Question
Nepenthes
I'm new to carnivorous plants and I recently bought a nepenthes, sundew, and fly trap at Lowes. After two months they're doing well and I'm thinking of buying another nepenthes. I'm interested in the nepenthes truncata which you're site says is easy to grow and wonder if you would suggest it and what other nepenthes you might suggest. Secondly, since my venus flytrap didn't receive the proper dormancy period I was wondering if you think it will survive until the next dormancy period. It appears to be a fairly young fly trap and I heard on one site that the first couple dormancy aren't as important as they are later on. The plant is currently putting on new growth and I don't know if that means its doing well or that it's going to die soon from over exerting itself. Lastly the Nepenthes I bought was only labeled as a nepenthes. there was one pitcher on the plant but it was hanging upside down like the stem had been partially broken and then re healed so I just went ahead and cut it off. I took a picture and I was wondering if you could tell me what kind of nepenthes it is.
Thanks for the help.
AnswerHi Cecil,
Nepenthes truncata is definitely at the top of the list for good beginner plants. Other good ones would be N. sanguinea, N. x "Poi Dog" and N. ventricosa x inermis of the plants we currently have. Others I'd recommend include N. khasiana, N. alata, and hybrids of N. maxima such as N. x velvet and N. x miranda, and N. x ventrata. All of these adapt to household conditions well as windowsill plants. You just need to give them time and plenty of sun.
With your Venus flytrap, if it is currently growing, just keep it in a sunny window such as a West, or South window with a little water in it's tray. When danger of frost is past, go ahead and transplant it to a larger pot and move it outside. After that it will be able to stay outdoors, and get into it's normal seasonal cycle. For general flytrap care such as soil, light etc... visit: http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=7&chapter=1
Thanks for sending the picture. This is Nepenthes ventricosa. It's also an easy grower. As the pitchers get larger they become rich red tubby pitchers.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
