Lowland varieties enjoy warmer temperatures, and naturally grow at low elevations. I own a Nepenthes gracilis, which is in this group. This is one of the first Nepenthes that anyone should start with; it's easy to maintain, not too fussy about light, and easily pitchers.  Some varieties grow very quickly, and can outgrow a terrarium in a very short time.  Following is a brief list of some of the lowland types. I underlined those I do own. 

Growing Media:

No matter what media you use, make sure it is well-drained.  These plants hate to be standing in water too long.  I use a mixture of peat moss, perlite, and orchid bark.  Again, I top dress the soil with Sphagnum Moss. 

Temperatures:

Textbooks claim to grow lowlands in temps ranging 70-85F. However, my Nepenthes gracilis has been grown outside in temperatures up to 100F.  Growth was faster than one inside at 75F-80F.  I left the plant standing in half an inch of water, to prevent it from drying out.  I plan on growing two different Nepenthes outside later this year.  I also stuck out a Lowland Hybrid, N. x coccinea, because I had no room inside for it. It lived just fine in the summer at 100F. 

Water & Humidity:

Lowlands and Highlands both like high humidity, and watering should be done when the soil starts to look dry on the top.  

Light:

Full sun is recommended for Nepenthes.  For indoors, provide as much light as you would for Venus Fly Traps.  I found my Nepenthes even grow in low light. I have kept Nepenthes gracilis and truncata under 40 watts of florescent light, and they seemed fine. Next Spring, my truncata is moving outdoors. 

Asexual Reproduction:

Stem Cuttings: When the plant has a healthy stem, cut of a piece with 1-3 nodes. Be sure not to cut back too much of the stem, or the entire plant will die. Cut about 1/2 of the leaf, Dust the cuts with fungicide, and the stem cutting with rooting hormone and fungicide (Rootone works well, it is both a rooting hormone and fungicide). Place the cutting is moist media for now, and place in high sunlight with average temperatures. I have put my cuttings of N. gracilis in a cup of water, and waiting until roots and new leaves appear before placing in media. I also put one cutting low light for 2 weeks to encourage faster root growth. I have used Superthrive with 1/2 of my cuttings, and I did see a difference-- those plants with Superthrive did grow faster and put out more roots. Unfortunately, I did not have a working camcorder, and hence, no pictures.   Once the cuttings have well rooted and start to put out new leaves, then transplant CAREFULLY into a larger pot.

Sexual Reproduction:

Nepenthes are dioecious (male and female flowers exist on different plants). If you have several plants, and a few are blooming, then you may be able to pollinate them. When I make a section on pollination, I will go a little further there.

Picture available at the CP Database, do a search on Nepenthes & the species.

N. albomarginata

Green & purple pitchers up to 6 inches long and 1.5 inches wide. Has a white tomentose ring around the mouth of the trap, very unique.  A climbing vine with leaves up to 10 inches long and under one inch wide. Available from a few on-line sellers.    

 

N. ampullaria

A good terrarium plant, with small green/red pitchers that are very round and short, averaging 3 inches.  Easy to find from sellers.  Pitchers form mainly on the ground in a spreading habit. The pitchers look like spittoons or urns, no hood actually covers the pitcher, but it stands upright to laying over backwards. I'm in the market to buy one or two... Great photos in Nepenthes of Borneo by Charles Clarke!

 

N. bellii

Good for terrariums, stays under control and small easily. 

 

N. campanulata

 

N. decurrens

Very similar to N. northiana.

N. globamphora

N. gracilis

Known to be the easiest of Nepenthes to grow.  If you never have tried them before, grow this one first.  Very easy to find from buyers, and I could have some rooted cuttings on hand at any time.  Green pitchers with some reddish spots, only up to 3 inches long. Very fast growing vine, can easily outgrow the average terrarium, but responds well to trimming. Easy to propagate.  Below are the pitchers.

 

N. insignis 

Climbing vine, with leaves up to 8 inches long.  Lower pitchers can be up to 6 inches high with two wings, while upper pitchers and can be 10 inches high! The mouth of the pitchers has a red 'lip', very attractive.

N. kampotiana

N. merrilliana

Large plant with green pitchers, ranging leaves over 20 inches! Lower pitchers are up to 8 inches long, while upper pitchers can be up to 10 inches.

 

N. mirabilis

A good plant for  large terrariums. Actually preferes neutral to alkaline areas . Very tall and skinny pitchers reaching up to 12 inches.  Pitchers are green to light red.  I'm looking to buy one for myself.

 

N. neglecta

Leaves can be 10 inches long, while the pitchers average 4-5 inches in height.  

 

N. neoguineensis

 

N. northiana 

Pitchers up to 16 inches in length, with a red, fringed wing over the mouth of the lid.  Leaves are thicker than most other Nepenthes, and can be over 12 inches long. 

 

N. papuana

Leaves up to 5 inches long, with 4-5 inch pitchers.

N. petiolata

N. rafflesiana                          Dangerous Plants! has another photo.

Be careful getting this plant upset, the pitchers can be up to 2 feet tall!   Has large fat lower pitchers but long skinny upper pitchers.  Typically, the plants' pitchers are only up to six inches, and are green with red and purple spots. A unique feature is the 'neck' from the pitcher to the lid.   Vast amount of hybrids exist, each with different but great qualities.  Some varieties even have the a distance between the leaf tip and the trap up to five feet -- that's one long stem!   Once I collect more data on the hybrids, I'll put them in that section....HAH, yah right. Even so, you can find then from the buyers quite easily...

N. reinwardtiana

N. thorelii

Native to Indochina. Lower pitchers are oval-shaped and obtuse with fringed wings, tinted with a redish hue.  Upper pithcers are long and skinny, very yellow-green.  Found it for sale on several web-sites.

N. tomoriana

N. trichocarpa

N. truncata         Dangerous Plants! has another photo.

Just got one not to long ago, a very interesting plant so far, but slow growing.  The leaves are 'truncated' at the end, meaning almost square (see picture).  Large pitchers (and I have it for indoors, DOH!) can reach up to 12". I'll post a picture once the first trap forms, which shouldn't be too long.  You should be able to find it for sale with some ease.

Last Update April 13, 2000

Since 2/22/2000