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Carnivorous Plants/nepenthes pitcher in winter

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Expert: - 7/22/2009


Question
i know this seem a little to far but is it ok for a nepenthes to form a pitcher
during the winter

Answer
Hello Aaron,

Nepenthes are tropical plants, so they must be kept out of freezing conditions anyways. Nepenthes normally produce pitchers all year round unles they are kept in less than adequate light levels and photoperiods. If your Nepenthes does not pitcher in winter you might want to add some florescent shop lights of the 40 watt 3000 lumen intensity that come in 4 foot long banks of two lights. Add one or two of those and keep the plant in a good south facing window. Keep the florescent lights on for at least 12-14 hours a day over winter and about 8 inches from the plant's leaves. It should grow normally all winter.

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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