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An exciting hybrid combining 3 distinctive Nepenthes species!
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Tiny pitcher with wonderfully ruffled wings reminiscent of lowii! September 2020
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First time keeping Nepenthes in a net pot! Definitely helps prevent overwatering. September 2020
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Nepenthes lowii x 'Mixta' (northiana x maxima) is a complex cross combining some of the most distinctive Nepenthes species! This grex is a newer cross by Andrea Wistuba and only a few seed grown individuals were distributed. Exotica plants performed this cross some years ago and those plants are fantastic, especially the gorgeous upper pitchers!
Lowii as a seed parent contributes so many exciting characteristics to its offspring. Most lowii hybrids have incredible pitcher shape (constricted waist and wide opening and peristome), woody textures, red interiors, and sometimes even lid hairs and exudate. I hope that this particular cross shows these characteristics over time! The pollen parent, N. x 'Mixta' is a classic Victorian era hybrid. Although I don't think that the 'Mixta' used in this particular hybrid is a direct descendant of the original 'Mixta' cross, it is still worth knowing that northiana and maxima have been captivating Nepenthes growers since the beginning! In fact, Nepenthes x mixta was the very first hybrid created by the famous George Tivey, longtime nurseyman of the famous Veitch Nurseries.
Lowii as a seed parent contributes so many exciting characteristics to its offspring. Most lowii hybrids have incredible pitcher shape (constricted waist and wide opening and peristome), woody textures, red interiors, and sometimes even lid hairs and exudate. I hope that this particular cross shows these characteristics over time! The pollen parent, N. x 'Mixta' is a classic Victorian era hybrid. Although I don't think that the 'Mixta' used in this particular hybrid is a direct descendant of the original 'Mixta' cross, it is still worth knowing that northiana and maxima have been captivating Nepenthes growers since the beginning! In fact, Nepenthes x mixta was the very first hybrid created by the famous George Tivey, longtime nurseyman of the famous Veitch Nurseries.
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From An Abridged History of Nepenthes by Harry Veitch, 1906: "Tivey's first hybrid, Nepenthes x mixta, was from two beautiful species, N. northiana and N. curtisii, the latter the pollen parent. As might be expected N. x mixta is a fine cross, with pitchers 1 ft. or more in length, of a cream-yellow colour suffused with red and blotched as is N. northiana. The wings shallow, are deeply laciniated; the ribs, which form the mouth of the pitcher, of a rich shining crimson. It was distributed in 1893."
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Here we see again that N. maxima is referred to as "N. curtisii". There is definitely some controversy whether these early Victorian hybrids were performed with the real N. curtisii or with N. maxima. See the Nepenthes maxima page for the full story!
I received mine as a young plant from Exotica Botanica in September 2020. It arrived in the BEST PACKAGING I had EVER seen! Not a single speck of soil was out of place and it was shipped potted! I honestly feel like I could have hurled that package off the top of my apartment building and the plants still would have been in perfect condition. Thanks to the phenomenal packaging, the plant didn't skip a beat and already has a beautiful leaf jump and new developing pitcher. Good packaging really does help prevent acclimation issues! Currently located in my south window, I am very excited to see how this plant develops!
Current Growing Conditions: South-Facing 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)
Water: Moist but not wet - due to lowii parentage, letting it dry slightly more between waterings
- Arrived in a net pot. Dried out much faster! May consider pots like this for my other lowii hybrids!
Potting Mix: Still in Exotica Botanica mix - appears to be in long fibered sphagnum and LECA for drainage
Fertilizer: MaxSea (1/4 tsp/gallon) every other week into pitchers
Additional Notes: Excited to see this one develop!
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)
Water: Moist but not wet - due to lowii parentage, letting it dry slightly more between waterings
- Arrived in a net pot. Dried out much faster! May consider pots like this for my other lowii hybrids!
Potting Mix: Still in Exotica Botanica mix - appears to be in long fibered sphagnum and LECA for drainage
Fertilizer: MaxSea (1/4 tsp/gallon) every other week into pitchers
Additional Notes: Excited to see this one develop!