5 Most Common Mistakes When Growing Nepenthes

Hi plant lovers,
I wanted to share the 5 most common mistakes I see amongst Nepenthes growers. If you want your plants to thrive, avoid the following:
1: Overwatering
2: Using potting/garden soil
3. Feeding them human food
4. Low light
5: Low humidity
I hope this helps! If you have any questions, drop them below!
Thanks,
Dom
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Filmed and Edited by Brian Brigantti

[@robertchitty3603]

Insects, humidity, bright light, sounds exactly like my Florida backyard... Explains why mine grow so well!

[@Ind0Lee_K.O.]

My room is basically a greenhouse in Florida so I also don’t have to worry either

[@deeSK8er]

Hawaii too

[@kobaltocr6927]

Costa Rica

[@mistert2421]

Buffalo🤪

[@itzelpretzel]

"they will hate you and then they will die" made me chuckle, great educational and entertaining video :)

[@autisticguitar666]

"Nepenthes roots are very fine and brittle like the hair on my head" I felt that

[@redleafexotics4722]

Haha

[@ottodeacon303]

You all probably dont care but does anyone know a way to get back into an Instagram account? I somehow forgot the password. I would love any help you can offer me!

[@kaidendominic897]

@Otto Deacon instablaster =)

[@kermitthecommenter9620]

@@ottodeacon303 Can you still access the email you registered with?

[@fernandogomezcatalano3919]

Dom, you're the best! lol I can't believe they actually fed them human food. Keep posting cool vids! Cheers from Buenos Aires.

[@redleafexotics4722]

Thanks Fernando! More cool vids to come:) Cheers from Tennesee!

[@sydneysaenz4667]

Needed this, thank you 😊 just put some nepenthe in a terrarium and they are pushing out pitchers like crazy

[@redleafexotics4722]

Yay! I’m happy to hear it! Enjoy them💚 Thanks!

[@Jaxionisnum2]

The perfect balance of sass comedy and information Thank you for the tips💖

[@alyssasmith610]

Thank you so much for these tips!!! I'm correcting the soil immediately!

[@annepowell756]

This is the best video to give you the low down on how to look after these extraordinary plants. Will take all your advice on these plants as i have just purchased one. Thank you!

[@MsJaggy]

I am so glad I came across this video! I bought my first pitcher plant from a garden center today. It was sitting in water with VFT. So I went home and put it in with my VFT too. After seeing mistake #1, I immediately took it out of my homemade bog.

[@3Y3ECE]

Love videos like this. Pretty raw, straight forward info. Thanks for taking the b.s. out of it all!

[@redleafexotics4722]

Some times you have to get right to it! Ha Thank you!

[@d_d_d_d_]

WHO WAS FEEDING THESE HUMAN FOOD???

[@oscarrox]

Always helpful advice. I love your setting, so many wonderful healthy plants. Keep the videos coming please:)

[@cocobo1919]

Hey, the video's great! Very clear and informative. I've been growing VFTs, droseras and sarracenias for a while now, but just got my first nepenthes today. Glad to have people like you spreading the word on how to take care of them correctly :) Thanks man, have a good one!

[@ericrichardson9547]

You rocked this video man. Loved it. Lots of great advice. Definitely earned a subscriber today.

[@conrocha6031]

I like your presentation! It is very informative and well structured; your tone also helps to deliver the concepts. I just bought my first Nepenthes and Fly traps to grow in the Blue ridge mountains. A bit of a stretch in terms of the plants habitat, I know, but it is a decent climate. Anyway, thank you for all the help and God Bless you.

[@macopa12]

Thanks again for summarizing the care for nepenthes. Informative video.

[@Clayperday]

Amazing content and great energy as always! Starting a Nepenthes collection and you are my nr. 1 source of information

[@redleafexotics4722]

Thank you! You’re going to loooove them!

