Is the pitcher plant poisonous? Figure out the toxicity before you grow one
The pitcher plant is the general name for all species in the genus Nepenthes. Its native range is mainly the tropical regions of the Old World. In China, only one species occurs in Guangdong, and although it grows wild in places such as Sanling Mountain and Leizhou in Guangdong, it is rarely used. It was not until after the 1990s that superior varieties of pitcher plants introduced into China were mainly used for flower exhibitions. Let's take a look below at whether the pitcher plant is poisonous!
Is the pitcher plant poisonous?
The pitcher plant itself is not poisonous, but the nectar secreted by the nectaries inside the pitcher is mildly toxic and has a numbing effect. However, for these nectaries to harm the human body, at least 1000 milliliters would have to be extracted and drunk in one go, so for household growing the pitcher plant has essentially no toxicity, and as long as it is not eaten by mistake it will cause no harm. However, if there are small children at home, they might eat it by mistake, so special care is needed.
Does the pitcher plant eat insects?
The structure of the pitcher plant's insect-trapping pitcher is rather special, and the inner wall of the pitcher has a lot of wax and is very smooth. On the inner wall there are about 1 million digestive glands, which after the pitcher plant catches an insect can secrete a large amount of colorless, transparent, slightly fragrant acidic digestive fluid. This digestive fluid contains amines and coniine that can paralyze and poison insects. At the same time, on the inner side and the edge of the lid of the insect-trapping pitcher there are many nectaries that can secrete sweet, fragrant nectar to lure insects. When the insect-trapping pitcher opens this honey-pot lid, it attracts many greedy small insects. Once a small insect falls into the insect-trapping pitcher, the lid will immediately close automatically, and the insect quickly dies from poisoning. Before long, all its body parts are digested and absorbed as nutrients by the pitcher plant.
How do you grow a pitcher plant?
1. Soil: For growing pitcher plants, loose, fertile and airy leaf mold or peat soil is best. For potted plants, a mixed substrate of peat soil, sphagnum moss, charcoal and fir bark shavings is commonly used.
2. Watering: The pitcher plant is relatively sensitive to moisture and can only grow and develop normally under high humidity. During the growing season it needs frequent spraying, 4 to 5 times a day. If the temperature varies greatly or it is too dry, the formation of the leaf pitchers will be affected.
3. Sunlight: The pitcher plant is an epiphytic plant, often growing under large trees or on the north side of rocks, and its natural conditions are semi-shaded. Under strong direct light in summer, it must be shaded, otherwise the leaves are easily scorched, directly affecting the development of the leaf pitchers.
4. Temperature: The suitable growing temperature for the pitcher plant is 25 to 30°C, from March to September 21 to 30°C, and from September to March of the following year 18 to 24°C. In winter the temperature should not be lower than 16°C; below 15°C the plant stops growing, and below 10°C the leaf edges suffer frost damage.
5. Fertilizing: The pitcher plant is not demanding about fertilizer and does not need special fertilizing, because the pitcher plant can usually catch insects on its own to convert into nutrients. If the pitcher plant has insects to eat, there is no need to fertilize it again.
6. Pests and diseases: The pitcher plant often suffers from leaf spot disease and scale insect damage. 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: Under suitable conditions each pitcher of the pitcher plant can survive for several months. When it has already withered, you can cut it off to make the whole plant look prettier, but this is purely for appearance and has nothing to do with the health of the plant.