HELIAMPHORA (SUN PITCHERS) & CEPHALOTUS (ALBANY PITCHER PLANTS Pitfall Traps – Sun Pitchers (Heliamphora)
• Grow on isolated table top mountains (tepuis) in South America. • Very harsh natural habitat – open sunny, very high rainfall, strong winds, cool – mild temperatures, very little soil. • 23 known species, plus 11 natural hybrids. • Evergreen perennials. Heliamphora Growing Guide
1. Maintain high humidity (cover with a dome or use misters/fogger): ➢ humidity takes priority over temperature and light. 2. Try and keep the temperature below 30°C and let the temperature drop at night (can go below 10 but not frost tolerant): ➢ Can survive up to 40°C as long as they are in very high humidity. ➢ Grow in terracotta pots to help control soil temperature. 3. They look and grow best under strong light (sunlight or artificial): ➢ I find LED’s work well – provide strong light without increasing temperature. 4. Water regularly: ➢ Don’t sit the pots in trays but don’t let them dry out (similar to Nepenthes) Heliamphora Growing Guide 5. Feed regularly either with rehydrated bloodworms (or similar) for mature plants, or foliar fertiliser (Seasol) for immature plants. ➢ I usually get a burst of growth after feeding. 6. They seem to be happy in a variety of potting mixes as long as it drains well. I’ve seen all of the following used: ➢ Peat and Perlite (about 70:30); ➢ Peat and sand (about 70:30); ➢ Live sphagnum, peat and perlite (about 50:25:25 – my preferred mix). 7. Let them flower – the seeds are quite valuable and the plants split into new sub-divisions around the base of the flower: ➢ Flowers need to be buzz pollinated and the stigmas are ready to receive before the anthers are ready to release. Pitfall Traps – Albany Pitcher Plants (Cephalotus follicularis)
• Restricted to peaty coastal swamps along the southwestern tip of W.A. • Only one known species. • Grows in constantly seeping substrates. • Highly sorted after plants by carnivorous plant growers! • Evergreen perennials. Cephalotus Growing Guide 1. They do best under moderate temperature ranges (5 °C – low 30’s): ➢ Can survive light frosts. ➢ They need a significant evening drop in temperature. 2. They can tolerate a range of light conditions: ➢ I give mine full sunlight most of the year, but give them some shading during summer; ➢ More light seems to promote good coloration in pitchers once mature. 3. These are seep plants so they don’t like sitting in stagnant water, instead: ➢ Water from top or; ➢ Use wicker/capillary matting or; ➢ Let the tray dry out between waterings. Cephalotus Growing Guide 5. Feed regularly either with rehydrated bloodworms (or similar) for mature plants, or foliar fertiliser (Seasol) for immature plants. ➢ I usually get a burst of growth after feeding. 6. They grow best in well drained potting mixtures: ➢ I use 50:50 peat and sand, others use mores sand; ➢ Many growers also use a similar ratio of peat and perlite (but perlite will float to the top if top watered); 7. Large pots help prevent roots from overheating and encourage larger plants: ➢ Don’t repot too often & repot in winter or spring. 8. I don’t recommend letting them flower – there is a noticeable reduction in the vigour of the plants, the flowers are boring & the seeds aren’t much use: ➢ Better to reproduce from sub-divisions, root cuttings or leaf pullings.