Question
QUESTION: is there a reason why the lower and upper pitchers have tendrils from different positions ie back and front of the pitchers?

if the pitchers dries up should I cut them off? Will a leaf with a dried pitcher grow another new pitcher?

what are the best insects for pitcher to feed if i don't want to use fertilisers?

does filling a pitcher with some water help delay drying up and if so, how much water?

as plant grows bigger should I repot?
Thanks very much

ANSWER: Hello David,

As Nepenthes grow upper pitchers the tendrils tend to gravitate towards the back of the pitcher probably due to evolutionary adaptation. I would think that more flying insects would visit the upper pitcher, so the tendril is behind the opening and out of the way.

You can cut the pitchers off at the tendril after it has completely dried and browned to the tendril. The trap is still absorbing nitrogen and fluid until it completely dries up. Each leaf will only produce one pitcher in its lifetime, then die a few months after the pitcher.

Nepenthes will attract almost any nectar seeking insect along with spiders, mosquitoes, frogs, snakes, and small animals of all types. Presumably the pitcher seems to make a good perch or hiding hole for predators luring them in to be trapped as well. Anything small enough to drown and be submerged in the fluid completely is fine, but try to avoid non-insects as some animals have fat or are too large, harder for plants to digest, leading to rotting pitchers. The plant will trap its own prey for the most part, but it does not hurt to drop ants or flies in the pitchers every few weeks.

There are many different ideas about drying pitchers and filling them with water. I never add water to the pitchers and they last for months. The main concern is proper humidity adaptation. Nepenthes can take rather low humidity for most species if they are adapted slowly over several weeks to a place with a lower humidity properly with a plastic bag. Punch holes in the bag over time until it no longer holds in humidity and can be removed after a couple weeks. When people add water to the pitchers it is due to an attempt at staving off drying from low humidity. If the plant is properly acclimated to its new home it will lose pitchers at a normal rate regardless of how much water you add to them. The added water will not actually harm or hinder the plant, but the pitchers have lids to keep rain out, so I would avoid pouring water in them and just make sure they are adapted to your home.

Nepenthes do have rather small root systems for such large plants, but they do need a larger pot with time. Giving them more room can spur them to grow larger faster as it gives their roots room to grow and breath. A small Nepenthes of about 3-6 inches will be fine in a 4-5 inch pot for some time, but when it starts growing in pitchers of over 4 inches in height and overgrowing the edges of the pot, you should think about upgrading an inch or two in pot size. I have a 4 foot tall N. sanguinea with 9 inch pitchers in an 8 inch pot. I transplanted it to that pot when it was about a foot tall and it took off and really started growing.

Christopher

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

QUESTION: What is the best way of finding out the name of the species of Nepanthes. how does one know if it's a genuine species or a cross?
when people say it's a cross, does it mean the cross was created by man or it happened out there in the wild in nature?
In general is is correct to say that a cross is easier to grow than a pure strain?
what's the best book/resource to read more about features of different nepanthes and interesting facts about them
thanks again , lloking forwards i am.


Answer
Hello David,

You can look in commercial websites like Sarracenia Northwest and California Carnivores for pictures of various plants and try to identify the species, or at least a close approximation, of your plant. A cross would be more difficult to distinguish than a pure strain generally speaking as some traits of each parent would be expressed and others would not be, sometimes those expressions of traits are strongly biased towards one species or the other.

Crosses can occur both artificially and naturally. Many Nepenthes crosses are artificial hybrids.

Crosses usually express the strongest traits of both parents, so they are usually hardier in some ways or easier to grow.

Sarracenia Northwest has an Ebook that you can order that has information about a variety of carnivorous plants. A book was on sale a while back called "Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu" but it might be out of print by now. Sarracenia Northwest knew of some other books on that subject so you might send them that question and see what information they can give you.

Christopher