How much do pitcher plant seeds cost? A detailed guide to growing methods
The pitcher plant is the collective name for all species in the genus Nepenthes, also known as monkey cup, monkey pitcher, piglet cage and so on. It is a tropical carnivorous plant of the family Nepenthaceae, genus Nepenthes, named for its unique nutrient-absorbing organ——the pitcher, whose shape resembles a pig cage. The main purpose of growing pitcher plants is to admire their strange insect-catching organs. Let us take a look together at pitcher plant seed prices and growing methods below!
How much does one pitcher plant seed cost?
The price of pitcher plant seeds is about 0.3 to 0.5 yuan per seed, but prices vary greatly depending on seed quality, variety, market and so on. The commonly used propagation methods for pitcher plants include cuttings, layering and sowing, but propagating pitcher plants from seed is not easy, because pitcher plants are dioecious plants. For pitcher plants to set seed, plants of both sexes must be present; however, female pitcher plants are relatively few in number, so growers with only a small planting have difficulty getting pitcher plants to produce seeds.
Sowing methods for pitcher plants
1. Sowing substrate: Because pitcher plant seeds are very small, it is best to use a fine-grained growing substrate such as peat when sowing, so that the seeds do not fall into narrow gaps.
2. Sowing method: When sowing pitcher plants, to spread the seeds evenly over the substrate, mix the seeds with a small amount of sand and then sprinkle the mixture onto the sowing substrate.
3. Humidity management: After sowing pitcher plants, the substrate must be kept moist, and high air humidity is also needed. You can seal the pot opening with cling film and poke a few holes in it.
4. Light management: The germination of pitcher plant seeds requires light, so placing them in a bright spot helps germination, but they must not be exposed to direct sunlight, otherwise the high heat caused by strong light will kill the seedlings.
5. Timely transplanting: Pitcher plants take a relatively long time to germinate, about one month. After germination, the air humidity can be gradually reduced, and after about six months to a year the small seedlings can be transplanted so that they do not become too crowded.
Growing methods for pitcher plants
1. Soil: The soil for growing pitcher plants is best a loose, fertile and airy leaf mold or peat soil. For potted plants, a mixed substrate of peat soil, sphagnum moss, charcoal and fir bark shavings is commonly used.
2. Watering: Pitcher plants are relatively sensitive to water and can only grow and develop normally under high humidity conditions. During the growing season they need frequent spraying, 4 to 5 times a day.
3. Sunlight: Under natural conditions the pitcher plant is a semi-shade plant. Under strong direct sunlight in summer it must be shaded, otherwise the leaves are easily scorched, directly affecting the development of the leaf pitchers; however, under long-term shady conditions, the leaf pitchers form slowly and small, and the colors on the pitcher surface are dull.
4. Temperature: The suitable growing temperature for pitcher plants is 25 to 30°C, from March to September it is 21 to 30°C, and from September to March of the following year it is 18 to 24°C. In winter the temperature should not be lower than 16°C; below 15°C the plants stop growing, and below 10°C the leaf edges suffer frost damage.
5. Fertilizing: When growing pitcher plants there is no particular need to fertilize, because pitcher plants can usually catch insects on their own and convert them into nutrients. If the pitcher plant has insects to eat, there is no need to fertilize it further.
6. Pests and diseases: Pitcher plants are often harmed by leaf spot disease and scale insects. For leaf spot disease, spray with a 1000-fold dilution of 50% zineb wettable powder; for scale insects, spray with a 2000-fold dilution of 40% dimethoate emulsifiable concentrate.
7. Pruning: The pitchers of pitcher plants, like the leaves of other plants, also age and die. Under normal suitable conditions each pitcher can survive for several months. Once it has withered, you can cut it off to make the whole plant look more beautiful.