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A surprisingly tricky species for me in my growing conditions! Lovely tubby pitchers!
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A long awaited first pitcher! Also really like the lack of red on the front of the pitcher. October 2020
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Love how tubby it is! Hope the peristome gets larger and redder in future pitchers. October 2020
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From Borneo Exotics: "Endemic to the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, this under-appreciated species is as easy to grow as Nepenthes ventricosa and an ideal beginners plant. We find the hard woody pitchers exceptionally attractive, being red flecked on a yellow/green background with lustrous scalloped peristome. If pruned back it will form dense clusters of basal growths and many pitchers, with it being rare to find a leaf not developing a pitcher. The red-spotted pitchers are up to 20 cm tall and have a wide red peristome."
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Although this Nepenthes is closely related to ventricosa and is supposed to be an easy grower and a good candidate for the windowsill, I have been having so much trouble with it! I received mine as an extra-large plant from Carnivero in June 2020. I probably will never buy another large+ size plant again without pictures of the specific plant I am purchasing - it arrived with about 8 inches of bare stem, looking like a palm tree! Hopefully it produces basal shoots soon! It then took another 4 months to acclimate. It finally produced its first pitcher in October 2020. I was a little disappointed with the small, pale peristome, but it also has a tubby pitcher body with interesting red coloration.
I suspect that this Nepenthes would prefer a greater night time drop in temperatures. Crossing fingers that it has improved pitchers in the coming Fall and Winter months!
I suspect that this Nepenthes would prefer a greater night time drop in temperatures. Crossing fingers that it has improved pitchers in the coming Fall and Winter months!
Update December 2020
Whelp, I just couldn't take how poorly this plant was doing anymore and chopped it, just like I did with x briggsiana Peter D'Amato. I rooted the top as a stem cutting and I think it has already improved! The newest leaf looks much healthier now that its been separated from its roots. Sometimes just doing a hard reset seems to be the answer to some of these mysterious conditions... updates to follow...
Burkei rooted VERY quickly and the new leaves look great!
Sadly, this plant failed to thrive!
Despite my attempts to revive the plant, this plant never grew well for me. It eventually withered away (probably root rot) and when I checked the roots in my frustration, they were almost nonexistent. I will no doubt try again one of these days, but you can't win them all!
RIP - Previous Growing Conditions: South-Facing Living Room Window
Light: ~260 - 460 PPFD or 16530 - 20110 Lux (depends on the weather outside)
Humidity: ~80% night and 55% day
Temperature: ~68F night and 90F day (depends on weather outside)
- Would probably prefer a great drop in night time temperatures
Water: Moist but not wet
Potting Mix: 100% long fibered sphagnum
Fertilizer: MaxSea (1/4 tsp/gallon) every other week into pitchers
Additional Notes: A somewhat fussier Nepenthes than I expected! Very long acclimation to produce its first pitcher.
Light: ~260 - 460 PPFD or 16530 - 20110 Lux (depends on the weather outside)
Humidity: ~80% night and 55% day
Temperature: ~68F night and 90F day (depends on weather outside)
- Would probably prefer a great drop in night time temperatures
Water: Moist but not wet
Potting Mix: 100% long fibered sphagnum
Fertilizer: MaxSea (1/4 tsp/gallon) every other week into pitchers
Additional Notes: A somewhat fussier Nepenthes than I expected! Very long acclimation to produce its first pitcher.