Top 10 Mistakes People Make When Growing Nepenthes 💀 I did a few of them when I started!

[@sethkarma2072]

Love how you show Bical as the first plant when describing seeing a plant at a nursery falling in love and buying it, thankfully I was warned beforehand so I didn't but I almost bought one with my first set of neps. One of these days I'll get one once I feel confident enough. My beginner mistake was not checking for pests and being prepared beforehand to deal with them. When I thought I was doing something wrong with lighting or watering thrips where wreaking havoc on my plants, once I realized I began to treat them with spinosad and nematodes. It caused me alot of stress early on because It was my first set of plants and I kept thinking I was doing something wrong with my setup or acclimation.

[@zect556]

My first mistake was using regular soil mix, second one being the same as yours, my bicalcarata x suratensis was ruined by pest, thank god I got a propagated clone of it.

[@cooper9658]

Started with ventrata, then ordered 3 hybrid plants from Carnivero. Had an adjustable Fecida light shining on them form an appropriate distance, but it was wayyy to strong. The ventrata didn't care much, but the others started to burn up. Thought it was just lack of humidity since the ventrata was fine. Lowered the light level to super low to try to save them. 2 of the plants continued to grow, but had slowed down significantly and wouldn't pitcher at all. The third, a Lady Luck, stopped growing entirely and remained seemingly dormant for months. Fortunately, a new setup I made with much higher humidity than previous (just my room with occasional spraying) helped all 3 do much better. The two that grew, but didn't pitcher now are pitchering nicely, and the Lady luck has started to put out new leaves (first new one was barely a cm long) and will hopefully pitcher soon. In Short: Some lights are much stronger than you think, and certian plants can take it, but others not so much. Also, if a plant seems stagnant, even if it's known to be a plant that can take low humidity, try increasing the humidity a lot to help the plant rebound.

[@Fearthelettuce]

My big mistake: I got a new job which required long hours and was very stressful. I neglected my plants and lost my entire collection... Lesson learned: life happens, so make sure you have some level of automation or a backup plan so that you can enjoy your plants, not let them add to your stress

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Oh... Sorry for that 😐. Always sad to lose plants

[@aureliusfeynman485]

Same happened to me 2 times, last one a few months ago. Been growing since 2005, had seedgrown ones like N. bongso and many others that were glorious. Then, life got in the way...Next time I rebuild my collection, automatic irrigation will be used as well as mostly inorganic soil mixes.

[@drdiabetesv]

This video was a checklist for me 😂 so I appreciate all your hard work it's very useful to clueless people like me, hopefully I've changed a lot of the things you have mentioned, for feeding I use crickets they are cheap and relatively easy to breed, light it's whole issue by itself, my nepenthes are in a terrarium with passive ventilation, however the pitchers don't have a good color leaves are beautiful they have a healthy green color, all my nepenthes produce pitcher however I want them to have better colors. All my nepenthes say thanks! N. Albomarginata (red and green) N. Bloody Mary N. Ampullaria x Hamata N. Ventricosay N. Ampullaria black miracle And my two cephalotus surprisingly they like nepenthes conditions so they are growing happy

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

I hope it will help many :)

[@ratwhisperer8667]

Your channel has been amazing for learning to care for my nepenthes correctly! The only thing I really struggle with now is the low humidity in my house, especially when the heater/ac kicks on for the winter/summer

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Did you tried water tray method?

[@Ice-Futzi]

Hi Remy, is it important to use dried sphagnum or can i also use life sphagnum for potting nepenthes?

[@zect556]

Not remy, you can use both from various forum I read, but dried sphagnum moss is sufficient for pitchies, some use live sphagnum as topping on the dried ones.

[@mikegowland3098]

Excellent question! I made this mistake once and nearly killed a staghorn fern -- and they are perhaps the hardiest epiphyte I've kept. Live sphagnum still contains chlorophyll and other chemicals. Until it's composted, they will mess up the pH, and tend to coat the Nepenthes' roots with a biofilm (inducing anaerobic [ie.: poor drainage] conditions). Unpotting the staghorn fern a week later, I noticed an odor of rotting vegetation, and that the green moss I'd used had turned blackish-green, not brown. Also, sphagnum only produce humates (tannic acid and tannins, for example) -- compounds essential for plant health -- when it is dead, and fully composted. Here's a kitchen-oriented metaphor: brown (dead and composted) sphagnum is chemically similar to teabags, rich in humates. Green (live) sphagnum, used as a potting media (thus smothered to death) is chemically more similar to spoilt rotting vegetables -- for at least a week after repotting. Your Nepenthes' roots would be subjected to toxic substances (ammonia, hydrogen sulphide), while being deprived of any oxygen, causing root rot and necrosis. As zect556 said, the live sphagnum can be used as a ground cover, grown on top. Remy discusses the cultivation of live sphagnum in one of his videos. (Recommended!) I hope this helps. I doubt a Nepenthes plant would survive what I did to that poor staghorn fern.

