Description
Nepenthes x “Big Bang” is the second seedling of the cross between Nepenthes (mirabilis “Viking” x ampullaria “Red Stripe”) and Nepenthes ampullaria ‘Black Miracle’. This hybrid has a very distinctive leaf, a deep green that turns bronze with increased light intensity. The leaf also exhibits red streaks that become denser towards the tendril. The pitcher is round and stout, with slight yellow-red streaks on the peristome. With the right light intensity, the entire pitcher, including the peristome, tends to turn dark red, almost black.
Origin:
Horticultural hybrid
Description:
- Climate: tropical
- Life-cycle: perennial (no dormancy)
- Shape: semi-climbing
- Leaves: deep green that turns bronze with increased light intensity
- Trap: round and stout, with the right light intensity, tends to turn dark red, almost black.
- Operculum: dark red
- Peristome: dark red with slight yellow-red streaks
Additional info:
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Care instructions
How we grow Nepenthes?
In-vitro plants are acclimated in a Grow Chamber with controlled temperatures and humidity. This indoor setup ensure an easy adaptation to extra-vitro condition, guaranteeing the best conditions for plants in this delicate stage. All plants available at the Diflora shop have been acclimatized for at least 3 months. After this first phase plants are grown indoors at a temperature of 20°C and a photoperiod of 16 hours. Nepenthes are placed under 4000/5000 lux produced by LED lights with a colour temperature of 6400K. As with the most of carnivorous plant we use distilled water (produced by a reverse osmotic system) or rain water.
Lighting:
For all Nepenthes it is ideal to place them in a shady area (veranda, porch, under large trees, etc…) or using shade cloths. If the humidity is high enough, direct sunlight in the early morning or late afternoon hours will not be a problem.
Watering:
Nepenthes poorly tolerates water stagnation, so the soil should always be moist, but never soaked with water.
In summer when temperatures are extreme it is possible to leave 1-2 cm of water in the saucer until it is absorbed. This is because evaporation is usually fast enough to prevent any stagnation. Only use distilled water. Alternatively, all waters with an extremely low mineral salt content are suitable. For example rainwater or all condensation water (air conditioner, dehumidifier). It’s important that the conductivity measures below 50 micro-Siemens.
Substrate:
While 50% peat and 50% perlite is fine as a general substrate, we recommend the Nepenthes substrate we have developed and tested for optimal growth of this genus, composed of a mixture of peat, perlite and bark.
Seasonally and temperature:
Nepenthes do not go into vegetative rest! As tropical plants they vegetate all year round but only under constant conditions.
The solutions for more or less constant conditions all year round are different depending on the type of habitat they belong to, i.e. whether Nepenthes are lowland, intermediate or highland.
This plant belongs to the Nepenthes lowland, so ideally you should have a terrarium or growbox with stable conditions all winter long as many of these Nepenthes (especially the ultra lowland, i.e. the more “delicate” ones) start to show signs of suffering already around 18-20°C. However, it is possible to “overwinter” them indoors as long as they are placed in a well-lit room where temperatures are not prohibitive for them or in a double window under the same conditions.
Additional info:
For more cultivation information visit our care guides or use our plant care support by writing to ilpigliamosche@diflora.it
Source
Diflora has begun the propagation of this Nepenthes using seeds germinated in vitro in our laboratory. This specimen was chosen for its uniqueness in terms of shape and color, resulting in a distinctive product in the market.
Trapping technique
To attract prey Nepenthes releases sweet substances on the edge of the pitcher. This essence attracts insects and they fall on the inside of the trap. Inside of it there is an acid liquid full of digestive enzymes. Escape from the pitcher is almost impossible. The inside has smooth walls and some species have hairs facing down that stop preys.
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