Question
Curiously...what do you guys do to care for the ultrahighlanders?  I've been reading so many different methods that people use that I was wondering if you just have a greenhouse with proper climate control or is there something else?

Do you suggest any particular highland tactics for those of us with limited space?

Answer
Hi Dan,

There is no consensus on a single method for growing ultra highland Nepenthes.  The method you use should always be in relationship to your climate.  

At our nursery in Oregon, we are blessed with mild days and cool nights during the summer months.  This is ideal conditions for ultra highland Nepenthes, so we simply grow them in an unheated greenhouse during the summer months.  We use evaporative fans to the temperature about 80?85癋.  At night, the temperature naturally drops to 55癋.

If you live along the east coast or in a region where nighttime temperatures doesn't fall below 70癋 during the summer months, then you'll need to use a different tactic, such as using an air conditioner to bring the nighttime temperature down below 65癋.  

The main issue is getting it cool at night.  This is the most important issue for keeping the ultra highland Nepenthes alive.  If the nights are too warm, they will slow down in growth and shut down from exhaustion.

If you only have a few plants, you can grow your plants in a terrarium or on a windowsill.  (It's plenty humid along the east coast, so a terrarium isn't necessary if you live in that region of the country.)  

If you use a terrarium, place a block of ice in the terrarium at night.  Keep the ice approximately 4 inches from the plant, and don't allow it to touch the plant.  You can create a block of ice by using an empty milk carton.  Keep the ice in the carton so it'll be easy to remove in the morning.

If you keep your plant on a windowsill, place your plant in an open cooler with a block of ice.  Again, don't allow the ice to touch the plant.

While we haven't used this technique since our nights are already cool enough, many growers have reported great success and good pitcher development.  The only problem is when the plant gets too large, which will make this method cumbersome and difficult to execute.  In this case, you'll need to consider getting a greenhouse with the appropriate cooling mechanisms.

Regardless if you use the ice method or not, nearly all ultra highland Nepenthes require fairly bright light.  So always keep the lighting issue in mind.  

On another note, if your area isn't conducive to growing ultra highland Nepenthes (cool nights), consider growing lowland Nepenthes instead.  Because our nursery isn't equipped to deal with lowland Nepenthes, we choose not to grow them.  Instead we grow the highlands.  So consider your climate and what plants may naturally grow well in your climate.  This will make growing carnivorous plants a lot easier and more enjoyable.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin