Nepenthes (carnivorous pitcher plants) beginners and advance care with Yudhistira

This is an in-depth nepenthes care video, as they are a highly misunderstood genus. I am joined by expert Yudhistira, who is also the head of conservation at Bogor Botanic Garden. In the last episode, we define what nepenthes are and how they evolved into the interesting beings they are today, so do check that episode out to get to know these plants intimately.
In this episode, Yudhi covered the trinity of nepenthes care - Lighting, Potting media and humidity. We discuss fertilizing/feed as well as other in-depth care tips. Yudhi break down the differences between lowland and highland nepenthes and how to care for them differently.
We also included recommended 5 easy nepenthes species and 3 nepenthes hybrids that are easy to care for beginners. We also run into unusual nepenthes as well as variegated ones!
In the next episode, we discuss propagation of nepenthes, stay tuned for that!
TIMESTAMP
00:00 Introduction
01:22 Lighting03:46 Potting mix
10:21 Humidity
12:32 Fertilizing/feed
15:32 Pests
17:41 5 Easy nepenthes species
18:52 3 easy nepenthes hybrids
19:18 Variegated nepenthes
21:24 Outdoor care
22:40 Indoor care
My instagram: @bo.tan.ist
Support me on patreon: / seanfromonlyplants
Jazz background music made by Rhythm Alley
/ rhythmalley.taiwan
Background music are created by me exclusively for this channel

[@Grahamcracker6366]

I like his accent. His English level is excellent, so please tell him to not worry. I enjoyed listening to him and I learned a lot. ❤ (I’m still watching now). The ginger kitty is adorable. Gingers are the best.

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@KathyGallagher01]

What a knowledgeable man on nepenthes, very enjoyable to listen too his English is excellent 👌 Edit: the kitten is adorable 🥰

[@onlyplants]

Thank you ❤️❤️

[@threehumpcamel]

I can't wait for the next episode! He has so many great tips. Thanks to all 3 of you plus the kitty for such an awesome episode. 💚

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. The propagation for nepenthes is up next, its a subject that Ive been curious about for so long!

[@rakyat_biasa91]

Even with some years of experience growing nepenthes, I’m learning some new things here! It’s also interesting that his first recommendation is Nepenthes reinwardtiana, it’s a very elegant species that unfortunately is a bit hard to find compared to other types where I live.

[@threehumpcamel]

Same! This was such an enjoyable episode. 💚

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu

[@chomama1628]

Thank you for educating we newbies on the care of a very interesting class of plants.

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@pix6483]

Excellent! Yudhistira's knowledge is vast - he's a walking encyclopedia, and I truly hang on his every word! Thank you both, most interesting! ❤

[@afloareidaniel5197]

I absolutely loved these last 2 episodes. I love listening to knowledgeable and passionate people talk! It's motivates me so much. Thank you, S

[@onlyplants]

Thank you ❤️❤️

[@janecurtis5726]

Lots of really great growing tips! Knowing about highland and lowland types and their preferences helps a lot to care for them and be successful.

[@onlyplants]

❤️😀

[@raf1717]

Talking to a botanist is a different level of plant knowledge ❤

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@elainectlow]

Thank you for your valuable advice, as I'm collecting some nepenthes. Initially, I bought one pot from a nursery, and I was repoting it as ants nest was found in the pot! After a few weeks of taking care of it, it dried up. Maybe the ants repellent, which after I sprayed some to the pots hurt it after that. Then, I bought a few healthier plants, and now they're growing well!

[@onlyplants]

😀

[@yarnellyelle]

I learned so much ! Thank you both so much !!!!!

[@onlyplants]

you’re most welcome

[@kaykay5488]

Yudhi fan club lol...I truly like these episodes... learning so much...thanks Sean!!!

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu

[@arthuslim]

This is really another level in the plant world. 2 great videos!

[@onlyplants]

Thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@lorraineyanez4301]

Beautiful collection thanks for sharing. I learned something today.👍

[@onlyplants]

😀🙏🏽

[@arnabghosh8222]

Sean really does have great knowledge!

[@onlyplants]

🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@apvlee5890]

Great content as usual. It was quite interesting to see the setup where the plant thrives.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you 🙏🏽

[@rhiannonkingston9659]

As always, such a good and helpful video.

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu

[@drewlynford256]

Great video!! Super informative. I just ordered my second Nepenthes plant (Nepenthes Miranda I think) in the US and am very appreciative to get this high quality information. I am a new hobbyist so I will be tuning in to get the pertinent details. Thanks for making this video!!

[@onlyplants]

Yaye

[@Jordan-le8rc]

Phenomenal English, it’s a very difficult language so big props to you for mastering it!

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. It was my first language since I was 6 years old 😀

[@EarthsGeomancer]

His English was great! Helpful knowledge!

[@onlyplants]

❤️❤️

[@karenmyers9146]

Really enjoyed this video on the carnivorous plants. I have some sarasinous (not the right spelling. They stay outside all year and only get watered when it rains. They even survived the 18 degrees Fahrenheit temperature we had one night.

