N. sanguuinea

[Wesley]

Can the N. sanguuinea succeed on the windowsill? I have no room for on in my terr. and was wondering if I should consider a different form of nep on the windowsill. I already have a ventricosa growing that I got from Lowes. Could you also tell me from experience what other neps. grow well on windowsills? Thanks

Wes

 

[D muscipula]

The jury is still out for the sanguinea that i bought a couple months ago.  It has reverted to smaller leaves, but looks like it may pitcher finally, and considering it had no pitchers when i got it, i guess that means it is doing well.  

My experience with ventricosa and alata (Luzon) on my windowsill (for the past year) is that they tend to go through a lot of ups and downs.  The ventricosa hasn't really gotten much bigger, but keeps on growing and pitchering (most of the time).  The short days right now are really doing a number on them, though.

I would conclude that if you're willing to accept "status quo" from your sanguinea, you can keep it on the windowsill.  If you want it to grow up to be a big, beautiful nepenthes, you may need additional light, humidity, etc.

PS Incidentally, you didn't say where in the world you plan on growing it on your windowsill. If you live in hawaii, you're probably all set.

 

[swords]

Wes,

As long as it gets a few hours of bright morning/early afternoon light (cooler light) and clean water, most non-specialist temperature Nepenthes should be able to live on your windowsill. However, unless your windows humidity is very high they may not, or will not (in my experience with a few of the "hardier" varieties) make pitchers. Even with several times daily misting and plenty of soil flushes.

My experience with N. sanguinea is that it seems a bit slow (but not too slow) to settle in and begin pitchering nicely. This MAY indicate tenderness and I don't know if I'd try it on a windowsill. I've had mine since the end of august and the "orange" form has made 4 leaves since arrival and now two nice 15 cm pitchers. The "red" form made two leaves and is inflating it's first pitcher (looks like it will be about 10-12 cm) but this is after about 3 months under a 400W metal halide lamp, 80% humidity and relatively stable intermediate temperatures of 75-85 days and 65-70 nights.

If you do end up trying it, keep us up to date on how it does!

 

[Tony Paroubek]

Success or not with Nepenthes on windowsills will depend nearly entirely on what your own personal growing conditions are like.  You must also be prepared that results will fluctuate during the year.  During times of low humidity you might not see pitchers for months at a time.  If you live in a very dry climate you might not ever see pitchers!  Or if they do develop they might not compare to those produced when conditions are more ideal.  

That being said...

Some Nepenthes are more tolerant.  N. sanguinea is a good choice with thick waxy leaves it can take drier climate and live.  Other durable choices might be the following:
N. truncata
N. alata
N. khasiana
N. ventricosa
N. maxima
There are a number of hybrids also:
N. Ventrata is tops

If you do decide to try some on windowsills, acclimate them slowly. It can be very stressful for a plant to go from a high moisture environment to a low one.

Tony

 

[Wesley]

Ok, here we go.

(1) My window is southeast facing( best window in the my entire house for plantsLOL)

(2) My N. ventricosa has produced three pitchers in the matter of a month and each pitcher has become progressivly(sp) bigger. My biggest opened this morning and is about 2 1/2 inches.

(3) I actually have my gracilis on the sill, but it is waiting to go into a terr. (it has pitchered but they were very wimpy LOL)

(4) My temps range from 60-70

(5) My humdity is around 70-80% so its not sticky but not dry.

(6) I live in western North Carolina.

Any other suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks

Wes

 

[The Griffin]

As far as windowsills, that is pretty darn good...

Joe

 

[tomas]

Hi! N. sanguinea is one hardy plant..( has been for me anyway).Could possibly be grown in the trunk of a ford torino with great success..

 

[Wesley]

Ok, that is an interesting way to put it.