Two Nepenthes alata x khasiana clones

Side by side: Two very different Nepenthes alata x khasiana clones

These plants were acquired as rooted cuttings in summer 2017.

The pitchers on both appear to be uppers; with any luck there’ll be basal shoots in year 2.

A mystery Nepenthes #4: Epilogue

Pitcher #1, Nepenthes truncata x (spectabilis x northiana)

The no-longer-a-mystery plant — now officially known as Nepenthes truncata x (spectabilis x northiana) — is now in a 200mm pot.

Pitcher #2, Nepenthes truncata x (spectabilis x northiana)

Three pitchers are now open. The first and second are the largest and have to be supported or their weight will put too much stress on the plant, which may explain the high mortality rate its gifter warned me about.

The two heaviest pitchers are individually supported.

The stakes are about 115cm; the central one is for the vine and the other three form the frame on which the pitcher-bearing leaves are supported.

The following arrangement allows the pot to be put in a watering tray 3 to 5 cm deep:

The base of the pot contains a layer of geotextile fabric to prevent the media from washing out via the large drainage holes. On top of that goes a layer of scoria to provide good drainage and weight, and then the pot is filled with a mixture of coco-chip and coco-peat. This media is soaked and rinsed many times to remove salt before it can be used or it will kill the plant.

The root ball of the plant is kept above the halfway-mark of the pot to prevent waterlogging of the roots, which is detrimental to plant health.

Nepenthes ‘Red Leopard’

Nepenthes ‘Red Leopard’ (N. ventricosa-squat x maxima) cutting1, smiling at its own reflection

UPDATE: This plant is actually a mislabelled Nepenthes ‘Red Leopard’ (N. ventricosa-squat x maxima). See footnote for details.

This one’s a curious beast: a plant and its scions with so much variability in the pitchers — and similarities too!

Nepenthes ‘Red Leopard’ (N. ventricosa-squat x maxima) upper pitcher, cutting2

The cuttings are actually fully established now, and between 1 and 2 years old.

A mystery Nepenthes #3: Finale

Mystery nepenthes

The pitcher is now fully mature, I think. Is it not pretty?

There is a layer of very short, fine hair on the lid.

A mystery Nepenthes #2: Opening day

Mystery Nepenthes

Twenty-four hours ago the mystery Nepenthes was still keeping its lid resolutely shut. Did it grow a little between the first photo session and Monday’s observation? Possiblemaybeperhaps.

 

Then it popped in the night.

A mystery Nepenthes

Front of pitcher

A friend gave me this Nepenthes hybrid one or two years ago, when it was much smaller. I put it under a shelf in the shadehouse — there was nowhere else to move it to — until last December, when it got a repot (sphagnum moss peat and perlite) and a brighter growing area. There were no pitchers at the time.

Mount Tomah Botanic Garden (2013)

Little Wattlebird (Anthochaera chrysoptera)

If you’re making your annual trip to the “Plants With Bite” Display and Fair at the Mount Tomah Botanic Garden in the Blue Mountains, you really should take some time to walk through the gardens as well, especially if the weather is good. The place is beautifully maintained and full of interesting plants and wildlife.

These photos are the result of an hour’s walk-and-stalk. Weather: warm and very slightly hazy, with high cloud and bright sunlight.

“Plants With Bite” 2012, Mount Tomah

Cephalotus follicularis

This year’s Plants With Bite show at Mount Tomah took place, if I remember correctly, in the first two weeks of March.

The lovely four-year-old seed-grown Cephalotus follicularis above was sold within half an hour of being put on display. I should know; I bought it.

Carnivorous plants in macro

Cephalotus follicularis

These are the first few pictures taken with my new Sigma 50mm macro lens. Hooray!

Sarracenia leucophylla

Flower of Sarracenia leucophylla

Last year I photographed Sarracenia flava flowers pre- and post-pollination, and again much later at harvest time.

This year S. flava was too exhausted to produce any flowers, but S. leucophylla stepped into the breach. And what lovely blooms it had, with deep red petals.