Cultivation Tips

Here we will briefly describe how we grow many of the plants we grow. While copying these exact methods may not work for you, it should provide a starting point to adjust accordingly. For reference, we are in USDA Zone 10a.

Nepenthes: 

Substrate - We grow most of our Nepenthes in pure coco chips, occasionally with some perlite mixed in. For certain species that come from ultramafic or rockier regions (some Philippine and Kinabalu, Borneo-area species) we use a mix of perlite, akadama, and coco chips in roughly equal parts. Seedlings are grown in a mix of coco chips, fine perlite, and coco coir to fill in some of the gaps. 

Light - Highland Nepenthes are grown in a greenhouse outside with 50% aluminet shade cloth. Indoors, they are grown under either Barrina LED tubes (12" away) or white yescom panels (18" away with 20% shade cloth covering the lights). We grow several on a south facing windowsill as well. 

Water - Simple, keep them damp but not wet. We water 3-4 times per week during the summer, and once per week during the winter. 

 

Sarracenia:

Substrate - 1:1 ratio of peat moss to perlite, occasionally with a bit of sand thrown in. Topping pots with live sphagnum or pine needles seems to help them grow as it keeps the roots a bit cooler. 

Light - Full sun, as much as you can give them. 

Water - We grow ours sitting in water about 3 inches below the surface of the substrate. The water is allowed to completely dry for 1 day to kill any mosquito larvae before being refilled again. 

 

Epiphytic Orchids:

Growing these is highly dependent on the species, but they can often be treated similarly to Nepenthes. Refer to individual listings for specific cultivation information. Air circulation is extremely important for orchids!! 

Substrate - Varies based on species, but generally we use a mix of about 1:2 large perlite to coco chips for potted plants. Most of these do great mounted onto cork bark or hardwood branches, but will require more water. 

 

Terrestrial Orchids:

Also highly dependent on the species, but here's some general guidelines.

Bog orchids can be grown just like (and even alongside) Sarracenia, flytraps, or temperate Drosera. They seem to prefer a bit of protection from the sun during the hottest part of the day, so we have 20% shade cloth over ours. 

Non-bog orchids are a very diverse group from many different environments. Most appreciate a well-draining mix, but refer to specific listings for more care info. 

 

Pinguicula:

Growing pinguicula varies based on species, but for here I am going to focus on tropical (also referred to as Mexican). 

Our tropical ping soil consists of an even blend of 1/4 inch lava stone, pumice, perlite, grade 12 sand, and peat. They need bright light to develop the rich colors they are known for! 

We like to tray water our tropical pings, generally pings don't enjoy top watering.