[@PaporiBBora]

wow...very informative...thanks

[@warwickschultz4591]

Just got my first 2 Nepenthes plants :) Got hybrids as i am a first time Nepenthes grower and cant wait to expand the collection. love the vids as you give the best advice and im sure they will thrive. lots of love from South Africa

[@redleafexotics4722]

Happy to hear this!:) It starts with a couple and then hundreds! Lol Thanks for the love and good luck with your Neps. Dom

[@valditravel]

Many thanks for this movie! I guess it saved my new nephentes!

[@carlarobinson5903]

Love this video, thank you, so very helpful!! I have a question. When, where and how do I remove dead pitchers?

[@donjuliohair]

Thanks for this video.

[@Drew_Hawk]

Got my first nepenthes! Excited to see what the years bring

[@craiginbatonrouge8161]

Hey Dominic, thank you for ‘schooling’ me in the fine art of raising Nepenthes , I had to stop the video and go empty the water out of the saucers of the three I just purchased… the sales lady at the nursery gave me 80% off because they were in such poor shape (I suspect they had been sitting in water) anyway I am learning thanks to people like you, take care my friend, Craig in Baton Rouge…

[@philswede]

Greetings from Sweden! Thank you for not having me killing my plant.

[@jyu3698]

I enjoyed this. Subscribed!

[@lorilinetimpac2612]

Luv it....I've killed lots of pitcher plant...now I believe my pitcher plant will now survive🙂🙂🙂

[@tironjr]

My Nepenthes are potted in Peat,Perlite and Quartz sand and they doing really good. My Gardener that I trust puts some Barks between it in his new Recipe but when I have to give my Nepenthes a new bigger Pot i will try just Dead Sphagnum Moos with Perlite like you do. What I can say is all of my Nepenthes have produced Pitchers in this Summer since I got them.

[@GarysTandAExotics]

Im trying to grow these in a mangrove monitor enclosure and this video right here is exactly what I needed.

[@danbirch8939]

Excellent advice! Great instructional! #6. Proper Temperatures/Day-Night swings. It can make or break your Nepenthes! Know what your specific plant needs.

[@redleafexotics4722]

Thanks Dan! Villosa in Florida... lol

[@TheOldestSoul]

Thanks, man. I think even somewhat experienced growers need to be reminded of a few of these from time to time!

[@redleafexotics4722]

That’s for sure! You’re welcome!

[@YnseSchaap]

I grow orchids and it took me a year to really understand what "evenly moist" is 😁 (I just got my first Nepenthes hybrid)

[@mrspotatohead8263]

Thank you for this advice. I just bought my first nepenthes from Bunnings (hardware store) it was sitting in water and groing in soil. Doesn't look amazing but it does have some pitchers on it. Hoping to follow your tips and amend its living situation, fingers crossed.

[@SleepingBooty]

ROFL who is giving their plant cheeseburgers rofl what? Lmao thanks for sharing, I needed this , this is my first plant ever and this was soooooo helpful

[@paulomelo1471]

Love your videos! help me a lot!

[@redleafexotics4722]

Thank you 🙂

[@hopegardens3057]

great content...thanks for sharing!

[@redleafexotics4722]

You’re welcome! Thanks Hope:) Dom

[@joannajeanperez9032]

Thank youso much for the tips👍I just got my first set of nephentis given by my son😊💖💖💖

[@Cagatron]

this is cool info i didnt find on internet

[@edwinchampeau8685]

Living in Southern Ontario Canada, the humidity in our house is at 30%, my one plant is 12” tall with one good pitcher and the other one not so good, but it has seven new leaves that might pop pitchers in the summer. I have 6” plant with four new leaves and one good pitcher and 4” plant with eight new leaves and no pitchers. Two summers ago I had them on the south side of e house and they’re getting burned leaves; so thank you on answering some questions that nobody else could answer like the indirect sun light.

[@msdanielleleegreaves]

Thank you!

