Pitcher Plants Are Perfect for Indoor Insect Control—How to Grow Them Like a Pro
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Pitcher plants (Nepenthes spp.), also known as tropical pitcher plants or Asian pitcher plants, are colorful carnivorous plants that feed on insects by capturing them in cup-shaped structures that hang on tendrils from the main plant.
Pitcher plants can be grown outdoors year-round in tropical climates or indoors as houseplants in cooler climates. They grow best with lots of bright light, regular fertilizer or access to insects, and well-drained, soilless potting mix.
Common Name | Pitcher plant, tropical pitcher plant, Asian pitcher plant, monkey cups |
Botanical Name | Nepenthes spp. |
Family | Nepenthaceae |
Plant Type | Herbaceous, perennial |
Mature Size | 3 ft. long |
Sun Exposure | Partial |
Soil Type | Well-drained |
Soil pH | Acidic |
Hardiness Zones | 11-13 (USDA) |
Native Area | Australia, India, Madagascar, Southeast Asia |
Pitcher Plant Care
Here's how to care for pitcher plants in your home or garden.
Keep in a place with lots of bright, indirect light.
Plant in a well-drained potting mix of sphagnum moss and perlite.
Water with distilled water or rainwater to keep the soil evenly moist.
Feed your pitcher plant with prey or by applying a balanced fertilizer.
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Light
Whether kept indoors or outdoors, pitcher plants need lots of bright, indirect light. If you're keeping them as houseplants, that means a bright, sunny window.
Pitcher plants can handle a few hours of direct sunlight each day, such as from an east-facing window, but too much strong afternoon sunlight can damage the leaves. Outdoors, give plants a few hours of direct sunlight with dappled light the rest of the day.
Soil
Plant pitcher plants in a well-drained potting medium, but avoid using standard houseplant soil mixes on carnivorous plants. A combination of equal parts long-fibered sphagnum moss and perlite works well.
You can also add one part orchid bark to one part sphagnum moss and one part perlite, or use a premade mix specifically formulated for carnivorous plants like pitchers.
Water
Water pitcher plants with distilled water or rainwater rather than tap water, which contains chemicals and minerals pitcher plants can't tolerate.
Water the soil directly rather than adding water to the plant's pitchers. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy, and avoid letting the plant sit in water, which can cause root rot.
Temperature and Humidity
Pitcher plants from tropical regions prefer temperatures in the 70s and 80s during the day and in the mid-60s at night. They can tolerate temperatures down to around 55°F or so, but exposure to temperatures in the 40s can kill the plant.
Pitcher plants require high humidity in the 70 to 80 percent range to consistently produce pitchers. Consider growing these plants in a large terrarium or near a humidifier to maintain sufficient humidity.
Fertilizer
Outdoor pitcher plants don't require added fertilizer, as they'll feed on insects captured in their pitchers. However, indoor pitcher plants require regular fertilizing in order to thrive and grow. There are a couple of different ways to fertilize indoor pitcher plants.
One is to spritz the foliage with a balanced, kelp-based liquid plant food, diluted to quarter-strength, once per month. Another is to use fertilizer pellets, dropping a single pellet in each pitcher when it first opens.
Types of Pitcher Plants
There are two main types of pitcher plants: highland species, which grow in cooler, high-elevation areas of the plant's native range, and lowland species, which can tolerate higher temperatures.
Nepenthes alata: Endemic to the Philippines, this lowland species grows large red pitchers and is ideal for first-time growers.
Nepenthes ventricosa: Another beginner-friendly pitcher plant, this highland species is known for hourglass-shaped red cups with scalloped openings.
Nepenthes 'Lady Luck': This hardy hybrid of Nepenthes ventricosa and Nepenthes ampullaria adapts easily to a range of growing conditions.
Nepenthes sanguinea: Gardeners enjoy this easy-growing pitcher plant for its large pitchers in shades ranging from orange to deep red.
