Got this lil guy at a plant giveaway with just the one bitty pitcher, now working on 3 new pitchers! So proud c:
I saw the water level. Don’t. Contrary to other carnivorous plants, Nepentes dislike having wet feet constantly.
They grow more similar to orchids. Airy, hydrated, but not soggy or waterlogged soil with enough drainage and air.
They even enjoy a super small dose of fertilizer once in a while to encourage foliar growth, but they’ll stop growing pitchers doing that.
Also keep the pitchers away from the ground, or they’ll rot.
Fun fact: Nepenthes is entirely unrelated to American pitcher plants, and in fact both of these are entirely unrelated to the Australian pitcher plants, Cephalotus. Pitcher carnivory has evolved independently at least three times, and arguably more.
Nepenthes, Nepenthaceae, Caryophyllales (cactus order)
Sarracenia, Sarraceniaceae, Lamiales (mint order)
Cephalotus, Cephalotaceae, Oxalidales (oxalis/sourgrass order)It’s so cute! Look at the little baby pitcher.