[@Kyddoemiko13]

Most excellent tips My Nep. Singalana hasn't pitcher at all for over a year growing yes but no pitchers. I'm sure it a lack of humidity

[@davelindstrom4008]

GREAT vid bro should be helpful to all

[@mostlyorchids]

Im actually growing my Nepenthes around 40% humidity, but I do have it under bright grow lights like you said. I read that Nepenthes can tolerate up to 200 ppm water, and I have watered them a few times with approx 170 ppm nutrient solution, but I have stopped because I noticed chlorosis spots on the leaves (might have been from overwatering though now that im watching your video).

[@kellyharris8901]

Omg I freaking love you!!!! Your awesome!!!❤

[@MsSchwendy]

Just bought one for my high school environmental science classroom. Kids are going to love it! Thanks for helping me figure out how to take care of my new friend. I have orchid soil, what kind of pot?

[@gloriacanine4728]

Thank you for the 5 things to keep Nepenthes happy. I do have mine in potting soil but will change that ASAP. Where would you recommended getting sphagnum moss for a very large pot? I live in south Texts my plants live out side hanging in a tree. Thanks again, Gloria

[@shades_of_cool7178]

I give my little pitcher plant on my windowsill beta pellets and it loves it!

[@ElaineHorsley]

Love your videos, clear and concise! I have one that seems to be doing well but the bottom 5 inches or so at the base of the plant is brown and woody. However, the leaves are nice and there are pitchers. Should I worry about this or is it normal. There are two basal plants coming at the base so I would think it must be happy? All of the growth is hanging - not upright like yours.

[@afergie76]

Damn, he is gorgeous! I just bought my first pitcher plant.

[@Johno19691]

Cheers mate.

[@cadavercakes]

This video made me subscribe

[@sjoervanderploeg4340]

Peat works as well, mixed with some perlite and/or bark husks

[@waynecummins9713]

I feed mine with Very diluted Orchid food at 100ppm every other week With good results and lots of pictures. Thank you for a very informative video 👍🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧

[@redleafexotics4722]

Thanks Wayne. I’m going to do a fert video, but it’s so touchy. It doesn’t work the same I’m for everyone. It 100% works and a must for huge plants. You’re welcome!🙌🏻

[@PrazHim777]

Thank you! Great video. Que: how should I repot a large Pitcher plant? It has two stems with the longest branch about 30-inches. I’ll se if I can post a photo.

[@frozen-yogurt-yes4662]

These plants are one of the most fascinating. Amazing that they can possibly be grown indoors. I would love one but I have never seen them here

[@thesciencelair9556]

You can buy them online. In the US, I highly recommend buying from California Carnivores, they have really high quality plants at very low price. I recommend N. ventrata, it’s not too fancy, but it’s absolutely bulletproof and I personally like it. The pictures you’ll find online make it look pretty ugly but it’s very nice in person.

[@ryanlarge7745]

@@thesciencelair9556 I would suggest checking out sarrencia northwest as well very great company and have all kinds of carnivorous plants also change crop depending on the season

[@thomasschultz376]

I've been having an issue with humidity, so I finally got a couple small grow tents with lights and humidifiers. Hopefully I get more pitchers soon!

[@redleafexotics4722]

Oh, I bet you’ll see a big difference!

[@Da_Cactoos]

i noticed my nepenthe was not growing right, ive had it for 2 months or so and the pitchers were withering a bit, i realised from this video that ive had the wrong humidity and potting! I really appreciate the advice given here, i could not find info anywhere else

[@uknowy539]

omggggggggg you have so manyyyyyyyyyyyyyy. heaven!!!!!!!

[@kennethnewton3084]

I have 2 I reschedued due to poor health due to much water and they were in soil but so far they are coming back I love them

[@reyoung]

thanks, you just told the what I wanna know

[@seanclestine1235]

Hi, nice video.. Anyway u mention before that u ever saw unhealthy nepenthes on oversived pot with quite soggy sphagnum moss, does it mean that nepenthes should never be put on oversize pot or maybe if I do, the watering should be done on extra caution?

