Question
I just received my nepenthes and a spoon leaf sundew yesterday and they arrived in great shape. I got a rock garden with a nepenthes ventricosa. I need to know how to go about watering this plant. Do I let the rock part sit in water, or water it from the top down using distilled water? We have a whole house water softener, but I don't think it's the best water for the plants. The plants are on a south facing window sill and they will be getting several hours of sunlight daily. I'm going to try to figure out how to put them outdoors later this spring and manage to keep the squirrels out of the pots! It's an uphill battle. Thanks for your help. My husband tells me that I can kill a silk plant! I intend to prove him wrong.

Answer
Hi Rochelle,

Sorry that you didn't instructions for the rock garden!  In any case, it's very easy.  Simply set your rock in a saucer of water.  Keep the water level no higher than an inch.  The rock is very light and porous, so it'll wick up the water like a sponge.  When the water dries up, just add more.

Water softeners add sodium to water to take out the calcium, so avoid using it on your plants of any type.  Instead, use bottled distilled water for both your sundew and pitcher plant.

Your south window is also perfect for these plants.  I grow Nepenthes and sundews in the south window of my home, and they flourish!

I'd avoid setting your plants outdoors, even for the summer.  Your plants will need several weeks to adjust to the harsher conditions outdoors.  Your home is a relatively stable environment, but the outdoors has larger temperature and humidity swings.  As long as they grow well in your home, just keep them there.  

Good growing!
Jacob Farin