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Savage Gardeners
Nepenthes \'St. Gaya\' is a tropical pitcher plant with radiant red speckles on a green pitcher. It is formed by crossing a Ventricosa with a Maxima, and crossing the result with Khsiana. Nepenthes in general tend to be finicky to grow but the \'St Gaya\' is a good introduction to these strange and wonderful plants.
Unlike North American pitcher plants, tropical pitcher plants have the ability to create their own digestive fluids in the trap which they use to drown prey. The bottom of the pitcher contains glands that absorb nutrients.
Your new plant will be 3\" or more across. It has been carefully grown for the last 2 years and is now a good size for carnivorous plant enthusiasts.
Growing Requirements
Nepenthes tend to do best indoors near a sunny window. They are more tolerant of dissolved minerals in water but are more sensitive to humidity.
- Light - partial sun, full sun can work but will take time to acclimate or the leaves will burn
- Soil - even mix of peat/sand/perlite/firbark mix, or long-fiber sphagnum
- Fertilizing - the best fertilization is dropping in dead bugs. foliar fertilization with 5-10% diluted orchid fertilizer works as well.
- Humidity - medium-high
- Water - keep wet at all times but keep the soil draining. provide water that is low in salts and minerals such as rain or distilled water, although nepenthes is not as finicky with water as other carnivorous plants
- Temperature - 70-80°F, do not let the temperature go below 50°F
- Dormancy - none, although growth may slow in winter
