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Carnivorous Plants/Unknown Nepenthes
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QUESTION: I've had this Nep growing in my bathroom for over three years. Never knew the name. Can you identify it? Will happily send more pics if it will help. Thanks!
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ANSWER: Hi Ted,
This looks like a hybrid of Nepenthes ventricosa. The tubby appearance of the pitchers is classic with ventricosa, but they don't usually have spots, so it's more likely to be a hybrid than a species. Since Nepenthes hybrids can be complex, it's difficult to impossible to make an exact ID unless you know more about where the plant came from.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Great answer - I've already given feedback via the site. Thanks, Jeff!
One other quick question. I live in coastal southern California in what is identified as Sunset Zone 24, which I think roughly corresponds to USDA 10B. I might actually be doing a bit better than those Zone specs - I've had a recording thermometer outside my house in a protected area for the last three years, and the lowest reading so far has been 42F, highest 92F. Humidity varies widely, but is usually well above 60%. Right now, it is 77F and 65%.
My question: are there any Nepenthes that can grow outside year-round under these conditions? What are the two or three hardiest Neps? So far, I'm successfully growing Nep alata, Nep Miranda, and Nep ventricosa (the one you identified). Any of these good candidates for permanent outdoor life given my conditions?
Hi Ted,
All of those Nepenthes would do great. Plenty of intermediate and highland varieties would also. Many hybrids would find your conditions perfect. You have such a mild climate I would just experiment. The only plants that might have difficulty would be ultra-lowlanders such as N. bicalcurata (even that might do fine in the summer), and ultra-highlanders such as N. villosa, N. lowii etc...
Do be cautious in the winter, however, if temperatures are in the 40's. Plants can tolerate it, but it's a bit cool. Daytime temperatures would still need to be in the 70's.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 8 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Great answer, thanks. Would have appreciated a bit more specificity concerning the section of my question, "What are the two or three hardiest Neps?", but the rest was very good. | ||
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Sarracenia Northwest
Expertise
If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!
Experience
With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again.
Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.
No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.
Just the straight facts from guys who grow and propagate
thousands of carnivorous plants each year.
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