[@cajbrg]

@@mikegowland3098 Thanks, great comparison. ... (also great to "hear" another staghorn enthousiast ;-) )

[@zect556]

@@mikegowland3098 great explanation, the more I know

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Both works. :)

[@dafartmaster4202]

my nepenthes (san guinea and st gaya) are both alive and well but i certainly killed a drosera and a flytrap or two by accident when i started my journey as a carnivorous plant grower... kind of strange seeing photos of old carnivorous plant display at the greenhouse i currently work at in a youtube video though!! im caring for some nepenthes were hoping to keep as mother plants in the back right now so this video will hopefully help me encourage them to thrive!! were actually hoping that we can grow our own live sphagnum moss to better support them when they start to get bigger and to sell alongside carnivorous plants that appreciate a bit of moss action around their bases :D

[@kylenakasone4663]

Hi, I’m Kyle and I love your videos. Definitely not knowing about lowland to highland and also intermediate nepenthes were a challenge to learn the hard way. Also you mention so many different types of carnivorous plants and I’m curious could we get a video on your entire carnivorous collection? 🤔😁

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Hi 👋 I didn't do a big video like that since a while. Last one was this spring: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmHNdnieZtilZ7M I'll do an update in a month or so 😉

[@andicarson1339]

I moved to a house with a very shaded yard. I lost MANY plants, including my Nepenthes. I have since mounted lights above my windows to supplement. Now, I am struggling with the balance of cold coming off of the windows and lower humidity from furnace vents built in below all of the windows (zone 4).

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Adding light is good. For the furnace, I use something you put on the vent to redirect the warm airflow away from the plants. Then raising the humidity is the goal, but maybe in spring when the furnace will be turned off it will be easier.

[@zarousartin9145]

Hello Remy . I would strongly recommend liquid orchid fertilizer then randomly picked dry dead insects 😊

[@cajbrg]

Why would you strongly recommend liquid orchid fertilizer over dead insects. Especially when you' do not want to overfeed your plant?

[@zarousartin9145]

@@cajbrg most of the professional growers recommend orchid fertilizer using 50% per liter from the recommended dose. I tried it and it works very well . For avoiding overfeeding i cover the top of the pots with alive Sphagnum so a part of the fertilized mix is getting absorbed from the Sphagnum

[@cajbrg]

@@zarousartin9145 I think that last mentioning is very important. I don't dare to spray liquid fertilizers until the "base" /ground is covered

[@zarousartin9145]

@@cajbrg well if you dont want i kindly respect that. But doesn't means that is not working. In one of Remy's video we watched a interview with a grower who grows his plants in a grow tend and as he said he fertilizer his plants every 2 weeks and he had some great results and he is just 1example. There is many others doing the same and it works for them to including me so i can recommend that. But i agree that it can be a more "saffer" way to feed Nepenthes is some one want to be more careful and avoid chances for over feeding. They are ather growers who recommend coffee as a fertilizer that is something that i would avoid because i don't know how to use it properly. But in the end what is working for as doesn't means that it works for athers and the opposite. if you grow Nepenthes and you use your own care guides i wish you get some great results. Happy growing 😊

[@cajbrg]

@@zarousartin9145 I'm also afraid because fertilizers and Nepenthes roots are as far as my (tiny ;-) ) knowledge goes not are the best companions. But for sur it will work. I use liquid orchid (25%) also. Love this info!!

[@blueeyez1958]

I am still learning, and boy do I have a lot to learn! I bought my first Nepenthes 3 months ago and it is really struggling. How can you tell what your pitcher plant is if it didn’t come with a tag? And do you have pictures somewhere that show what healthy roots should look like vs. ones that have been too wet? I’m really having an issue with water. And should we *always* repot what we buy? Even if the plant looks healthy?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

I would repot, yes. Pure peat only keeps the plant alive for a few months or years, but it's not great long term...

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Healthy roots are black, you will see images on my repotting videos. And if you don't know the species it's probably a classic hybrid: kzbin.info/www/bejne/m4ScZYR6nt90nM0

[@mwwilson64]

Mine has to be trusting cats,lol. Saw the pic in the book The Savage Garden of the housecat sitting on the table by a window peacefully sitting my the CP's there. Well,after repotting my 1st nepethes ventricosa 3x's,then having it die I decided if I'm going grow them I best find a solution. Bought a growtent,and have had great success growing them now!

[@thecraftfactory9043]

Plz help how to take care n. Khasiana???? Also what kind of place khasiana need for grow??

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

I don't know this species... But probably similar to rafflesiana, mirabilis, etc. ;)

[@henriquesouza9925]

Hey remy! What grow lights do u use for plants in the windowsill? And how much sunlight they get? thanks!

