HELIAMPHORA (SUN PITCHERS) & (ALBANY PITCHER Pitfall Traps – Sun Pitchers (Heliamphora)

• Grow on isolated table top mountains () 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 ) 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 , peat and perlite (about 50:25:25 – my preferred mix). 7. Let them flower – the 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 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.