Question

Garden window   QUESTION: Hey guys- I was wondering if you had any thoughts about using a humidifier (either cold or warm mist, I currently have a cold one) to increase the humidity in the general area of my south-facing garden window in order to grow lowland Nepenthes.

I would really, REALLY love to successfully (see below about my failed attempt :P) add a N. bicalcarata to my collection, but would like to avoid having to A) find a terrarium and B) have the bical grow out of it in an all-too-rapid fashion and/or C) have the bical end up with a nasty fungal infection and croak on me anyways. Would a humidifier work to give enough humidity, or would it just be trouble or ineffective?

Thanks!

Failed bical attempt: I just moved a few months ago (Tacoma, WA), and my ventrata and ventricosa Nepenthes seem to be adjusting happily (starting to produce some more pitchers again, yay!) and I tried growing a N. bicalcarata in the same spot, knowing that it would need more humidity than my other Nepenthes... First I tried misting it gently with some purified water a couple to several times a day, then housing it in a glass lemonade pitcher when it still seemed intent on declining (pitchers drying out, leaves starting to turn brown/black) but to no avail. The open-top glass pitcher seemed to increase the humidity some and slow the decline of the little (2-3") bical, but the poor little thing apparently didn't have a chance.

ANSWER: Hi Kristina,

Ultrasonic humidifiers are the easiest to use and would function well in your garden window.  However, in trying to grow Nepenthes bicalcurata temperatures are more important than humidity.  We had some bicalcs in our greenhouse a couple years ago and they died during he winter.  It was plenty humid, but temperatures were in the 50's and 60's.  With bicalcurata you need daytime temps in the 80's and 90's and not below 70 at night.  If you have that first, then elevate the humidity some, you should see good results.  If they are happy, they grow quite quickly.


Good Growing!

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Ahhh- good to know! That leads me to a second question then- I read somewhere that in order to keep temps up for particular plants, one could use a pad heater (like ones used to heat a terrarium for reptiles) underneath the select pots to keep them toastier. Would that actually work, or just roast the roots?

P.S. I am SO buying the Nepenthes DVD when it comes out in February!

Answer
Hi Kristina,

Several different types of under tray or bench heaters are available.  I haven't personally tried them with lowland Nepenthes, but it could definitely help.  Just be sure to use units made for plants and follow the manufacturers directions.  If you used other types they might be too warm.  Let us know how it works.


Good Growing!

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