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A lovely horticultural cross between two impressive truncata specimens!
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Has it reached its final form yet? October 2022
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Getting so big so fast! February 2021
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Nepenthes truncata is one of my favorite species out of the entire genus. Although it is named because of the truncated leaves, the species is most famous for attaining absolutely massive sizes! The pitchers themselves can easily top 1 foot in length and mature specimens can be up to 5 feet in diameter. First described using only a few dried leaf specimens by John Muirhead McFarlane in 1911, he remarked that "mature plants must present a striking appearance that must rival or even surpass that of N. rajah." He was not far off! N. truncata remains one of the few pitcher plants that is documented to eat vertebrate prey in the wild, and indeed, a lot of adult N. truncata growers say that their greenhouse specimens regularly trap and consume pesky mice!
Every pitcher just keeps getting better and better! June 2020
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The gorgeous truncated leaves are almost heart-shaped. June 2020
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So much color! May 2020
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This particular truncata is really special to me. Predatory Plants is about an hour south of San Francisco in the lovely Halfmoon Bay. For the opening of their public brick-and-mortar storefront, they gifted visitors with a tiny Titanic Tyrant seedling that you got to choose out of a seedling flat. I remember peering over all of the tiny seedlings in the tray Josh Brown proffered to me and another customer. The other guy got there just a few minutes before me and had first pick - he selected a lovely one that was already showing bright red pitchers. I chose one of the last ones that had a lovely rosy blush on its tiny pitchers. I had no idea WHAT I had just picked, other than it was adorable. I didn't fully grasp the concept that these were genetically unique seed grown individuals sown from an utterly GIGANTIC and soon to be famous female Nepenthes truncata named Titan!
Starting to gain size! January 2020
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First frowny face! June 2019
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TINY FUZZY SEEDLING! August 2018
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This plant is extremely vigorous and definitely one of my fastest growing Nepenthes. As you can see from the pictures, every new leaf brought a sizable increase in both leaf and pitcher size. The pitcher-to-leaf ratio has been consistently impressive, the massive pitchers dwarfing the robust, heart-shaped leaves. My particular individual has a wonderful dark flaring peristome with ruffles on the edges and a dark reddish-brown elongated pitcher body with lime-green wings. The interior is has lovely speckles and the lid is constantly dripping nectar. I love comparing siblings to my plant in the Truncata Lovers Anonymous group on FaceBook - there is quite a lot of variation from within the same seed set! Some have even wider and more dramatic peristomes, others have thinner ones that fold down along the pitcher body, and the range in colors, patterns, and shapes is so interesting!
I love when the pitchers first open! Amazing colors! October 2020
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So many beautiful colors and shapes! October 2020
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Update November 2020
Older pitchers are so dark and moody!
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Wow leaf jumps! It really loves the new Carnivero Florawave SV40 lights! November 2020
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December 2020
Love the shape of this newest pitcher!
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SWOON
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Getting larger!!
N. robcantleyi on the left and N. truncata on the right - they look pretty different to me!
August 2022
That's a BIG, MALE, STINKY flower! Almost hit the light!
My little Titanic Tyrant is not so little anymore! It flowered male (HUGE stalk!) and I was able to send the pollen to some friends. Looking forward to some promising crosses! I also saved some pollen in the fridge, so we will see if anything comes of it.
Predatory Plants also asked to use my photo in one of their ads! If that isn't validation, I don't know what is :) |
ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED! Predatory Plants asked to use one of my photos for their sales ad!
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I also experimented with treating my plants with mycorrhizae this year and WOW the leaf jumps on the truncata and truncata hybrids were HUGE! I can safely say that they benefit greatly from mycorrhizae applications! Now if I could just remember to fertilize them regularly, too!
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Current Growing Conditions:
Intermediate/Highland Grow Tent Light: Mars Hydro TSL 2000 LED Grow Light Humidity: ~95-100% constant (MistKing set to 30s every 2 hrs) Temperature: ~60F night and 80F day Water: Moist but not wet Potting Mix: 50% long fibered sphagnum moss 50% perlite Fertilizer: MaxSea (1/4 tsp/gallon) every other week into pitchers and lightly spray leaves Additional Notes: Easy in warm intermediate conditions. Grows FAST. Be prepared to give it LOTS of room! |
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