Photos of the Collection: Late May

Nepenthes ventricosa x spectabilis

I neglected to upload these sooner, but here they are now. First up is my N. ventricosa x spectabilis. This little plant was slow to pitcher for me, but now that it is pitching, it has seen significant pitcher-size jumps. As you can see, the newest pitcher is nearly twice the size of the second newest. I am liking the colors on this plant, even if it is not the most exciting plant.

Nepenthes spectabilis x aristolochioides

On the level of exciting plants, N. spectabilis x aristolochioides is definite last year's winner. I don't know a single person who owns this plant who doesn't like it. As you can see, it pitchers beautifully, and has fairly substantial pitchers. It's definitely a winner.

Nepenthes dubia

My N. dubia has steadily put out one pitcher per month since I received it from Native Exotics. I've mentioned before that the pitchers usually have to be open for three or four days before they turn this gorgeous, photographic red. I'll be excited once this plant really starts taking off, and producing some upper pitchers, but, for now, I'm quite pleased with these lower red pitchers.

Nepenthes vogelii

The N. vogelii has been producing some great pitchers as well. To date, it has put out four, and lost none, so it's quite the nice plant. The coloration is absolutely phenomenal. I've noticed with this plant that its tendrils, at least for the lower pitchers, like to seek out the ground before pitchers begin to inflate. I've turned the plant around a bit and noticed this is a fairly consistent characteristic.

Nepenthes mirabilis var. globosa
a.k.a. Nepenthes 'Viking'

Finally, my N. 'Viking' has begun pitchering with some regularity. I mentioned last month that it had finally stopped its weird growth phase and moved into normal growth, and I'm very excited that it has put out a few pitchers since that time. Hopefully, it is a variant that colors up nicely.

Nepenthes 'St. Hedwig'

Every pitcher, my N. 'St. Hedwig' seems to get a little more interesting looking. I can't wait to see what it looks like when it fully matures. Already, spots are beginning to show under the peristome on the pitcher on the right. Definitely an exciting plant.

Nepenthes ampullaria

My Nepenthes ampullaria just keeps putting out basal pitchers. Currently, the plant is carrying a dozen pitchers in total, ten basals and two on the main stem. I can see why amps generally require larger pots, already this six-incher is getting crowded from the number of pitchers springing up from below ground.

Nepenthes ampullaria

One of the interesting things that I've noticed about pitchers on the main stem of the N. ampullaria is that they seem to open while still "squashed," i.e. not yet very rounded. Over time, the pitchers become more rounded, but they don't get quite the cute, roundness of the basal pitchers.

Nepenthes rafflesiana

If you've been paying attention to my collection since February, you'll have noticed the biggest growth spurt was put on by my Nepenthes rafflesiana. Its pitchers and leaves are easily three or four times as large as they were back then. (You can see an old, dead pitcher on the bottom right).

Nepenthes bicalcarata

Ah, my pride - Nepenthes bicalcarata. This pitcher is easily the size of a small child's fist. Hard to imagine that less than a year ago, I was thrilled when it was putting out a pitcher about as big as a thimble. The most particularly wicked thing about this plant is not just that it has fangs, but that its fangs actually appear to be sharp and bone-like protrusions from a gum line. Quite ferocious, indeed.

Nepenthes ventricosa

Nepenthes ventricosa isn't the most thrilling species, but mine has been putting on such a show of what a plant can do with a few months of quality care, that I just had to share it. Consistently, this plant puts out a pitcher on every leaf, and, consistently, its pitchers have been growing a little bigger each time. It's nice to see it doing so well.

Nepenthes gracilis

I bought a seedling off eBay that was erroneously labeled Nepenthes eustachya "red." Having recently discovered the mistake, I corrected the label (and the blog post), and am happily in possession of a young Nepenthes gracilis. As you can see, it is starting to color up. I'm hoping that it turns a nice red color, but, honestly, I'm just happy with it as it is now. It's quite a nice contrast to my other, more colorful plants.

Drosera adelae

A few plants besides Nepenthes were begging for a photo-shoot. Among them was this D. adelae. It's not supposed to be larger than normal, but it's about the same size (and color) as my "giant red" variant. I'm waiting to see if that differentiates itself more or not. In any case, it is certainly the most prolific plant. Each of those small offshoots will turn into a plant as large as the mother in a matter of two months or less.

Utricularia reniformis 'Enfant Terrible'

I've had this Utricularia reniformis for a month or so now and found it a reasonable grower in my conditions. (Honestly, this is what most terrestrial or epiphytic Utrics look like after a month or so in my conditions, except that most don't have foliage as tall as U. reniformis, so I was surprised when a couple fellow growers saw pictures on Instagram and emailed me to ask how I got it to grow so well. My trick is that I put it, like all my terrestrial Utrics, in a shallow pond of water with my lowland Neps, and ignore them. They love it).