Plantiis

Truncata Pasian, a highland nepenthes developing colorful lower pitchers for the spring.
I feared the Florida weather would be too warm for this species, but it has thrived in the garden shade.

The Ventricosa is doing great and has sprouted a second node with great medium sized pitchers.

Thorelii x truncata is now big enough to moved over the the entrence and greet vistors!

Spring is almost here! The daily run of bringing the plants out for a couple of hours until the temperatures drop again at night is almost at an end. After a whole year of young pitchers, my tiny Heliamphora has finally started to produce adult pitchers!

So much patience is required as they are the slowest and most difficult of species to grow.

Close up of the nectar spoon as the foliage begins to open

Insects fall in by trying to reach the nectar spoons, lose footing and drown inside.

Spiky hairs that keep bugs inside once they fall in.

Side shot of the adult pitcher.

Top shot of the nectar spoons

These little guys are kept indoors inside a terrarium. Temperatures during the day are around 80 and at night around 70 degrees. Purchased from Cook’s

Lots of first time growers are often scared to find they might have killed their carnivorous plants, when in fact it’s simply gone into dormancy.

Drosera often die back, leaving behind a terrifying dead leafed corpse.
Not to worry! It will most likely regenerate new sprouts through a couple of the roots it has laid out.

So don’t throw away that planter full of plants playing possum, they be back up next season!

Vigorous hardy hybrid, the Hammerhead is a mix of psittacina x rubra alabamensis.
Noticeably over sized hood give this variety it’s name. Stocky, compact white textured foliage with slightly colored red veins. Easily attracts lots of hungry ants.

Tiny one inch green “Sun Pitcher”. Infamous for being difficult to grow, this species of carnivorous plants are slow growers. The characteristic nectar spoons have not yet formed. Growing one to full maturity takes about eight years. These plants require moderately cool temperatures at night with constant humidity.

I grow mine indoors, under a regular light bulb with plastic covers to keep in humidity. Purchased from Cooks at the beginning of the year. Only recommended for those who aren’t scared of “getting blood on their hands”.

The green ground pitchers of the Cephalotus. Great looking spiked peristome prevent bugs from getting out. These hardly tropical species are also tolerant of cold temperatures. Smaller then other pitcher type carnivores, these species are great for smaller planters.

Purchased from Sarracenia Northwest.