I first visited Christian Klein’s fantastic carnivorous plant nursery back in 2017. As well as giving me a full tour of his greenhouses, Christian was kind enough to sit and chat about his experiences growing these plants for a feature which I published here on the blog. If you’re not familiar with Christian and his plants, I recommend reading that article first .
Last week I returned to Merzig and took the opportunity to visit Christian again. Despite it being so early in the season, his Nepenthes and other tropical plants were all looking great, as you’ll see below. Species and hybrid names are identified in the captions (including some very exciting crosses Christian has coming up).
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01. The doorway into a tropical paradise 01. The doorway into a tropical paradise 02. Obligatory selfie with Christian, some N. veitchii visible in the background 02. Obligatory selfie with Christian, some N. veitchii visible in the background 03. This is my favourite form of one of my favourite species. Nepenthes veitchii Candy 03. This is my favourite form of one of my favourite species. Nepenthes veitchii... 04. Christian explained that last year was very special, since he had both male and female candy striped N. veitchii in spike at the same time. Heres the male 04. Christian explained that last year was very special, since he had both male ... 05. This male plant is also the pollen parent in some of Christian's exciting crosses 05. This male plant is also the pollen parent in some of Christian's exciting cr... 06. and heres the female seed parent, an equally stunning specimen 06. and heres the female seed parent, an equally stunning specimen 07. Christian demonstrated how he pollinates the female plant 07. Christian demonstrated how he pollinates the female plant 08. Christian has some truly fantastic crosses involving N. veitchii Candy in the pipeline. look out for these in due course 08. Christian has some truly fantastic crosses involving N. veitchii Candy in th... 09. A peek under the benches, which are illuminated by fluorescent tubes. As anyone who has visited Christian will know, he makes very good use of every inch of space 09. A peek under the benches, which are illuminated by fluorescent tubes. As any... 10. The tops of the benches are similarly filled to the brim 10. The tops of the benches are similarly filled to the brim 11. Under the benches I spotted this Nepenthes inermis. Like Christian, I have found this to be one of my fastest growing species 11. Under the benches I spotted this Nepenthes inermis. Like Christian, I have f... 12. Drosera and Utricularia bisquamata growing alongside the Nepenthes 12. Drosera and Utricularia bisquamata growing alongside the Nepenthes 13. Christian has hundreds of seedlings for his distributors. While focusing on species seed production, he also creates fantastic hybrids 13. Christian has hundreds of seedlings for his distributors. While focusing on ... 14. Exciting crosses on the benches including N. robcantleyi x hamata, N. lowii x veitchii Candy, N. veitchii x trusmadiensis, and several others 14. Exciting crosses on the benches including N. robcantleyi x hamata, N. lowii ... 15. I think this was N. edwardsiana x tenuis. Cool plant 15. I think this was N. edwardsiana x tenuis. Cool plant 16. This is Andreas Wistubas cross, Nepenthes undulatifolia x hamata 16. This is Andreas Wistubas cross, Nepenthes undulatifolia x hamata 17. Christian has a number of plants grown from wild seed, and unsurprisingly, not all turn out as expected. I think this was supposed to be N. dubia 17. Christian has a number of plants grown from wild seed, and unsurprisingly, n... 18. Another N. veitchii 18. Another N. veitchii 19. A nice N. veitchii with flared, copper-coloured peristome 19. A nice N. veitchii with flared, copper-coloured peristome 20. Christian's famous Nepenthes hurrelliana (or Nepenthes mollis, rather, as of just several days ago). Difficult to capture how stunning this plant is 20. Christian's famous Nepenthes hurrelliana (or Nepenthes mollis, rather, as of... 21. Nepenthes mollis peristome detail 21. Nepenthes mollis peristome detail 22. A pitcher on a different Nepenthes mollis specimen, this one with a fantastic elongated neck 22. A pitcher on a different Nepenthes mollis specimen, this one with a fantasti... 