I've been growing a wide variety of carnivorous plants for over 2 decades.
I got my first Venus flytrap at age 10 and now have an entire greenhouse
full of carnivores.
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As with all plants, the key to successfully growing Nepenthes in cultivation is the ability to replicate the conditions of their natural habitat.
Most of the 170+ Nepenthes species are found in Southeast Asia - particularly Borneo, Sumatra, and the Philippines - and the genus ranges from highland montane plants to those inhabiting steamy lowland jungles. But their cross-fertile nature has resulted in countless unique hybrids, both in cultivation and in the wild.
This guide aims to help growers of Nepenthes estimate the requirements of specific plants. It comprises two tools: (1) a calculator which visualises the temperatures likely preferred by a given species or hybrid, and (2) an interactive list of every Nepenthes species, which can be sorted and filtered according to altitude and locale.
This is only an estimate - there are many other factors to
consider, particularly for hybrids. These include male & female parentage
(remember that Nepenthes are dioecious!) and whether either of the
parent species is particularly challenging to grow.
When looking at photos, please note that many species exhibit great variability both across their natural ranges and between their lower and upper pitchers,
so images will not always be representative.
If you’re in the UK, try Hampshire Carnivorous Plants. Matt Soper offers a brilliant selection of Nepenthes suitable for growers of all skill levels, as well as growing supplies like compost and pots.
If you’re in the United States, I can wholeheartedly recommend California Carnivores. They offer a fantastic range of Nepenthes species and hybrids suitable for growers of all abilities. You can also get 10% off your order with the code tomscarnivores.
Plants bought from specialist nurseries tend to be much stronger than those from hardware / DIY stores. You’ll also get better advice on successful cultivation, and you’ll be supporting a small business!
If you’re interested in learning about general Nepenthes cultivation, such as soil preferences, light levels, and water, I recommend you check out my Complete Guide to Tropical Pitcher Plants.
I’d also highly recommend the following resources:
The Savage Garden, by Peter D’Amato. In my opinion, this is the best introduction to carnivorous plants you can buy. Its chapters on Nepenthes are detailed and accessible and include some brilliant photography. Available on Amazon.
Nepenthes: The Tropical Pitcher Plants, Vols 1-3. This monograph by Stewart McPherson is essential reading for anyone with a serious interest in the genus. His beautiful hardbacks include photography and detailed descriptions of all known species. Available on the Redfern website.
Identify my Nepenthes. If you’re not sure what species you’ve got, you could try putting it into my Nepenthes Species Identifier. This is an AI-powered image recognition app which can identify many popular pitcher plant species.