[@onlyplants]

Woo their natural habitat is not tropical from what I know. Some carnivorous plants also appreciate dark and cold winters so they can rest (go dormant) 😀

[@orchidsinprint7238]

Thank you, I have learnt a lot about Nepenthes from this video, and will be watching the rest.😀

[@onlyplants]

Yaye

[@richardr5878]

Another great video! Great information.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you 🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@azizahselamat8030]

No worries!! great English .. thanks for the info 👍, thanks Sean ♥️🌿💚🌾

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@thenoodlestwo]

Thanks Sean and Yudi. Sangat informatif. I'm about to buy one here in Chicago .. lol. Good luck to me.

[@onlyplants]

Good luck! It should do well indoors with some hacks

[@CrookedSteph]

Lol. Sean: “a little scoopy scoop”. That was adorable. This was a great vid. So interesting!

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing that interview. 😀 That's a lots of useful informations. The species you recommend are really for warm countries tho.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. Yes I am travelling Taiwan and Japan now, very surprised to find temperate hardy nepenthes!

[@jamespunch8049]

Sean this would be the most informative video's on Nepenthes I have ever watched. Regards from Australia.

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. I searched high and low for a video that explains it well, but couldn’t. Thats why I set up to do this episode.

[@dustinprice6232]

Your English is fine brother. More effort there than most English speakers visiting another country.

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@user-tg1ro2et9j]

Mantep bro, baru liat hidden gem ini di feed

[@onlyplants]

Yaye ❤️

[@jmarshal]

Thank you for the great video. I just got two nepenthes and I’m learning to care for them. I liked the section that said men like a big, showy pitcher, but women prefer a small, cute pitcher 😂😂 Sounds indicative of other areas! I also loved the kittens - so cute!

[@onlyplants]

Haha thank u

[@fitnesswithdenisefox]

I love Yudhi's shirt! (and the rest of the video)

[@onlyplants]

Haha thank you 🙏🏽

[@colleenmadden6726]

Excellent video!!! I learned so much,took notes too! Thank you ( wish I could roll my R's like that )

[@onlyplants]

Yaye

[@jessicapayne8622]

Thankyou for sharing! Sadly I live in England. Keeping these wonderful plants in my home doesn’t really work very well. I have tried! X

[@onlyplants]

May need some hacks… such as special rooms or cabinets built for them.

[@jessicapayne8622]

@@onlyplants I’d love too!! I don’t have enough space sadly. The bathroom seems to be the only room my plants do well in, constant sunlight and I try to leave them alone. My monstera plants thrive there! X

[@mariaafamily]

i love this series shaun! i wanna chat yudhi for hours!

[@onlyplants]

Thank you 🥰

[@hidz969]

This is amazing. Please make more of these,,, I have a question, what temperatures do you keep your highland neps in the day and in the night? Thanks

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. Please do DM Yudhistira in the instagram handle in the video description Im sure he will be happy to share. My best guess is 18-24 degrees Celsius but I could be a bit off.

[@hidz969]

@onlyplants thanks for the reply, ill contact him for more details 😁 thanks again

[@jovanessavf164]

I've had no luck with pitcher plants so far. I've had two N. truncatas before and they both died. And they already had huge pitchers, too.

[@onlyplants]

Whoaaa. They seem to need consistent conditions and care. Slight changes may kill them fast.

[@jovanessavf164]

@onlyplants Yes, and I didn't know the proper care until I watched this series. Amazingly comprehensive. I will hence get another one and apply what I now know. Thank you to you guys! P.S. Will look for photos of my deceased baby carnivorous plants. 😄

[@six-star-hotels5698]

Hi, thanks for the video. One question: Can you also plant the pitcher plants in your garden in Indonesia? Somehow I never saw that. Thanks!

[@onlyplants]

I have one but it stopped putting out pitchers. I havent figured out what I should be doing. 😅

[@desireeroberts2484]

What kind of grow light do you use or recommend?

[@onlyplants]

It depends on the species… personally for me I just get light-saving regular light bulbs that is gentle on my eyes. For certain species or to breed certain traits, you may need more red or blue light.

[@sherryporsch9349]

💚💚💚

[@onlyplants]

❤️❤️

[@Saiyajin47621]

Can I use unburnt rice husk for the lowland mix instead of the burnt one?

[@onlyplants]

I have a feeling you can… just water according to the media type. The regular rice hull is devoid of nutrients from what I know and is suitable for carnivorous plants. But the water retention is different.

[@Saiyajin47621]

@@onlyplants I was planning to use it on my ampullaria, a lowland plant. But I bought the wrong one online. 😅

[@garlicgirl3149]

Newbie question. I got a Nepenthes for my birthday. So nervous. Some of the pitchers are turning brown or wete half brown when given to me. Do I clip them off??

[@onlyplants]

You can clip the brown ones off 😀 mine does it too, they dont like sudden change in environment

[@Saiyajin47621]

Hello there. At around 6:00 of this video, the guest speaker said something that in swampy area the nitrogen content is usually very low but it is high in something. I can’t make out what’s the word. Can someone let me know what is it?

