Beginner Friendly Nepenthes

1. Nepenthes Bloody Mary

    (Ventricosa x Ampullaria)

This is a beautiful hybrid that shares a lot of resemblance to its parent plant and one of my favorite nepenthes, Ampullaria. See the images below and compare the similarities!

Photo Credits: Left – Bloody Mary Nepenthes by Henrik Strand | Right – Red Ampullaria by David P. Evans

During the time I have grown it, it has seen some harsh treatment. It has survived my beginner clumsy care, it has survived me moving house, where for almost 2 years it was moved from one place to another, often been forgotten about and as a result, left to dry… 🙁

I know, I know. I am a monster!

A super beginner friendly Nepenthes Bloody Mary catches a moth from my small collection.

Despite all this,.. and I will be honest, it started looking pretty shabby! Leafs were dying and drying up. It had not grown a trap since we moved to the new house. Despite all this, after I re-potted it in Fresh media. I found it a nice place and gave it regular constant care with regular misting from my spray bottle, it has flourished and bounced back to life! I really look forward to talking about this in a future post, I’m absolutely thrilled.
Nepenthes Bloody Mary is a Terminator! I can say from my own experience that this hybrid is almost beginner bomb proof!

2. Nepenthes Maxima

Photo Credits: Left – N. Maxima by Tom Charlton | Right – N. Maxima from Sulawesi by Alfindra Primaldhi

Nepenthes Maxima is one truly beautiful plant, with vigorous growth and beautiful large pitchers. Maxima plants can vary greatly in their pitcher form, so find one you love!

As of writing Maxima is still on my wish list to add to my small collection. It is well known to be highly adaptable from what I have read and an excellent beginner’s choice.

3. Nepenthes Veitchii

Photo Credits: Left – A Wild N. Veitchii by Marc Anderson | Right – N. Veitchii “Candy Dreams” by Jeremiah CPS

Another Gorgeous nepenthes on my wish-list. In fact, beauty wise, it in my “Top 5 All Time Favourites!”

I dream of owning a thriving full grown plant, that I can show off to every willing or unwilling passer by.

Veitchii is a must have for any budding nepenthes enthusiast. It has a beautiful form and exaggerated peristome, or lip.

I really love this plant, and hope one day, to be watering one on my patio.

4. Nepenthes Ventricosa

Photo Credits: Left – Nepenthes Ventricosa by Dean Cook | Right – N. Ventricosa by Jeremiah CPS

It really pains me to say it. I had a smashing little ventricosa, it is another beautiful must-have plant.

Ventricosa is a very adaptable plant and has great vigorous growth. I love the thin narrow leaves, jug-like pitchers, and flat horizontal waxy toilet seat-like lid. If I could own one like in the picture by Dean Cook. I would be doing somersaults every time I saw it!

Sadly my ventricosa died in the dark ages of my nepenthes growing. It was a very young plant and did not have the endurance of an older mature plant like my bloody mary. I plan to search one out again soon and add it to my little collection.

5. Nepenthes Hookeriana

(Ampullaria x Rafflesiana)

Photo Credits: A pot with a mature N. Hookeriana by Baja Exotic Garden

Nepenthes Hookeriana, also known as Hooker’s Pitcher-plant is another really beautiful naturally occurring hybrid between N. Ampullaria and N. Rafflesina. 

This gem can be found in garden centers and grows very densely and forms many basal growth points at the base. I acquired one a few months back and already have been able to divide it into a few plants. Hookeriana is a very durable beginner friendly pitcher plant that will reward you with plenty of stunning speckled pitchers.

Thanks for reading. I hope this short post has been useful in some way.

Be sure to check out the Interactive Guild at Toms Carnivores I have found it to be an invaluable guild for researching possible beginner friendly nepenthes that I would like to grow, to give me an idea of how adaptable they might be.