23. Nepenthes spathulata x edwardsiana, an interesting cross 23. Nepenthes spathulata x edwardsiana, an interesting cross 24. The unmistakable Nepenthes robcantleyi 24. The unmistakable Nepenthes robcantleyi 25. Nepenthes robcantleyi peristome detail 25. Nepenthes robcantleyi peristome detail 26. The beautiful Nepenthes burbidgeae 26. The beautiful Nepenthes burbidgeae 27. I love the cream and red peristome striping on this species, such a nice plant 27. I love the cream and red peristome striping on this species, such a nice pla... 28. Nepenthes trusmadiensis x truncata from Exotica 28. Nepenthes trusmadiensis x truncata from Exotica 29. Nepenthes reinwardtiana. I really like Neps with this kind of pale green interior, like some forms of N. lingulata, N. ramispina, N. mikei, etc 29. Nepenthes reinwardtiana. I really like Neps with this kind of pale green int... 30. Another Nepenthes veitchii 30. Another Nepenthes veitchii 31. Nepenthes campanulata x lowii 31. Nepenthes campanulata x lowii 32. I spotted this N. rajah hybrid growing amongst several others, but could not guess the other parent. Turns out its N. rajah x mira. Nice plant 32. I spotted this N. rajah hybrid growing amongst several others, but could not... 33. N. rajah x mira again. lovely pitcher shape 33. N. rajah x mira again. lovely pitcher shape 34. A spectacular pitcher on Nepenthes lowii x ephippiata 34. A spectacular pitcher on Nepenthes lowii x ephippiata 35. Nepenthes lowii x ephippiata again. Christian told me this plant is noticeably faster than either parent 35. Nepenthes lowii x ephippiata again. Christian told me this plant is noticeab... 36. Nepenthes veitchii x hurrelliana. I love this hybrid, and ended up buying a young plant from Christian before I left. 36. Nepenthes veitchii x hurrelliana. I love this hybrid, and ended up buying a ... 37. A toothy Nepenthes x trusmadiensis with great colour. 37. A toothy Nepenthes x trusmadiensis with great colour. 38. The fearsome mouth of N. x trusmadiensis 38. The fearsome mouth of N. x trusmadiensis 39. An upper pitcher of Nepenthes lowii 39. An upper pitcher of Nepenthes lowii 40. Another N. lowii upper. I really like this species, its pitchers are so tough they almost feel like wood 40. Another N. lowii upper. I really like this species, its pitchers are so toug... 41. A developing Nepenthes naga pitcher 41. A developing Nepenthes naga pitcher 42. N. naga, old and new 42. N. naga, old and new 43. The distinctive hairy stem of Nepenthes glandulifera 43. The distinctive hairy stem of Nepenthes glandulifera 44. Christian had a number of younger N. glandulifera too, and was hoping for a breeding pair 44. Christian had a number of younger N. glandulifera too, and was hoping for a ... 45. Nepenthes peltata. I should have got a photo of the tendril insertion and dark red underside of the leaves, but could easily have spent all day in Christian's greenhouse 45. Nepenthes peltata. I should have got a photo of the tendril insertion and da... 46. Nepenthes eymae, which had recently bloomed 46. Nepenthes eymae, which had recently bloomed 47. This is the plant Christian calls Nepenthes spec. Murud, and which has been the subject of much debate lately 47. This is the plant Christian calls Nepenthes spec. Murud, and which has been ... 48. A close-up of the pitcher on Nepenthes spec. Murud. I can certainly see the N. vogelii in it, but I am no taxonomist 48. A close-up of the pitcher on Nepenthes spec. Murud. I can certainly see the ... 49. Nepenthes sibuyanensis 49. Nepenthes sibuyanensis 50. A lower pitcher of Nepenthes hamata. These were growing right down by the ground and seemed to be growing happily with very little light 50. A lower pitcher of Nepenthes hamata. These were growing right down by the gr... 51. A very large N. hamata upper pitcher 51. A very large N. hamata upper pitcher 52. Christian told me this was the first Nepenthes he ever grew. I believe he said it was N. alata var. boschiana 52. Christian told me this was the first Nepenthes he ever grew. I believe he sa... 53. Lovely shape and that pale interior-throat which I really like 53. Lovely shape and that pale