For the first time since the pandemic, I’ve been able to travel to Germany to see family! While I was here, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to pay Chris another visit in Merzig - it’s been 3 years since my last trip. You can see photos from my previous visits in 2017 and 2019 right here on my blog.
Much like here in the UK, Germany has suffered extreme heatwaves and drought over the summer. The water butts were empty and a few plants were showing signs of heat stress, but overall I was amazed at how great his Nepenthes looked. Chris’s greenhouse doesn’t have an evaporative cooler, and - like me - he uses shade cloth and misting/fogging to keep the temperatures down. When the mercury hits 40°C (104°F), it’s enough to test any greenhouse cooling system, but master grower Chris has managed to keep his plants looking great despite the sweltering heat.
If I were to make one observation, though, it would be that it’s time to take some cuttings! I remember thinking it was crowded last time, but man. The place is a jungle. I’m sure plenty of growers here in the UK would happily help Chris re-home any spare cuttings…
One last thing before I get to the photos - this is the first time I’ve toured a greenhouse with a toddler in tow. Compared to previous visits it wasn’t so easy to take photos and geek out for hours at a time about carnivorous plants, so you’ll have to forgive me if a couple of plants remain unidentified.
Enjoy - it feels great to be blogging again!
Click on any photo to zoom in. Use arrow keys or swipe to navigate.
01. "It"s a bit crowded in here - I need to get better at taking cuttings." Yes, Chris. I can help 01. "It"s a bit crowded in here - I need to get better at taking cuttings." Yes,... 02. The big one in the foreground in N. veitchii x campanulata 02. The big one in the foreground in N. veitchii x campanulata 03. Nepenthes seedlings and Helis under lights beneath every bench. Regular repotting and fertilizing prevents seedling stalling 03. Nepenthes seedlings and Helis under lights beneath every bench. Regular repo... 04. Even so, growth rates vary hugely, even within a grex - these are N. veitchii "striped" x "Yamada" and N. veitchii "Candy" x trusmadiensis 04. Even so, growth rates vary hugely, even within a grex - these are N. veitchi... 05. Nepenthes truncata, highland form 05. Nepenthes truncata, highland form 06. Nepenthes undulatifolia 06. Nepenthes undulatifolia 07. This was a green pitchered form of N. undulatifolia 07. This was a green pitchered form of N. undulatifolia 08. I think this was Heliamphora ionasi 08. I think this was Heliamphora ionasi 09. One of Chris"s many Nepenthes veitchii, this one with squat pitchers with striped peristome 09. One of Chris"s many Nepenthes veitchii, this one with squat pitchers with st... 10. This male was working on two inflorescences 10. This male was working on two inflorescences 11. Another N. veitchii. With many past greges now flowering, tracking breeding designations has become more complex 11. Another N. veitchii. With many past greges now flowering, tracking breeding ... 12. Another N. veitchii, this one needing a repot! 12. Another N. veitchii, this one needing a repot! 13. Moving under the benches, this N. veitchii is from his popular "Candy" x "Candy" grex. Heliamphora grow alongside, under the lights 13. Moving under the benches, this N. veitchii is from his popular "Candy" x "Ca... 14. Not so squat but fantastic body colouration 14. Not so squat but fantastic body colouration 15. A more elongated N. veitchii 15. A more elongated N. veitchii 16. I believe this one was N. veitchii "Bareo" x "Yamada" 16. I believe this one was N. veitchii "Bareo" x "Yamada" 17. And this may have been the male parent, N. veitchii "Yamada" 17. And this may have been the male parent, N. veitchii "Yamada" 18. A very lovely N. veitchii "Candy" x "Candy" 18. A very lovely N. veitchii "Candy" x "Candy" 19. The "Candy" x "Candy" grex showed excellent color and elongated form, contrasting with the squatter "Candy" x "Yamada" crosses 19. The "Candy" x "Candy" grex showed excellent color and elongated form, contra... 20. A basal pitcher on N. x trusmadiensis 20. A basal pitcher on N. x trusmadiensis 21. Nepenthes tenuis 21. Nepenthes tenuis 22. An aging upper pitcher on Nepenthes lowii 22. An aging upper pitcher on Nepenthes lowii 23. Nepenthes nigra 23. Nepenthes nigra 24. Nepenthes glandulifera, known for producing extremely tolerant hybrids like N. glandulifera x veitchii 24. Nepenthes glandulifera, known for producing extremely tolerant hybrids like ... 25. Nepenthes glandulifera again. This one was due another flower 25. Nepenthes glandulifera again. This one was due another flower 26. Nepenthes naga 26. Nepenthes naga 27. Nepenthes naga is named for the forked appendage under its lid ("naga" being the Indonesian word for dragon) 27. Nepenthes naga is named for the forked appendage under its lid ("naga" being... 