[@fauxyeahjandy]

Answer my prayers! 💝

[@anacondaeunectes1854]

Thank you for the orchid comment! I grow my nepenthes the same way and light as my orchids, and they are all happy together!

[@David-sc2ir]

I sit all my nepenthes outdoors on my deck in summer (live in mountains of Virginia where it's quite humid), my nepenthes flourish from May through September and set lots of pitchers. I move them indoors in late Sept. to large aquariums with gro-lights.... they winter well but growth slows tremendously... overall I feel success with these plants...just wish I could afford a greenhouse like yours :)

[@redleafexotics4722]

You sound like you got it! I wonder why they slow so much. Usually they explode under lights indoors. Is the temps and humidity as good? Maybe get an indoor greenhouse 😜 grow tents are awesome too! Dom

[@CarnivorousPlantsSydney]

This is very true, listen to him

[@CarnivorousPlantsSydney]

The light is extremely essential

[@Salix631]

I bought a pitcher plant about 2 years ago, nice healthy plant with lots of -what I now know are - small pitchers, 2 - 3 inches long. I was told to put rainwater into the pitchers. It was hung in a very bright place but with minimal direct sunshine. I am in Ireland so we get lots of dull days, and the winter is several months of gloom, it is, however, pretty damp/humid. Initially I watered it about 2 or 3 times a week, I did not put water in the pitchers and have not fed it. The original pitchers all shrivelled at the top so I increased the watering to every day, and also sprayed it, also with rainwater. It is very happy, has more than doubled in size and the large number of new pitchers are double the size of the original ones. All look very healthy. I am thinking it does now need repotting as roots are peeping out from the bottom of the pot.

[@litteladventureslucasmygui7623]

That for the idea my nepenthes are soooooo much more happier and have lots of pictures thanks you soooooo much for the cool video

[@Drew_Hawk]

Great video I have fly traps and sundews! I'm getting my first nepenthes, I'm very nervous. I use long fiber sphagnum moss for all my carnivorous plants. Any advice?

[@suzannebonham583]

Hi! Your nepenthes are gorgeous!!! I live in western Oregon and I am wondering if it would be okay to just grab some of our moss from the forest floor or off a branch for them... I'm hearing that purchased sphagnum comes from over-harvesting of peat bogs so....also we produce loads of fluffy wood chips out of our woodworking machinery - mostly it's alder, and I wonder if this material itself would be a good "soil" for them. Many thanks in advance! I have one in the kitchen and it makes pitchers but I think it needs re-potting.

[@Spellstrife]

I have 3 in a 10 gallon aquarium my RE0002 is almost a year old now throw in out 8 in leaves. My (galndulifera x Veitchi) x LVB x VMN is a few months behind her and still alot smaller. I also have a ventricosa that I rescued from a tiny plastic box in a hardware store that one is going to out grow my terrarium soon it's already getting large pitchers. Love my Red Leaf pitchers, I keep springtails and isopods to help keep the terrarium clean they also end up as snacks now and then.

[@vvoss2805]

Sounds great.... I want to do similar. Can I trickle continuous water over the medium?

[@grannyplants1764]

Just found your channel, the Highland tour -omg -luscious nepenthes I never saw before. Ooh the black ones, the striped ones with the green ruffles down the pitcher, fat ones, skinny ones... I spent at least over $1,000 in my head ( where all my money is 😂) question before I get one: does it matter if it is a high land or a low land one if I will be growing it in an east window? Im thinking highland might be better. Thanks for sharing your passion!!! 🌱🤗👍🏻 oh I’ve had Peter D’Amato’s book “The Savage Garden” for ages , playing around w sarracenias but twice had no luck w neps, now I know why! 🤦🏻‍♀️

[@AviSLeigh]

Could you get any more adorable??? Thank you for all the info!

