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A very cool recently described species with nearly spherical pitchers and excellent round wings!
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Pitchers starting to develop some great characteristics! October 2020
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Wonder how long the red venation will last? October 2020
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Tiny hairy pitcher fused directly to the end of the leaf! September 2020
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Super thin leaves and pitchers on this tiny seedling, September 2020
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From RedLeaf Exotics: "Recently described in 2018 by naturalists Marcello Catalano and Trong Kruetreepradit, N. orbiculata is distinguished by location and its unique pitcher morphology. They were previously called mirabilis var. globosa or ‘Viking’. Unlike the former, this species is only found off the shores of Thailand on the island of Phang Nga. Until DNA studies are done we won’t know for sure if its a true species or not. It may just be an extremely isolated population of mirabilis."
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I LOVE the little hairs on the top of its head! October 2020
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SO FAT! October 2020
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I obtained my seedling from Red Leaf Exotics in August 2020. I just fell in love with how cute and spherical the pitchers are! This was also one of my first true lowland species and I was nervous about purchasing it, but I am so in love with the plant that I decided to try it in my terrarium anyway. The leaves and pitcher walls are SUPER thin, almost like paper! After an initial acclimation period, my little seedling has started producing lots of new leaves and pitchers. I was surprised when some of the new pitchers look like they were fused directly to the end of the leaf, no tendril at all! Apparently this is common in the seedlings of some lowland species. I hope this means that the wings will be especially amazing later!
Red veins are even stronger on this one! Love the clamshell wings! November 2020
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Crazy leaf jumps! The leaves are redder than I would like - I need to lower the shelf or perhaps move it so the light is not so intense! November 2020
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Update October 2020
About two months after receiving it and this plant is really starting to pick up steam! The rate of growth has accelerated greatly and I swear it is a little larger every time I look at it. The newest pitchers are starting to get some interesting characteristics - lovely round wings, squat shape, and red venation on the lid and back of the pitcher. One of my favorite Nepenthes to check every day! A fellow grower remarked that their orbiculata seems sensitive to light. Mine seems to be happy at ~170 PPFD but the new leaves are definitely much redder than the seedlings next to it!
Update December 2020
SO
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INCREDIBLY
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ROUND!
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The newest pitchers CONTINUE to get even rounder (it's like holding a marble!) and the red venation is getting darker. Interesting how the peristome is still disconnected at the back. Really love how FAST this plant grows!
Update January 2021
Growing RIDICULOUSLY fast! Will need a re-pot soon!
Current Growing Conditions: Warm Intermediate Terrarium
Light: ~170 PPFD or 9730 Lux under 4000K LED shoplights
- Lovely red blushing on new leaves in good light
Humidity: ~90% night and 67% day
- Leaves and pitchers are PAPER thin and are sensitive to drops in humidity
Temperature: ~68F night and 85F day
Water: Moist but not wet
Potting Mix: 50% long fibered sphagnum 50% perlite
Fertilizer: MaxSea (1/4 tsp/gallon) every other week into pitchers
Additional Notes: VERY FAST and vigorous grower! Hairy pitchers are a joy when young. Pitchers get are delightfully round!
Light: ~170 PPFD or 9730 Lux under 4000K LED shoplights
- Lovely red blushing on new leaves in good light
Humidity: ~90% night and 67% day
- Leaves and pitchers are PAPER thin and are sensitive to drops in humidity
Temperature: ~68F night and 85F day
Water: Moist but not wet
Potting Mix: 50% long fibered sphagnum 50% perlite
Fertilizer: MaxSea (1/4 tsp/gallon) every other week into pitchers
Additional Notes: VERY FAST and vigorous grower! Hairy pitchers are a joy when young. Pitchers get are delightfully round!