28. Note the wider leaf shape on N. naga compared to N. bongso 28. Note the wider leaf shape on N. naga compared to N. bongso 29. Nepenthes lowii x ephippiata - a rare hybrid that Chris says used to sell for just €30! 29. Nepenthes lowii x ephippiata - a rare hybrid that Chris says used to sell fo... 30. Nepenthes lowii x ephippiata pitcher starting to produce exudiate 30. Nepenthes lowii x ephippiata pitcher starting to produce exudiate 31. Nepenthes eymae 31. Nepenthes eymae 32. Nepenthes veitchii "Candy" x "Yamada", I believe 32. Nepenthes veitchii "Candy" x "Yamada", I believe 33. Nepenthes lowii x truncata, a regular mouse-catcher in Chris"s greenhouse 33. Nepenthes lowii x truncata, a regular mouse-catcher in Chris"s greenhouse 34. Pretty sure this was Nepenthes deaniana, from the Philippines 34. Pretty sure this was Nepenthes deaniana, from the Philippines 35. Nepenthes ovata 35. Nepenthes ovata 36. An upper pitcher on Nepenthes hamata. Chris grows this one directly in the ground! 36. An upper pitcher on Nepenthes hamata. Chris grows this one directly in the g... 37. Tricky to photograph, but here are the lower N. hamata pitchers in the undergrowth 37. Tricky to photograph, but here are the lower N. hamata pitchers in the under... 38. Nepenthes jacquelineae hybrid (x flava maybe) 38. Nepenthes jacquelineae hybrid (x flava maybe) 39. Nepenthes veitchii x burbidgeae. These are gloriously striped when they first open 39. Nepenthes veitchii x burbidgeae. These are gloriously striped when they firs... 40. A spectacular N. x tiveyi. I hope to remake this cross between N. veitchii and N. maxima with my own plants one day 40. A spectacular N. x tiveyi. I hope to remake this cross between N. veitchii a... 41. Another form N. veitchii x maxima, or the reverse 41. Another form N. veitchii x maxima, or the reverse 42. Nepenthes ventricosa x trusmadiensis 42. Nepenthes ventricosa x trusmadiensis 43. Nepenthes spectabilis 43. Nepenthes spectabilis 44. Under the benches, some very exciting hybrids growing up: N. platychila x trusmadiensis, N. veitchii x boschiana, and more 44. Under the benches, some very exciting hybrids growing up: N. platychila x tr... 45. Nepenthes nebularum (supposedly) 45. Nepenthes nebularum (supposedly) 46. An upper pitcher on a very light form of N. boschiana 46. An upper pitcher on a very light form of N. boschiana 47. A fantastic hybrid, Nepenthes burbidgeae x lowii 47. A fantastic hybrid, Nepenthes burbidgeae x lowii 48. Nepenthes mollis, one of my favourites 48. Nepenthes mollis, one of my favourites 49. Nepenthes veitchii "Candy" x "Yamada" 49. Nepenthes veitchii "Candy" x "Yamada" 50. Nepenthes maxima x tenuis - an awesome cross! I"d like to grow this one myself one day 50. Nepenthes maxima x tenuis - an awesome cross! I"d like to grow this one myse... 51. Nepenthes maxima x tenuis again. Many crosses with N. tenuis seem to produce great hybrids 51. Nepenthes maxima x tenuis again. Many crosses with N. tenuis seem to produce... 52. A highland form of Nepenthes truncata 52. A highland form of Nepenthes truncata 53. Another form of N. truncata 53. Another form of N. truncata 54. Not carnivorous, but incredible all the same - blue flowers on Myrmecodia, an ant plant 54. Not carnivorous, but incredible all the same - blue flowers on Myrmecodia, a... 55. An entirely new grex of N. truncata in cultivation, this one from Malimumu, Philippines. Look at those red leaves 55. An entirely new grex of N. truncata in cultivation, this one from Malimumu, ... 56. Looking back through the highland house 56. Looking back through the highland house 57. Next, we enter the lowland room. Here"s N. ampullaria - these were old plants, and many of the stems were thicker than my fingers 57. Next, we enter the lowland room. Here"s N. ampullaria - these were old plant... 58. A lovely Nepenthes ampullaria 58. A lovely Nepenthes ampullaria 59. Nepenthes rafflesiana 59. Nepenthes rafflesiana 60. Nepenthes rafflesiana 60. Nepenthes rafflesiana 61. Nepenthes insignis, I believe 61. Nepenthes insignis, I believe 62. A bit later on in the day, we visited Chris"s new wooden greenhouse - imported from the UK and entirely for his personal collection, this was his latest hobby project 62. A bit later on in the day, we visited Chris"s new wooden greenhouse - import... 63. Brick beds held a lovely bog garden 63. Brick beds held a lovely bog garden 64. Sarracenia x moorei 64. Sarracenia x moorei 65. A lovely Sarracenia purpurea 65. A lovely Sarracenia purpurea 66. Sarracenia flava 66. Sarracenia flava 67. A mixture of Sarracenia hybrids were thriving alonside Drosera 67. A mixture of Sarracenia hybrids were thriving alonside Drosera 68. Cephalotus 68. Cephalotus 69. Utricularia 69. Utricularia 70. and Dionaea cultivars 70. and Dionaea cultivars
As always, thanks to Chris for showing me round his fantastic collection. I always come away feeling like I’ve learned so much.
Subscribe via email to be notified whenever I post articles on the blog.
Thanks for reading, and happy growing!