[@EpiphanyX5323]

I am curious whether Tree Fern fiber as a substrate would work since epiphytic plants, like orchids, enjoy it? I am unsure of whether highland or lowland varieties would work best where I live, so I am assuming that the intermediate hybrids would be my best bet. I live in the Okanagan in Canada and the summers here can get to 40 Celsius (104 F), and in winter we go into freezing. It is a desert climate, but I do keep my humidifiers running; however, summertime will be difficult due to having to use the a/c and not having cool nights.

[@laurenroseanne8205]

I found recently my nepenthes was making lots of leaves and tendrils but not pitchering, so I got another cool mist humidifier and it's starting to pitcher again and made a big leaf jump!

[@redleafexotics4722]

They loooooove those humidifiers! Sounds like you’ll be full of pitchers soon:)

[@JamesEndo1]

A great video! I just my first Nepenthes so this a good topic! Love your plants in the background! You mentioned fertilizer so what is your recommendation? Love your energy!

[@redleafexotics4722]

Thanks James! Most use maxsea 16-16-16 1/4 strength as a foliar spray 1 x per month. What you use and how often is completely dependent on your conditions. Thanks!

[@mark211189]

i own reptiles so i have a huge supply of crickets. i put 1 - 3 crickets in may be every 2 months and i find its helping

[@sofiem1225]

My two nephentes: - Bought at a supermarket like 6 years ago - Have been sitting in soil for all that time - Spent the first 5 years in a dark bathroom, and barely being watered - Survived moving in a tempered climate in February - Potted up last year (in cactus soil) - Grew more - Was moved into shade for a solid 3 months - Moved to a bright spot - Misted daily in summer and gave me nice lil’ pitchers Don’t ever call my babies fragile again! 😤😤 Thnx for the tips, though! Coming into spring, I’ll repot them into something more suitable! I promise!

[@fssl9]

Jeeez they be tough

[@uriahlegutki2257]

Same for my plants, they lived in average 50 - 40 degree weather for ~4 years when I lived on the oregon coast

[@omarvela3154]

i grow mine indoors and i find if i just place the tip of the tendril( that has an embryonic pitcher on it) in the sphagnum moss that the plant is already growing in then the pitchers develop fine even in relatively low humidity.

[@user-ev1nk6sg2n]

I just inherited my daughters pitcher. (Nepenthes) It is a tall beautiful plant but isn't pitchering. I now know how to take care of it due to your great video! I was wondering, though, since it is quite leggy, can I prune it back so the new growth will hopefully produce pitchers?

[@azamazmi645]

may i ask if peat moss is okay to use? bc spagnum moss is quite expensive from where i live

[@thecosmos9303]

On the topic of humidity. Mine was growing so well when I was living in a place that had a sky window in a bathroom. There were 3 people who were showering in this bathroom a day so it had great humidity and light, it was thriving. I moved and now I'm struggling with it!

[@Mr-kn6uk]

Cheers Cobber great vid! I love the one's I have, hard to grow in this part of the world, its sOOOoooo dry in the air here. All the best from Western Australia Shamesville!!

[@chellensophie1799]

Hi! Have you ever experimented growing nepenthes in LECA with a low reservoir or wicking system? I am in the process of switching all of my houseplants over to LECA. Coming up on my 3rd winter with my 2 Ventrata. They go in my indoor plant cabinet during this time that has warmer temps and 70%+ humidity. I have seen success growing pings in LECA so wondering your thoughts. LECA is inert and has no added fertilizers, chemicals or nutrients. I only use distilled and rain water. Thanx!

[@brfinger]

Would orchid potss be a good option to help promote aeration?

[@belveth720]

hi! im a beginner growing Nepenthes, is cocofiber a good soil for them and also i can give them a small mealworm as food? Awesome video by the way!

