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Carnivorous Plants/Can I grow N. Rajah?

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Expert: - 6/19/2010


Question
Hi Christopher,

Just want to ask if I can grow N.Rajah without low night time temperatures? The night time temperature drop in my area is only 30 Celsius and Day time temp of 34 Celsius. Can I employ the technique of acclimating an N.Rajah to get used to my area where I live and making it a tough N.Rajah fitted for urban temps?

Thanks much,
Gad

Answer
Hello Gad,

N. rajah is one of the few Nepenthes that is difficult to grow outside of its natural area because it simply does not acclimate well. It needs high humidity and temperature changes to survive. I would suggest growing some of the less demanding Nepenthes first until you are able to obtain the equipment and environment for keeping a N. rajah in its own microclimate.

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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