Question
hi! i have owned numerous kinds and species of carnivorous plants. the other day i bought 3 nepenthes x cochineas for about 20 bucks. They are being grown in sphagnum moss. I am living in NY near buffalo but more in the country.
I have tried doing research on the Internet but haven't been able to find any specific information on caring for these plants. I was wondering if you could give me some info. on growing it.
also, a couple of the pitchures have gotten burnt rings around them right where the pitchures are filled up with fluid inside. is this from to much sun?
any info. u give me will b much help! thanx!

Answer
Hi Stacey,

This particular hybrid is made up of lowland species, which means that this plant likes it warm and somewhat humid.  It can adapt as a houseplant, but you'll definitely see it change in its growth habits as the season changes.  It'll slow down in winter and perk up in summer.  

Grow this hybrid in a very sunny south window and always keep the soil moist.  Other than that, there's not much else to do.  Most Nepenthes will grow well as a houseplant.  While some growers will put lowland species in terrariums, you might not have the option if your plants are very large.  Otherwise, you can also grow the plant in a heated greenhouse.

When growing this plant as a houseplant, you'll have to resign to the fact that there will always be some sort of imperfection, such as burnt rings around the pitchers or spots on its leaves.  This is normal for the plant when growing it in less than ideal conditions (warm and humid, like a tropical rain forest).

The rings are also a type of fungal infection commonly called rust spots.  This occurs on Nepenthes because of the sugars secreted naturally by the plant.  There's not much you can do to reverse or prevent it from happening. It's one of those things that growers have to accept when growing a lowland Nepenthes in the continental United States.

For this reason, we don't grow much lowland species or hybrids.  We mostly stick with highland species that are much more adaptable to cooler nights.  In any case, I imagine that Buffalo, NY is fairly humid during the summer months, so you should see some wonderful pitchers on this plant later this summer.

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

Good growing!
Jacob Farin