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Carnivorous Plants/Considering Moving Nepenthes Outdoors for the Summer

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Expert: - 5/22/2009


Question
I have two Nepenthes plants that I have been growing indoors (near a south-facing window, and with fluorescent lighting) for several years.  They are two different species; I do not know which.  I was wondering if they might do better being outdoors for the summer.  (I have a number of flytraps and pitcher plants doing well out on my deck.)  However, the Nepenthes seem to be OK where they are, so I don't want to risk some adverse reaction.  Any advice?

Answer
Hello Robert,

Nepenthes require much less intense light than Venus Flytraps and Sarracenias. You can keep them in the south window if they are doing well there. If you decide to move them outside, make sure they are under some screening or large trees where they will get partial sun. Nepenthes can suffer leaf burn in intense ultraviolet light.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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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.

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