I've been growing for over a year now and have noticed that ventrata seems to tolerate more abuse -- of every kind -- than any other nep. I'm not trying to abuse them. In Florida the humidity has gotten low (for us), it's gotten cold (for us), and it's baked the heck out of the plants (for anyone). In each situation the ventrata has survived, even continued to pitcher.
The major thing that separates the ventrata from the pack is that I haven't been able to provide as much protection from the elements to all the ventrata as everthing else. Two of the hanging baskets (one big plant, one basket with cuttings) have become attached to the porch -- nep vines and other vines. Still, with less protection, even the cuttings basket has grown. One has a little pitcher.
Other hybrids I bought last year seemed to survive our cold spells better also. Also, one alata "large upper peristome" seems the healthiest of all, pitchering on every new leaf. Is that it? Are the alatas (there are more than a few) tough?
I know ventricosa are pretty tough also. That was one of my starter plants.
In a nutshell, I've cooked ventrata in the mid-90s right in the middle of the afternoon, had them dry out when it began getting cold and windy, and had them covered with only a plastic garbage bag when it actually dipped below freezing for a brief period.
That's tough.
The major thing that separates the ventrata from the pack is that I haven't been able to provide as much protection from the elements to all the ventrata as everthing else. Two of the hanging baskets (one big plant, one basket with cuttings) have become attached to the porch -- nep vines and other vines. Still, with less protection, even the cuttings basket has grown. One has a little pitcher.
Other hybrids I bought last year seemed to survive our cold spells better also. Also, one alata "large upper peristome" seems the healthiest of all, pitchering on every new leaf. Is that it? Are the alatas (there are more than a few) tough?
I know ventricosa are pretty tough also. That was one of my starter plants.
In a nutshell, I've cooked ventrata in the mid-90s right in the middle of the afternoon, had them dry out when it began getting cold and windy, and had them covered with only a plastic garbage bag when it actually dipped below freezing for a brief period.
That's tough.