[@cibo9205]

This video is awesome! I have been hunting for an answer, so I have an IKEA greenhouse and I know they need pure water but I wish somone anyone could tell me if it will hurt my Nepenthes to have just jug filtered water coming out of my humidifer specifically or does that need to be distilled/pure aswell?

[@jupitervalbuena710]

Good day i am a newbie in terms for caring for nepenthes, do i need to put water inside the pitchers, or it will naturally produce water by it self? Thanks for such informative blog... I have troncata and ventricosa here in the Philippines

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Really nice tuto :) I would not recommend the terrarium as if there is no air flow, mold can happen. A small computer fan with a dimmer switch can fix that.

[@TheSilversatyr]

I think the key there is not to put a top on it. He has a video about terrariums for small plants and he doesn't put a top on it. Theres just water on the bottom, and the plants are elevated on bases.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@TheSilversatyr ok but with an opened terra reaching 80%+ humidity will be hard.

[@HelgrafFireHammer]

I'm a bit late 😅 but I plan on getting one of these in a hardware store. I'm in lithuania, which isn't very.. modern I guess, so I'm not sure if they will have all the soils you listed. Which suitable soil for the pitcher plant is the most common and easily accessible?

[@soulshineSessions1]

Thanks 🙏 Tampa in da house via Philly 🙌 Shout out from JAZZ1CAFE Internet Radio 📻 NeoSoul🎶Hip-Hop Jazz🎶R&B🎶

[@adamkesingland968]

Hi Dom, I am a windowsill grower in the Northwest of England (Manchester). I have a ventricosa x maxima. It produces really big pitchers but the lids go brown very quickly, the rest of the pitcher seems fine. All my other Highland hybrids never seem to do this (ventricosa x talengensis, Bloody Mary, ventricosa x lowei, "Rebecca Soper" and even a hookerania). Any ideas why? Cheers Adam

[@erikaerika7788]

I got a tiny one and its sitting in a corner in my porch ,,,,it growed big in a month and making pitchers all over,,, 😂 i need to move it to bigger better pot ,,, i am in FL ,,she love it here 😅😅😅😅

[@minagica]

Mine is growing pitchers without issue nowadays, but it goes through phases where some of its leaves brown and yellow and then I cut those off and it rebounces. And then after a while it we have to do tje dance again. It gets indirect sunlight plus a grow light but I think it would prefer more light

[@scottmouse1921]

Thinking about a terrarium. Can they be pruned to keep in size for a smaller terrarium?

[@MarvinB21]

Hi I bought my first one. With watering is it normal that all the water ends op. In the water tray? Or does it mean it stould to dry? And needs to stand in the water till it drinks. It itself? Or do I have to keep poring the water back in from the top?

[@ellenzinner]

Can I grow pitcher plants in sphagnum and perlite? Or should it be in sand and peat moss? Do I have to use bottle water? I live in the hot desert, it needs sunlight, should be outside or can I leave it inside in a South facing window. I'm new at this. Help.

[@cricketandfriends]

I love your greenhouse!!! If you look at the far left hanging Nepenthes in this video it has orange spots on its leaves. So does mine, that is exactly why I came here to find out what causes that to happen? It is about 7 years old, I am in SW Florida, the temperature is perfect, the humidity, good drainage, no fertilizer just rainwater, It gets dapple morning sun, shade the rest of the day. Yours is in a greenhouse, no dappled sun, yet still the same spots? I am at a loss. I hope you can help....thank you for your time.

[@reem_bo09]

Can you add a link to a good quality humidifier? And also, can I use tree bark as soil?

[@diannepleyn701]

Thank you for your info: my plant is very healthy but when the pitchers start growing they immediately turn brown and don’t grow: the leaves continue to grow: I have the plant in the bathroom; so everyday it gets humidity. Please give me your suggestions

[@S4MU3L-]

I wanna come there one day, also would an aquarium be algood, I mean do you need a false bottom etc???