Nepenthes alata is a highland pitcher plant. Caring for this variety is not easy as temperatures need to be reduced at night and in winter. The humidity does not have to be as high as with other types of pitcher plants. How to properly care for Nepenthes alata.
How do I properly care for a Nepenthes alata?
When caring for Nepenthes alata, you should maintain temperatures between 20-30 degrees during the day and 10-16 degrees at night, keep the substrate always moist, water with lime-free water and let the plant use insects and substrate nutrients alone. Repotting, cutting or additional fertilization is not absolutely necessary.
What temperatures are ideal?
Nepenthes alata thrives best at temperatures between 20 and 30 degrees. At night the temperatures must be reduced and should be between 10 and 16 degrees.
How do you water Nepenthes alata?
The substrate must never dry out completely. Only use rainwater, distilled water or boiled tap water for watering. Pitcher plants cannot tolerate calcareous water.
Does Nepenthes alata need to be fertilized?
The plant feeds itself from insects and from the plant substrate. Additional fertilization is not necessary, even in winter. During the summer, Nepenthes stores excess nutrients in its leaves.
Is feeding the pitcher plant necessary?
You don't necessarily have to feed Nepenthes. Even if few insects are available, the plant receives sufficient nutrients from the planting substrate.
Are you allowed to prune Nepenthes alata?
If the plant gets too big, you can shorten it. But this is not necessary.
Cut dry cans when they are completely dry.
When and how is Nepenthes alata repotted?
- Repotting in summer if the pot is too small
- choose just a little larger pot
- leave old substrate on the plant
When repotting, leave the old substrate attached to the roots. Then the Nepenthes will find it easier to get used to it.
Care for Nepenthes alata hanging or standing?
Nepenthes really comes into its own hanging in a wire basket (€35.00 at Amazon). This makes it easier to regulate the water supply. In addition, some plants grow very large pitchers.
What diseases can occur?
Diseases only occur due to care errors and unfavorable locations. If the plant does not form pitchers, it is too dark.
Waterlogging can cause root rot.
How is Nepenthes alata overwintered?
During the winter months, reducing temperatures at night is particularly important. In addition, the water supply must be restricted during winter rest.
Tip
In addition to the characteristic pitchers, pitcher plants develop rather inconspicuous flowers that bloom from March to September. The male flowers give off an unpleasant smell that attracts many insects.
