Once you're interested in carnivorous plants like the pitcher plant, you'll probably want to grow offshoots yourself. For pitcher plants (Nepenthes), it is best to grow new plants from cuttings. This is how it's done!
How can you successfully grow pitcher plant offshoots?
To grow pitcher plant offshoots, cut cuttings 10-15 cm long, insert them into nutrient-poor substrate in the growing pot and place it in a bright and warm place. Water regularly and if necessary use a plastic sheet to increase the humidity.
How to take cuttings from the pitcher plant
- Cut cuttings 10 – 15 cm long
- Fill cultivation pots with nutrient-poor substrate
- Place shoot pieces into the substrate
- Place pots brightly and warmly
- water regularly or
- cover with plastic wrap
The pitcher plant has its growth phase in summer. Now is the best time to take cuttings. Use a clean, very sharp knife so that the cuttings do not fray and you do not transfer germs to the cuts.
Cut cuttings that are between 10 and 15 centimeters long.
Put the shoot pieces into prepared cultivation pots that are filled with nutrient-poor substrate.
Proper care of the offshoots
So that the cuttings root quickly, place them in a bright and warm place, but not in direct sunlight. Water regularly, but make sure that the substrate does not get too wet.
If you don't have a convenient location, cover the pot with the cuttings in a clear plastic bag. This will keep the humidity constant.
With proper care, the first tender roots will form on the cuttings within a few weeks. Now you can plant the cuttings in sufficiently large pots that are filled with substrate for carnivores.
Growing cuttings from seeds requires a lot of patience
To grow Nepenthes cuttings from seeds, you need a lot of experience in dealing with pitcher plants. It starts with the fact that seeds can only be obtained if you care for the plants outside or pollinate them yourself.
The seed must be completely fresh if it is to germinate. This means you must harvest the seed and sow it immediately.
It can take months for the seed to germinate. So you need a lot of patience if you want to grow cuttings from seeds.
Tip
Offshoots of the pitcher plant can also be grown from leaf cuttings. The leaves and stems are cut off and inserted into the substrate up to the lower edge of the leaf. However, this form of propagation of Nepenthes is not quite as successful as cuttings.
