You should never plant pitcher plants in normal garden soil or potting soil. Such soils contain too many nutrients and also become too compacted. You can buy special carnivore soil at a hardware store or garden center. You can also mix substrate for Nepenthes yourself.
Which substrate is suitable for Nepenthes pitcher plants?
A loose, airy, nutrient-poor and slightly acidic substrate is ideal for Nepenthes pitcher plants. This can consist of a mixture of peat, Styrofoam balls, gravel, expanded clay, quartz sand and coconut fiber. Fertilizing sparingly with orchid fertilizer and regular repotting promote growth.
This is what the substrate for Nepenthes must be like
- Loose
- airy
- nutrient poor
- slightly sour
You can mix your own substrate from these materials
For all materials, it is important that they remain airy for as long as possible and do not stick together. They also have to be low in nutrients, as Nepenthes rots and dies if the nutrient supply is too high.
Peat, especially white peat, is suitable as a basis. The substrate should consist of at least half peat. To ensure sufficient loosening, you can mix in small Styrofoam balls.
Since pitcher plants require adequate moisture, water-storing materials should also be added. Gravel, expanded clay, quartz sand and coconut fibers are suitable for this.
Sphagnum is a controversial substrate
Sphagnum is the technical term for peat moss. It is often available dried from specialist retailers. Some experts swear by simply growing Nepenthes on sphagnum. However, peat moss must not be mixed with peat as the substrate will then stick together too quickly.
To grow Nepenthes on peat moss, you should definitely create a drainage layer in the pot so that the roots of the pitcher plant are not permanently in water.
Create drainage in the pot
The pitcher plant doesn't get waterlogged at all. Therefore, ensure there is a large drainage hole in the bottom of the pot. Place larger pebbles on top to prevent the hole from clogging.
Drainage in the pot is recommended. To do this, fill the lower part of the vessel with coarse pebbles or aquarium sand and only then fill the Nepenthes substrate.
Fertilize sparingly
Whatever substrate you use, be careful not to over-fertilize the pitcher plant. Rare, economical doses of orchid fertilizer (€15.00 on Amazon) are sufficient but not absolutely necessary.
You should also repot Nepenthes regularly and provide the plant with new substrate.
Tip
If mixing the carnivore soil is too much effort for you, simply use lightly fertilized orchid soil. It is usually cheaper than special earth. Just make sure that the material stays nice and loose.