interior-throat which I really like 54. This was the only plant which Christian ordered from the latest Exotica Plants import. N. veitchii x burbidgeae. I also got a specimen from this cross. its a beautiful plant 54. This was the only plant which Christian ordered from the latest Exotica Plan... 55. Nepenthes platychila upper pitcher 55. Nepenthes platychila upper pitcher 56. Nepenthes adrianii 56. Nepenthes adrianii 57. Under the benches growing under lights, this was Nepenthes burkei. Great shape 57. Under the benches growing under lights, this was Nepenthes burkei. Great sha... 58. Nepenthes dubia 58. Nepenthes dubia 59. A young plant of the magnificient Nepenthes klossii from the recent Borneo Exotics release 59. A young plant of the magnificient Nepenthes klossii from the recent Borneo E... 60. This is Andreas Wistubas hugely popular cross, Nepenthes hamata x edwardsiana. As you can see, its pretty stunning. I have one coming in my Spring order, cant wait 60. This is Andreas Wistubas hugely popular cross, Nepenthes hamata x edwardsian... 61. Nepenthes edwardsiana, another of my favourite species 61. Nepenthes edwardsiana, another of my favourite species 62. A larger pitcher on Nepenthes edwardsiana 62. A larger pitcher on Nepenthes edwardsiana 63. Nepenthes boschiana 63. Nepenthes boschiana 64. Nepenthes boschiana. Lovely elongated pitchers 64. Nepenthes boschiana. Lovely elongated pitchers 65. I think this was Nepenthes tentaculata x campanulata 65. I think this was Nepenthes tentaculata x campanulata 66. Nepenthes truncata 66. Nepenthes truncata 67. In the lowland area, I spotted this tricolor form of Nepenthes ampullaria 67. In the lowland area, I spotted this tricolor form of Nepenthes ampullaria 68. Clumps of Nepenthes ampullaria tricolor growing on the thick stem 68. Clumps of Nepenthes ampullaria tricolor growing on the thick stem
Christian was kind enough to show us round his temperate nursery too. Enormous in comparison to his tropical nursery, this is where Christian grows his Sarracenia , Dionaea , Cephalotus , temperate Drosera and Pinguicula , along with various other genera. Most plants here were still dormant, although that very morning, Christian had spotted the first flower buds emerging from his Sarracenia .
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01. Christian's tropical greenhouse is next to his house, but his main nursery is down the road. Here he grows temperate carnivores in polytunnels, and also runs his primary business as a landscape gardener 01. Christian's tropical greenhouse is next to his house, but his main nursery i... 02. The first of Christian's polytunnels, absolutely filled with Dionaea, Sarracenia, temperate Pinguicula, Cephalotus, and more 02. The first of Christian's polytunnels, absolutely filled with Dionaea, Sarrac... 03. Freshly repotted Dionaea. Christian has literally hundreds of Venus flytrap cultivars 03. Freshly repotted Dionaea. Christian has literally hundreds of Venus flytrap ... 04. A Sarracenia leucophylla which had held its pitchers throughout winter 04. A Sarracenia leucophylla which had held its pitchers throughout winter 05. Carnivorous cabbages. the Sarracenia purpurea bench 05. Carnivorous cabbages. the Sarracenia purpurea bench 06. Some nice Sarracenia purpurea varieties 06. Some nice Sarracenia purpurea varieties 07. Hepatica japonica, one of Christian's non-carnivorous plants 07. Hepatica japonica, one of Christian's non-carnivorous plants 08. Pots of Cephalotus follicularis, the Albany pitcher plant 08. Pots of Cephalotus follicularis, the Albany pitcher plant 09. Cephalotus cultivars. This one had particularly large pitchers, and lacked any markings on the underside of the lid 09. Cephalotus cultivars. This one had particularly large pitchers, and lacked a... 10. This Cephalotus had pitchers around 2 inches in size, probably the biggest I have ever seen in person 10. This Cephalotus had pitchers around 2 inches in size, probably the biggest I... 11. Me and Christian looking over his Sarracenia benches 11. Me and Christian looking over his Sarracenia benches
Huge thanks to Christian for showing me round his collection.
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Thanks for reading, and happy growing!