Nepenthes Soil Recommendations
I received my first nepenthes from Carnivorous Plant Nursery and I want to make my own growing mix for them. @Merranda @Seymour do you have any recommendations for mixes that have been successful for you? These all appear to have very similar requirements so I wanted to pot them in a LARGE pot together to start. Is this a bad idea? Going to try indoor, glazed ceramic pot, drainage, saucer underneath, grow light and 3 hours of west sun (see photo with empty pot). The bog planter hanging above would water the nepenthes below. #cpclubthursday #Nepenthes
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Best Answer
@Amateurbotany Hi Rachael, firstly the key consideration is to use a substrate that is without minerals so I like to rinse my substrates to ensure all the mineral content is leeched out.
While some use coir, I personally don’t like it as it has a high salt content and I think it is inferior from other alternatives.
Check out my posts at #cpclubthursday on Nepenthes care however here are some that also discuss “soil” mixes. It’s a good idea to have permit as it helps aerate and retain water. So just use entirely sphagnum moss (again I would rinse it) . A mix of sphagnum moss, peat moss, perlite and even things like LECA are good options just so long as any substrate ensures there is moisture but it is not wet so it allows for drainage. Nepenthes differ from many CPs as it is not a big plant so should not just have its root constantly in water but never allow to dry out. I use live sphagnum moss moss mossoss as a substrate topping to increase humidity and provide some antibacterial protection.
Hope this helps. I would use at least 40% perlite but note that it tends to float so you can even use pumice as a topping as it tends to be heavier and also mop up any excess water so to avoid fungus gnats etc
Let me know if there are any other questions or can’t find the Nepenthes guides as the #cpclubthursday
https://redleafexotics.com/pages/nepenthes-care-guide
https://youtu.be/RAFj0Bru4XQ?si=lIci7drErtHQRKjV
https://redrocknursery.com.au/nepenthes/
https://tomscarnivores.com/resources/tropical-pitcher-plants-care-for-monkey-cups/
While some use coir, I personally don’t like it as it has a high salt content and I think it is inferior from other alternatives.
Check out my posts at #cpclubthursday on Nepenthes care however here are some that also discuss “soil” mixes. It’s a good idea to have permit as it helps aerate and retain water. So just use entirely sphagnum moss (again I would rinse it) . A mix of sphagnum moss, peat moss, perlite and even things like LECA are good options just so long as any substrate ensures there is moisture but it is not wet so it allows for drainage. Nepenthes differ from many CPs as it is not a big plant so should not just have its root constantly in water but never allow to dry out. I use live sphagnum moss moss mossoss as a substrate topping to increase humidity and provide some antibacterial protection.
Hope this helps. I would use at least 40% perlite but note that it tends to float so you can even use pumice as a topping as it tends to be heavier and also mop up any excess water so to avoid fungus gnats etc
Let me know if there are any other questions or can’t find the Nepenthes guides as the #cpclubthursday
https://redleafexotics.com/pages/nepenthes-care-guide
https://youtu.be/RAFj0Bru4XQ?si=lIci7drErtHQRKjV
https://redrocknursery.com.au/nepenthes/
https://tomscarnivores.com/resources/tropical-pitcher-plants-care-for-monkey-cups/
Hi! I have had great luck with pings and VFTs in a store-bought carnivorous plant mix. I will also say I would not put it under another plant to catch the water. Carnivorous plants can’t have any nutrients which would come from fertilizers and “regular” soil mix. I’m afraid that water coming from another pot would hurt more than help.
@RealSimpleMama the water would come from a carnivorous planter. Nepenthes, I have read from multiple sources, are also much more tolerant of minerals than other CPs. Tragically though…I don’t think the idea will work for other reasons.
@Amateurbotany that’s a good observation as yes Nepenthes are different from the bog CPs and can tolerate more mineral etc however I just give all my plants distilled water as I can always add mineral by fertilizer.
They really do have different needs eg not constant water but just keep moist not constant access to water. Which makes sense given tropical climate with rain storms etc and they grow on trees !
They really do have different needs eg not constant water but just keep moist not constant access to water. Which makes sense given tropical climate with rain storms etc and they grow on trees !
@Amateurbotany I have nepenthes, sundews and sarracenia all growing in the same "microclimate ", i think plants like to be with their buddies even though as we know Nepenthes are not bog plants and sundews are not tropical. Unlike what is the common belief. Keep us posted ! 👍😀
I watched all the videos you sent @Seymour !!!! I’m going to keep my Nepenthes in their nursery pot for a couple weeks to allow them to acclimate before adding additional stress! Thank you!!!!!
@Amateurbotany , @Seymour 100% has the best response, but I figured I would still add what I pot mine in. I keep all of my Nepenthes in a 2:1 mix of long fibered sphagnum moss & perlite. I normally just eyeball the mix and add as much perlite as I feel is needed, though. :) Seymour is like the expert on Nepenthes (or just CPs in general), easily one of the most knowledgeable people on here. 😄 I'm excited to see your Nepenthes grow in the following months ! Make sure to keep us all updated on it 😁
I am soooooo excited @Merranda !!!! We went to our local botanical garden in Dec and it was there I got to see nepenthes for the first time! Pitchers the size of my head! I had NO IDEA I could actually grow them myself! I’m so grateful to have found this app with #cpclubthursday and you and @Seymour and everyone else that has helped! I can’t wait to see how they do!!!!💜