Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I live in Malaysia(tropical climate) and i'm planning on growing some highland nepenthes.Since i'm growing a few lowland nepenthes and no highland, i need to know how do i grow these plants:
N.Talangensis
N.Macfarlanei
N.Lowii
N.Sibuyanensis
How can i grow them without a terrarium or anything else but just in my balcony.I'm going to buy these nepenthes so i don't want them to die when i buy them.Can you tell me which of these nepenthes can tolerate my place.What means by 'typical highland' nepenthes.

ANSWER: Hi Ali,

The term "typical highland" refers to the nighttime temperatures.  Highland Nepenthes prefer cool nights, generally below 65癋 (18癈).  So these plants can tolerate warm days, but they need cool nights.  Without it, they tend to produce fewer pitchers and smaller leaves.  If the nights are too warm, they sometimes whither away.

However, the term highland is very arbitrary and refers to regions above 1,000 meters.  Plants that are closer to the 1,000 meter boundary doesn't necessarily require cool nights.  This is the case with N. macfarlanei.  You can actually grow this plant similarly as a lowland.  It prefers slightly cooler nights than typical lowland plants, but not as cool as highland plants that come from higher up in the mountains.

This is the case with the other species you've listed.  They originate at much higher elevations, so they definitely grow better if you are able to provide cool nights.

For this reason, you may be better off growing lowland Nepenthes if you live in lower elevations, such as in Kuala Lumpur.  If you live along a mountainside, then you may find it easier growing highland Nepenthes.

At our nursery in the United States, we naturally have cool nights, even during the summer months.  Because of this, we grow predominantly highland species.  We will occasionally grow lowland species, but they just don't grow well for us.  Our conditions are not suitable for lowland species.

So don't worry if you don't have the right conditions for highland plants.  Instead grow plants that are best suited to your conditions.  You'll have an easier time and much better results.

For more information about growing Nepenthes, read our care sheets online:
http://www.cobraplant.com

Good growing!
Jacob Farin


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

QUESTION: It's about 15 to 18 celsius here.So can i grow the highland nepenthes.Should i mist them twice a day?

Answer
You can get by without misting.  I think Malaysia is plenty humid enough!  Besides, you'll have better results if you let you plants acclimate to your local humidity, which I suspect isn't significantly different than the plants' natural habitat.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin