Expert: Christopher Littrell - 9/13/2009

Question
how do you clone nepenthes plant

Answer
Hello TC,

Cloning would be a bit more involved than simple cuttings. I think you are seeking information about making cuttings from the stems of Nepenthes, so that is the procedure I will explain.

Ensure that you first have a well developed plant with long vines up to 2 or more feet in length. Clip off the stems about half-way between leaves and at a slight diagonal angle. Make sure to take about 8-12 inches of vine per cutting. Clip off the bottom leaves to provide about 4 inches of root growing surface to place in an opaque vase full of distilled or reverse osmosis water. Clip off any pitchers and keep any green leaves on each section of vine. You would want at least 2-4 leaves to provide photosynthesis for the vine while it grows roots. It may take one to three months or even longer to see roots. The vine itself along with the old leaves might simply dry up and brown, but usually a green bud will begin forming above one of the leaves and it will begin growing a new vine from that growth node. After you notice some thin, dark brown roots forming on lower vine in the vase of water you can take the vine out and plant it in some moist Nepenthes mix and just let it take off. It may take it some time, but it will grow out and vine into a new plant. Each species of Nepenthes will have its own excentricities, so may or may not take to cuttings easily. The results I provided would be typical of an easy growing species like a N. sanguinea.

Christopher