Expert: Christopher Littrell - 1/6/2012

Question
I just received a nepenthes aristolochioides that my husband ordered before he left for the army and I have little experience with carnivorous plants besides what he has taught me I dont have any access to my husband. Any ways question is it came potted but my husband left me a pot to repot it in and he told me is would come bare rooted and then to put it in superthrive and then pot. But it came potted instead and I dont know if I should just pot it without putting it in superthrive or if I should put it in superthrive and then repot it? please help I dont want anything to happen to this plant.

Answer
Hello Nathalie,

Superthrive is not necessary for Nepenthes, but it does decrease repotting stress and increases vigor.

You indicated that the plant is already potted. If the pot is larger then the leaf span of the plant, it should be fine for quite some time in that pot. If the plant is overgrowing the pot, you may consider repotting to a larger pot. Nepenthes roots are generally not extensive, but as the plant grows, it will need a slightly larger pot each year or so.

Repotting a Nepenthes is easy in that most species of Nepenthes do not seem to mind being disturbed and repotted. Just be careful about breaking the roots too much as they are a little brittle. Just press the sides of the present pot in your hands slightly to loosen the soil, turn the pot sideways, and ease the soil and plant out until the entire soil ball is in your hands. Place it in a bucket of water with the Superthrive if you wish. The old soil will fall away with a little pressing with your hands. Place new, moist sphagnum moss/perlite/orchid bark mix in a new pot and create a hole large enough for the plant's roots in the center of the pot of soil. Ease the plant in by directing the roots with your fingers, then gently fill the hole around the roots with soil until it is firmly held in place. Make sure not to press too hard on the soil around the plant. The moss should have the consistency of a sponge around the plant. It will rebound back when pressed down slightly with a finger.

Thats pretty much all there is to it,
Christopher