[@onlyplants]

I believe he said tannins

[@Saiyajin47621]

@@onlyplants thank you 🥰

[@DeadlyPlants2024]

For your outdoors nepenthes how do you have them sitting in water and it doesn’t lead to root rot? You said you live in Jakarta and it’s really hot. Does the water evaporate that quickly?

[@onlyplants]

Ive had some grown in this situation and they were thriving. I think it depends heavily on the type of

[@DeadlyPlants2024]

@@onlyplants yeah, from everything I’ve researched and people I’ve talk to it just always depends. I’ve seen videos where people are growing low land, plants in intermediate conditions, and they grow just fine. I’ve seen videos and talk to this guy that he’s growing these plants and they’re thriving in 30% humidity. That low humidity goes against everything I’ve researched and heard.

[@shereenp8279]

Hi! Thank you for your video. At least know which nepenthe is easier to take care. My nepenthe grow very long. Can teach me how to trim it. I’m afraid it may kill it. Thank you

[@onlyplants]

Thank you. If you want to propagate I recommend cutting around 3 leaves, and then cutting one of the lower leaf off from the branch and stick it in a media of your choice 😀

[@danielmoreno-pc7gz]

why low nitrogen?

[@skyhigh8640]

What about Temperature Day/Night for Highland ?

[@onlyplants]

Off screen he mentioned that there need to be a drop in night temperatures… although I dont know what that temperature exactly is

[@ace-pb3jg]

Im so suprised he didnt mention nepenthes ventrata. Its the most wide spread mass produced nepenthes along side ventricosa.

[@judyperkins4509]

What is the name of the 2 minerals u use in your mix please , I am not familiar with them

[@onlyplants]

I would DM Yudhi to ask for more information. His instagram is on the screen during introduction and also in the episode video description.

[@ace-pb3jg]

Sean doesn't get it. Highland, intermediate and lowland are categories nepenthes species can be split into. Upper and lower pitchers are the two distinct types of pitchers most nepenthes usually grows, the lower pitchers meaning the pitchers lower to the ground, these pitchers always have wings or ribs along the belly of the pitcher and are sometimes hairy, meanwhile the upper pitchers are found near the top of the canopy or the top of the plant, and are usually completely different looking then the lower pitchers and can be absolutely stunning.

[@ace-pb3jg]

You don't "keep water in the pitchers" either. As they grown, the plant fills the pitcher with water as it's forming, and the inside is actually not just water, but a sticky digestive enzymes that also inebriates insects so they stop moving faster. As long as your watering and keeping the humidity up, there will be no need to "fill" the pitchers with water. But if a dry spell does happen, and you find dried up pitchers, it's a good idea to add some water. Don't fill it.

[@onlyplants]

Thank youuu this is a very good summary!

[@AraceaeFanatics]

I really want to visit this botanical garden so bad.

[@onlyplants]

Come soon 😀

[@hotpink000]

My nepenthes x clumpy red (low land) is tiny and arrived with green leaves and pitchers. After 3 weeks all pitchers dried out so I cut them off. How do I salvage it? It is grown outside, average humidity at 55%, sitting in a small dish with water and I never let it dry out. Temperature at an average of 15-20 degrees. Soil is mixed with perlite. Why are the leaves drying out if the soil is always moist?

[@onlyplants]

It might be due to sudden drop on humidity from its original location? But thats my best guess only

[@hotpink000]

@@onlyplants yes I think so too. Do nepenthes eventually survive and adjust to humidity changes? All leaves are dried out and I am not sure if I should just throw it away…

[@cityproofdad]

is it ok to feed with brine shrimp eggs iside the pitchers to develop and then be eaten?????

[@onlyplants]

Haha it sounds a bit dark but I think the nepenthes should find them very tasty.

[@Lazka-mp6ww]

I have nephentes plants, can they live in an air-conditioned room? I only use AC at night, its that okay?

[@onlyplants]

You might have to find a way to substitute humidity. It might get too dry for them depending on your environment.

[@madiandrian1574]

🧐

[@onlyplants]

😀

[@darlenehouston8361]

I feed mine betta pellets

[@onlyplants]

Oooh that makes sense

[@six-star-hotels5698]

Hi, very interesting. Is it also possible to sell me a plant and send to Bali?

[@onlyplants]

You can reach out to Yudhi directly on the instagram, its on the video description. Im sure he will be happy to!

[@gabrielkhoo8499]

FIRST! :D

[@onlyplants]

Thank youu 🥰🥰

[@danielbrito6334]

Oh, hello cameraman...

[@onlyplants]

😀😀

[@fallazuhdi8504]

Ini kelontong ruru kan ya

[@onlyplants]

Iyaaa betul

[@muskyman26]

“Little scoopy scoop.”

[@onlyplants]

👼🏻👼🏻

[@od.vandeveer]

This female prefers species like truncata with big pitchers and with teeth like hamata and edwardsiana :) Not all females like small and cute. I do find it very hard to listen with the loud music you have on your video's

[@onlyplants]

Hehe I also dont think all females like cute and small things. A bit confused with the comment about the music… there’s no music on in my video right?

[@od.vandeveer]

@@onlyplants I think it might be music in the room and not added by you and it is not in the whole video but around timestamp 24:29