Nepenthes hybrids: Easy and Unusual!

by RedLeaf Exotics September 7, 2019

With exaggerated features and ease of growth, Nepenthes hybrids are rewarding to grow. They give you a chance to own something special for your collection. If you’re growing Nepenthes species you already know they require advanced setups and extra care to perform their best. The highland plants can be a little more demanding because they require nocturnal cooling and steady humidity. They may slow up and not pitcher if the correct conditions can’t be provided. We aren’t saying not to grow species, but they can be discouraging for those just starting out. Thankfully, tropical pitcher plant hybrids have opened the doors to a wider audience!

Nepenthes hybridization has brought a lot of easier to grow plants to the market. Nepenthes species strange and fascinating, but hybrids can be jaw-dropping and spectacular! The mixing of complimentary parents can produce unusual offspring and give growers a chance to own something that nobody else has, but everyone wants! Let’s face it, it’s nice to have that special plant in the collection.

Nepenthes (ventricosa x sibuyanensis) x (ventricosa x sibuyanensis) — Nepenthes (ventricosa x sibuyanensis)-squat x (ventricosa x sibuyanensis) is a stunning and easy to grow hybrid created by Exotica plants.

HYBRID VIGOR MAKES FOR EASIER TO GROW PLANTS!

This refers to the offspring carrying on the best genes from both the parents. Most hybrids can grow in a wider range of temperatures and handle lower humidity. Not all, but most grow quickly compared to their species counterparts. Having large, colorful pitchers sooner than later is certainly a preference. We’ve have seen some plants grow from 5 inches to mature plants in only a few months! This also allows growers to propagate their plants and share them with friends or make a few bucks on eBay. Our breeding program is focused on strong growing plants with exceptional traits.

N. truncata x bokorensis — N. truncata-giant x bokorensis produces large, attractive pitchers on very robust plants.

UNIQUE TRAITS MAKE EVERYONE SPECIAL!

The names just keep getting longer and breeders have opened the doors for more more color, bigger pitchers and peristomes. Exotica plants has created many world first hybrids and the peristomes just keep getting larger, toothier and more striped! For instance, lowii can be crossed with veitchii to give you lowii x veitchii. The offspring can be crossed with something like truncata. You’d end up with (lowii x veitchii) x truncata and then you can just keep adding and molding the results. It’s beyond fascinating! The endless combinations give growers a chance to own that one variant that can produce insane features!

Nepenthes x { x (maxima x mira)} is a complex hybrid that shows very dramatic traits on most the offspring. It’s an easy grower and a prime choice for a collector and novice!

Easy to grow Nepenthes hybrids at Redleaf Exotics. — N. x was created a few years back and most produce flared peristomes with a ton of stripes!

With endless combinations, Nepenthes hybrids offer a broad range of traits for growers to choose from. The image below shows a variety of hybrids we grow here at Redleaf Exotics. With a broad range of growing traits, collecting Nepenthes hybrids is exciting and keeps a grower both satisfied and looking for more!

We highly suggest Nepenthes hybrids to beginners and those with minimal grow set-ups. They produce a range of colors and shapes to keep you happy and wanting more. Give them a try and you won’t be disappointed! If you’d like to see some of our hybrids in action, checkout our Youtube channel!