|
NEPENTHES: Tropical Pitcher Plants |
The
majority of Nepenthes species are indigenous to southeast Asia, although
their range extends from northeastern Australia to northern India. The
island of Borneo is particularly rich in endemic species.
In their native habitat, Nepenthes are found at a
variety of altitudes, from sea level up to an altitude of 3000 meters
(10,000 ft) depending upon the species. In the tropics, the climate can
change dramatically as the elevation increases. Plants adapt to these
climatic zones, and become somewhat intolerant of environmental
conditions differing from the climate of their indigenous region. When
cultivating Nepenthes, it's necessary to mimic the native
environment of each species as closely as possible, in order to maintain
the health and appearance of the plant. Nepenthes species are classified
as Lowland and Highland; these categories indicate the approximate
elevation where the species normally occurs.
Lowland species prefer a warm, steamy environment with
a daytime temperature of 30 - 35 Celsius and a nighttime temperature of
approximately 28 Celsius.
Highland species prefer a daytime temperature of 20 -
25 Celsius with a nighttime drop down to 5 - 15 Celsius. |
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