Question
Hi! I am looking into Heliamphora and wanted to ask if I can keep a Heliamphora minor on my northwest facing window or should I put it in my living room where it is south to southwest pointing and get a lot of light. I don't like to use grow lights and I live in Hacienda Heights, CA. The average temps for summer is 85 and 60 F, but that is outside my house temps are 70-75 F and 60 F. Is this OK for the Heliamphora to be able to grow? I will put a bottle with some holes on top for ventilation and humidity.

Answer
Hi Brendon,

Those temperatures are really great for growing Heliamphora.  I would say you have a good chance of being successful.  You'll probably need the dome temporarily when you first receive your plant, but you could probably ease the plant out of it, especially if you live near the coast.  I would also recommend a double potting technique I've been using with D. regia and Cephalotus.  What you do is place the pot the Heliamphora is growing in, inside a larger ceramic pot that doesn't have drain holes. This outer pot is going to provide air space around the inner pot.  The outer pot acts as a water tray, but more important, a heat shield also.  This way the surface of the soil on the plants pot gets sun, but not the sides of the pot.  When you water, water just to runoff.  Don't fill the outer pot, or you'll kill your plant for sure.

Let us know how it goes.

Good Growing!

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