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

For the sunlight, a good amount except during summer. For the lights: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHfQppqEmcebnrs

[@andrebrinker837]

I just got a pitcher plant a couple weeks ago. I have it in a small pot, roughly 9 cm wide and 9 cm deep without holes in the bottom. The lady at the plant shop said this would help to retain moisture. Do you think i should put some holes in it? Also, do you think making a small terrarium for it would allow me to raise the humidity for this window sill plant? The houses humidity is about 38% and i can’t raise the whole houses humidity.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

I would repot it in a bigger pot like 12 to 15 cm. And use a pot with holes it will prevent the eccess of water rotting the roots. You could try for now the water tray method before jumping into terrarium. it will improve the humidity around the plant, especially if you have low airflow. And focus on giving your plant a good amount of light, that's often the problem.

[@loomsmcgooms824]

Amazing video as always! One question I have is, sometimes my pitchers do not last that long. I am fortunate to grow mine outside in central Florida, so not sure if its a water issue, or sunlight. Not going to lie, I use tap water, and haven't checked the quality...

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Could be the water evaporates?

[@loomsmcgooms824]

@@WindowsillNepenthes Highly possible! Will take notes and see if things change with more consistent watering.

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@loomsmcgooms824 can you put them in a more shade?

[@od.vandeveer]

I started buying seed of nepenthes I liked the photo of. 0 seedlings and I later discoverd they were species that wouldn't thrive on my windowsills. Doning more research now ( your channel really helps ), and got some nice plants. But I do still struggle with some.

[@cajbrg]

You're showing of your truncata ;-) Is it me, or are there more bigger plants on the right site of you windowsill?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

The biggest leaves for sure. The biggest pitcher not yet. ;)

[@ModernZombie7]

I believe they’re just older and he’s grouped them together bc they’re larger

[@cajbrg]

@@WindowsillNepenthes I'm sure they will follow

[@cyrilbaudry2454]

hello! Grow light meter est seulement pour android?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Celui que j'utilise, mais il y en a certainement pour i-phone ;)

[@cyrilbaudry2454]

est ce que le mouvement des insectes dans les pichets provoquent la sécrétion des sucs gastriques? comme les droseras?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

No, c'est vraiment passif, comme les Sarracenia.

[@vbcpanda7349]

whats the regular grow light you use?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

On the tent or windowsill?

[@googleuser663]

I left mine outside in the cold on accident and it died. Will it grow back in spring or do I have to buy a new one?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Depends how long was the cold... and how cold. Keep it until spring but if the roots died, the plant won't grow back :(

[@googleuser663]

@@WindowsillNepenthes silly question I know but how will I know if the roots died? They looked brown when I looked :(

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

@@googleuser663 just keep it at room temperature with good humidity and light... And give it 2-3 months to see if it's recovering or not. Nothing you can do...

[@biswajitpanda-5559]

Bro which nepenthes species will be suitable for climate like India near sea coast?

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

I would say some lowlanders species. But check on Facebook, I know there's a India group. ;)

[@biswajitpanda-5559]

@@WindowsillNepenthes thanks bro 🤩

[@HelgrafFireHammer]

Some advice i wanna give some new people too! 1. Do your research on the plant youre getting! I got a Burbidgeae x Petiolata, i didnt know that Burbidgeae likes decently rocky soils. I put too much spaghnum in the pot, i watered as i do with my other nepenthes, and the roots very quickly rotted away. I didnt even get one leaf oit of it 😢 2. Dont jump to conclusions! I once thought my Nepenthes Rebecca Soper wasnt pitchering, so i cut off the tendrils so theh wont get caught on anything. I decided to leave it, and the plant ended up pitchering every leaf. I jumped the gun and paid the price! 3. Subscribe to windowsill nepenthes, the subscribe button imbues your plants with magic and growth! 😎

[@jarrettcrawford3998]

i must have the greenest of thumbs i grow all sorts of carnivorous plants and i do just fine my newest one just growing super slow had a stunted pitcher from shipping and is taking months to grow one pitcher, leaves look healthy tho

[@hxl6162]

Bonjour du Brésil 🎉

[@TriDungNguyen-en4jb]

1 vài cây của tôi ở ngoài trời rất rất nhiều ấm đã chết do lũ kiến rơi vào quá nhiều và tôi cảm thấy bất lực làm đủ mọi có để tiêu diệt lũ kiến như mọi thứ đề vô ý

[@WindowsillNepenthes]

Sorry but I cant understand 😕

[@TriDungNguyen-en4jb]

Some of my nepenthes planted outside, many paintings died due to too many dead ants encroaching or the nepenthes ate too many ants. I'm helpless and don't know what to do to get rid of ants. (I'm using Google, I think you won't understand)@@WindowsillNepenthes

[@sebastiendosi]

Too much fertilizer... Bye bye plants ☠️😂