Exposure & location

The Nepenthes alata likes bright light, but always indirect. Place it in a bright room, near an east or north-facing window, or under soft artificial light. It fears direct sun, which would burn its pitchers and thin leaves.

• Exposure: bright light without direct sun.
• Ideal: hanging, bright windowsill, bright bathroom, or temperate veranda.
• Temperature: between 18 and 28 °C, protected from drafts.
• Substrate: mix of sphagnum, peat, and perlite, always light and moist.

Verdeia tip: Nepenthes loves humid environments — a water tray or a mister will help it keep its pitchers well-formed.

Watering & care

• Water: only rainwater or demineralized water to avoid lime scale.
• Frequency: keep the substrate always slightly moist without excess stagnant water.
• Humidity: high (60–80 %) to keep the pitchers well colored.
• Fertilizer: unnecessary, the plant naturally captures small insects.
• Pruning: remove dry pitchers and clean the foliage to encourage new growth.
• Repotting: every 1 to 2 years in a fresh mix of peat and sphagnum.

Place your Nepenthes on a bed of moist clay pellets to stabilize the ambient humidity around the decorative pot.

Decor ideas & plant combinations

With its hanging pitchers and drooping silhouette, the Nepenthes alata is perfect in a hanging planter or on a high shelf. It creates a spectacular effect in bright interiors with tropical and contemporary style.

• To combine with: Nepenthes ‘Gaya’, Drosera capensis, or Dionaea muscipula for a unique carnivorous plant composition.
• Ideal pot: light hanging planter in natural fiber or matte ceramic decorative pot in light color.
• Ambiance: perfect for an urban jungle or a plant-filled bathroom.

Pair it with soft lighting and natural materials (wood, rattan, sandstone) to enhance its tropical aesthetic.

Verdeia tips

• Regularly mist its foliage to maintain constant humidity.
• Avoid too dark exposures: it would lose its pitchers.
• Never use tap water, too hard for its roots.
• Do not manually feed the pitchers: they manage on their own.
• Provide warmth, soft light, and humidity: the winning trio for a thriving Nepenthes.

Technical characteristics

• Botanical name: Nepenthes alata
• Common name: Pitcher plant / Winged Nepenthes
• Origin: Philippines (humid tropical forests)
• Pot size: Ø12 cm
• Approximate height: 17 cm
• Adult size: up to 40 cm
• Exposure: bright light without direct sun
• Watering: regular, moist substrate
• Care: moderate
• Toxicity to animals: non-toxic
• Decorative style: Urban jungle / Tropical

Each plant is unique: photos show an example of its appearance. The shape, size, and hues of its pitchers naturally vary depending on light and humidity.