Expert: Christopher Littrell - 6/11/2009

Question
Hello Chris, I have three neps, ventrata,ventricosa and ramispina, and I am wondering how much direct sun they need, I have seen on the web quite a few times where people say they need a minimum of 3-4 hours of direct sun each day... What should I give them, I usually just give them very bright light all day and mist them3-4 times. Also, I live in Seattle, my humidity is 50-65, and the temps on warmer days are 70-85 in my apt. I have east and south windowsills so on sunny days I get sun until 3 0r 4 pm. I am looking to buy 2-3 more neps, other than what I have, can you give me 2-3 nep species that would do well where I live. On very hot days it can easily get to the high 80's in my apt. Thank you for your help......Scott Clark

Answer
Hello Scott,

You can place the Nepenthes in any window you have so long as they get several hours (3-4) of direct window sun each day with plenty of ambient light from the windows all day. If needed, you can add 40 watt florescent shop lights with cool white or true daylight tubes of 6000 to 12000 lumen intensity over the plants to give them some added light if they are having trouble producing pitchers and coloration. Nepenthes are generally partial light plants that live under large trees in rain forests. They get morning and afternoon direct sun and some light streaming in from between tree limbs all day. They do need bright, strong sunlight, but nowhere near the intensity that a Venus Flytrap needs. So long as your plants produce new pitchers consistently and develop normal species coloration they are doing well.

You can try N. sanguinea and N. truncata. I have both species and they are doing very well in similar conditions to your own. The N. sanguinea that I have had for about 2+ years is trying to outgrow my room.

Christopher