Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 9/4/2011

Question
Hello, I have a question to ask you. I've heard highland Nepenthes like high humidity and cold nights. I know you guys don't like terrariums/high humidity but I heard highlanders grow larger with that. I have a N. chaniana x veitchii and even on your description about the plant it says it likes high humidity. Any tips for this plant? I wouldn't mind a small terrarium if it helps this plant grow larger/faster. Right now I have it on a south window and giving it distilled water. Oh yeah and is long island tap water pure enough for CP's? It says long island has some of the purest water in the country

Answer
Hi Birch,

The main reason we try to steer people away from terrariums is that when people first start growing carnivorous plants, they've often heard that they need to grow them in environments like that.  It leads to fish bowls and all kinds of silly set-ups that are totally inappropriate, and people often choose plants like Venus flytraps that are totally inappropriate for terrariums.  All this leads to dead plants for beginners, and continues to reinforce the myth that carnivorous plants are too hard to grow.  People would think that strawberries and Lavender were too hard to grow too if they were trying to grow them that way.

However, when we are talking about true tropicals like Nepenthes, terrariums can be appropriate if set up properly.  Slightly elevating the humidity can work well for many of the ultra-highlanders.  A good simple set-up is an aquarium with a two-tube shoplight fixture on a timer, and a partial cover on the tank.  You want some ventilation.  This is called a greenhouse tank style terrarium where you just put pots into the tank.  Natural light is way too hard to use because of cp's high light requirements.  You'll cook them.

Here's were you find your water quality report:  http://www.wawnc.org/cm/index.php?option=com_weblinks&catid=30&Itemid=23  Look at the Total Dissolve Solids.  Your at 130 to 200 mg/l which is the same as parts per million (ppm).  That's about the same as our well water which is too hard.  You'll need to use rainwater or distilled water.

Good Growing!

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