a new pitcher grow slightly larger until it ballons and opens and produces coloration.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.