I'm growing the seeds from last year, although only 1 has survived my attempts to keep them alive.
this post was submitted on 03 Jul 2024
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I've never kept my nepenthe outside (never had a space for it outside) so I've never had to harden it. But I imagine it is like any other houseplant. Keep in the shade for a couple of weeks or so before bringing it to bright filtered (if not full) sun. Even if you do that, you may still scorch a leaf or so. It is what it is sometimes. The scorched leafs may just turn deep purple, but may not fall off.
I know there are some YouTube channels that talks about Nepenthes. I don't remember their names, but you can definitely find some better tips on hardening your Nepenthes.
I have actually recently gotten my Nepenthes back, but I don't have a sunny south facing window for it. So I'm a little afraid. It still has its flower attached, but the flower and the leafs are starting to brown
Some good news though for you, is that I've found Nepenthes, at least the ventricosa I believe I have, to be tougher than I originally thought. So I doubt you'll kill it immediately. Even if it isn't well taken care of, it will keep on for years. What I've found, and this is anecdotal based on one plant, is that even if it is unhappy and wants to shed its mortal coil, like some cruel joke it will make a new baby sucker and devote it's energy to growing the new sucker while the original stem stops growing (and may die). Then the cycle of plant samsara continues with the new stem over the next few years. I'm sure my Nepenthes would love to snuff it, but it just keeps fighting. I imagine if it were better taken care of then the suckers would form but the main stem wouldn't die.
For me, I think the problem is light and not using distilled water. And maybe nighttime temps as I will discuss below.
Some other pointers. There are two types of Nepenthes. Highland and lowland (some are a hybrid of the two types). Highland likes the temperature to be lower at nighttime, maybe around 50 or lower sixties. Imagine a habitat of a cool misty mountaintop in the jungle. Lowland plants like the hot temps day and night. Both like the high humidity.
I would mist mine occasionally, and also place it on top (not in) a tray of pebbles filled with water. It may not have actually increased the local humidity, but it made it easier to pretend.
Also as the stem gets longer the pitchers that form will look different, and the tendrils will want to wrap around objects to secure itself. These are the upper vs the lower pitchers.
Good luck with your Nepenthes! They're fun and weird little plants. I love them, and wish I had a better space for it.
Keep hexbear updated!
Thanks for the advice! That's a bummer your nepenthes isn't doing well, but from your description, it sounds like its a tough plant to kill
That's interesting about the upper and lower pitchers, I didn't know they would have different leaves. Its getting pretty tall already, at least 3-4inches since I got it. Im getting it a hanging basket for it, so hopefully the upper leaves will use the cords to stabilize. I'm excited about learning this plant's specific needs, and for sure I'll keep Hexbear updated.
Good luck to you and your nepenthes!