I remember reading about the Nepenthes in my books when my fascination with carnivorous plants began but never thought I'd see in person let alone grow one of these unusual looking plants. I knew of no place to buy them. Back then there was no internet. Mail order was my only means of getting anything besides Venus Flytraps. Today these Nepenthes hybrids are being sold at the local home improvement store beside the ubiquitous Venus Flytrap.
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Sitting in dried soil with wrinkled/leathery leaves due to dehydration, low light and humidity, the Nepenthes x maxima and Nepenthes alata x ventricosa pictured below were on the brink of death when I purchased them. With a little care they came back to life and grew fast. Originally, they all lived happily in a 20 gallon tank. They soon outgrew that so I bought a second acquarium, a 30 gallon tank. Presently, three grow uncomfortably in the 30 gallon tank and the other two are back in the smaller tank. The growing instructions that came with each plant noted they were a highland/lowland cross but didn't note their parentage. Based on pictures of various species, I guessed their influence.
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Successfully growing these plants has inspired me to grow a new and even more unusual looking species: the frightening Nepenthes hamata. My plant appears harmless now but looks can be deceiving. Unlike other Nepenthes, the pitcher's upper lip or peristome is comprised of sharp, downward pointing, curvy claws like those of a cat.
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