Question
Question
I was wondering if i could grow a Heliamphora (or cephalotus) on my window sill. I get about 2 hours of direct sunlight and bright indirect light for the rest of the day. (could I use a grow light?)

Answer
Hi Luca,

Well, this entirely depends on where you live.  If you happen to live in an area that has a similar climate to where these plants are native, then you could grow them in a windowsill.  Since you didn't provide any information about your location, I can't really comment about your natural climate.

Of the two species, Cephalotus would adapt the best as a houseplant for most homes.  However, you may need to provide a bit more sunlight.  We recommend 4-6 hours of direct sun.  During winter dormancy, you can decrease the lighting, but you'll definitely to increase it to the recommended intensity for the growing season.

Humidity is also a major issue for these plants, particularly Heliamphora.  It does not like dry air at all, so this plant grows best in a terrarium if you happen to live where the air gets dry.  Some growers in Hawaii have grown this species outdoors quite successfully.  They lived along the slopes of a volcano, so their climate was humid and mild.  

Please read our care sheets online:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

We include a lot of information that we simply can't convey in this format.  After reading the care sheets, if you need further assistance, I invite you to submit a follow-up question.  Please include your city and state (or country if you live outside the US) so that I can be more specific with my recommendations.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin
---------------------Follow up------------------------------

I live in New York city.If I put the H. on the window sill couldnt I mist it every day? Cold you make a H. adapted to low humidity? Also, what is the easiest H. to grow in general?

Answer
If you're new to growing carnivorous plants, I wouldn't recommend this plant at all.  It doesn't adapt well to low humidity and will need the confines of a terrarium in your region.  While it gets very humid in New York during the summer months, it's not very humid indoors because of the type of heating system most apartments have.  Misting raises the humidity slightly and only for a few minutes.  When the mist evaporates, the humidity drops to where it was before you misted.  The only way to keep the humidity up is to use a terrarium.  Make sure to use the recommended lighting as outlined in our care sheet.

Otherwise, I recommend that you use the Best Plants for You feature on our main website.  Just answer a few short questions and you'll get a list of plants best suited for your growing conditions.  All plants on the list are also recommended for first-time growers.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin