Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 10/1/2011

Question
Hallo,
I just bought my Nepenthes and I wanted to ask you: I did a research and I found that many spieces need partial light. I grow them in a terrarium under 2 fluorescent lights 40w. How can I provide them partial light? And when they are under sun?
Thank you

Answer
Hi Ulrich,

That is partial light.  Even compared to being in dappled light outside, fluorescent lights are not that strong, especially if you are using T-12 or T-8's which are standard tubes.  T-5's are a bit different, but you usually have to buy those from specialty dealers.  Even if your plants are within an inch or two of the tubes, they are most likely not getting too much light.  You sometimes just need to make sure they are not getting burned from heat.  T-8's can be a little warm, but T-12's are usually not too hot to the touch.  I've had Nepenthes sanguinea in contact with tubes before.

When I help educate new growers on growing carnivorous plants if their was just one thing I would want them to walk away with, it's that 95% of carnivorous plants are high-light, to full-sun plants.  Most problems people have stem from not understanding this.  Shade tolerant species are very few in number, and even those tend to need fairly bright indirect sun, or significant artificial light.  (Example; Mexican pinguicula)  Always err on the side of too much light since it's fairly easy to back off bright conditions than to increase the light if you don't have it.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com