Question
nepenthes
Hello, I live in Portland, OR. I have a lot Sarracenia NW plants, but I have one nepenthes that I purchased at Portland Nursery. It wasn't labeled, and at the time no one could give me an ID. I've had it for a little over 6 months now and it has simply exploded with vertical growth. I have it hanging on my porch and it's practically crawling over the gutters. I am guessing it is a ventrata or an alata/ventricosa but am not completely positive. I have attached a picture. I also am curious, now that it has 10 or so new pitchers forming if I can cut off some of the shriveling old ones. the tops of the pitchers are dying, but the bottoms are intact. should I just cut the tops off, or would that leave too much exposed - trapping too many insects? Ever since I hung it outside for the summer it has been chock full of yellow jackets and earwigs.
AnswerHi Emily,
You are correct. This is Nepenthes x ventrata, but more specifically, it is known as deRoose's alata. The actual parentage is (N. alata x N. ventricosa)x N. alata. As you've discovered, it's a vigorous grower, not at all fussy.
Feel free to cut off any dead pitchers. If they have lots of dead insects in them leaving the bottom of the pitcher intact can have some benefit to the plant. It's more of a personal preference.
It looks like you found a perfect place outside on a patio for it. As the weather gets colder be sure to bring it in before the first frost. As winter progresses you'll see a decrease in pitcher production during the short days. They start making more in spring as the days get longer.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