Propagating Pitcher Plants
Pitcher plants can be propagated using stem cuttings. You'll have the best chance of success if you take cuttings when the mother plant is in active growth, but propagation can be done at any time of year. It's ideal to take a tip cutting from a climbing stem of a plant that's already developed a basal rosette.
Before you begin, you'll need a healthy, mature pitcher plant, a small plant pot, growing medium that's a blend of one part sphagnum moss and one part perlite, a clear plastic bag, a fresh razor blade or utility knife with a fresh blade, and water. Here's how to propagate pitcher plants.
Moisten the growing medium and allow it to drain so that it's moist but not soggy.
Identify the climbing stem of the plant. Take a tip cutting with at least 3 leaves, making the cut with the razor blade under water to keep air out of the cutting's veins. Remove the bottom leaf from the cutting.
Still under water, carefully slit the cut end of the stem in half, about half an inch from the end of the stem. Insert a small piece of sphagnum moss between the two cut sections of the stem to keep them separated.
Fill the plant pot with growing medium. Stick the cutting into the pot with the bottom node below the surface of the growing medium.
Place the entire pot in the plastic bag and seal it to hold in humidity. Keep the cutting in a warm place with bright, indirect light but out of direct sunlight.
Depending on the species, pitcher plant cuttings can take up to a year to establish, but as long as foliage is still green, they are viable. When you see new leaf growth, you'll know that the cutting has rooted. Pot it up and care for it as usual.
Potting and Repotting Pitcher Plant
Pitcher plants should be repotted every two to three years, but your plant may show signs that it's time to repot before then.
Keep an eye out for roots growing out of the holes in the bottom of the pot, issues with your growing medium holding too little or too much water, or rotten roots. You'll also want to consider repotting to help manage pest issues.
Plan to repot your pitcher plant with fresh growing medium in spring or early summer for best results. Choose a pot that's just one or two inches larger in diameter than the previous pot. Avoid terracotta pots, which can wick away moisture too quickly and dry out the growing medium.
Overwintering
If your pitcher plant grows indoors year-round, there's no need to worry about overwintering. If you live in a temperate climate and keep your plant outside all winter, you'll want to debug your plant before bringing it inside.
Choose the brightest possible spot indoors for your pitcher plant, and consider using a terrarium, aquarium, or grow tent and grow lights to add necessary humidity and light during the dark, cold months.
Common Pests & Plant Diseases
Pitcher plants can fall prey to common houseplant pests like aphids, mealybugs, scale, thrips, and spider mites.
They can also be affected by fungal diseases like root rot, which is caused by overwatering, and leaf spot. Examine your plant regularly for signs of pests or disease symptoms and treat it quickly if any issues arise.
Common Problems With Pitcher Plant
Leaves Turning Yellow
All pitcher plant leaves will gradually yellow before turning brown and dropping off as they age. However, many yellow leaves at once can indicate an issue like overwatering or insufficient nutrients.
Pitchers Turning Brown
Similarly, each of your pitcher plant's pitchers will eventually turn brown and drop off naturally as they age. Widespread browning of pitchers could be due to larger issues, like a lack of humidity or inadequate watering.
Not Making Pitchers
If your pitcher plant isn't growing pitchers but looks otherwise healthy, its environmental conditions may be the cause. Not enough light or low humidity could be causing this issue. It's important to note that pitcher plants are less likely to produce pitchers during certain phases of their life cycle, such as flowering or producing a climbing stem, and fewer pitchers during that time isn't something to worry about.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cut the dead pitchers off my pitcher plant?
Yes. It's a good idea to wait until pitchers are completely dead before cutting the tendril off at the leaf tip.
Can pitcher plants survive without insects?
Yes. Indoor pitcher plants can survive if they're given adequate nutrients in the form of liquid spray or pellet fertilizer.
How often should you water pitcher plants?
Watering frequency for pitcher plants depends on your plant's individual conditions, not a set schedule. Check its growing medium a few times a week for moisture, and water when the medium has just begun to dry out.
Read the original article on The Spruce.
