The Care and Feeding of Heliamphora, Sun Pitchers Ó 2003

By Karen Oudean

In Venezuela, Guyana and Brazil, isolated tabletop mountains rise two to five thousand feet above the tropical forests of South America. Shrouded in clouds, the Sun Pitchers thrive in shallow bogs and pools on the flat tops of these fantasy towers. Waterfalls tumble from the faces of these mountains during frequent rainstorms.

The plants themselves appear to be clumps of upright leaves that have been rolled and seamed so the sides meet and form a funnel shaped tube. The leaf is topped off with an inverted spoon that has nectar glands on the underside to attract insects. The leaf fills with rainwater to drown the bugs after they slide down the hairs in the tube but the nectar is protected from the torrential rains. The long lasting flowers are long stemmed and lily-like, dressed in white and often kissed with shell pink.

These plants are not the easiest carnivorous plants to grow because of their specific needs. If you pay attention to their requirements they will reward you for many years.

Species discussed: Heliamphora nutans, H. minor, H. heterodoxa, H. ionasii,

H. tatei and their varieties and hybrids.

1. General Requirements:

Heliamphoras require a very high humidity level. Their best growing temperatures are 45°F to 50°F at night and 60ºF to 80ºF during the day. The best way to achieve these conditions in most climates is to grow the plants in covered terrariums or in cool or warm greenhouses under a mist system or near a swamp cooler or cold steam unit. If you live in a warm coastal climate where the temperatures stay above 35ºF in winter, you may be able to grow the Sun Pitchers outdoors in an area protected from salt spray and hot dry winds.

Orchid fertilizer may be used once or twice a month as a foliar feeding. I have good results with DYNA-GRO liquid Grow nutrient solution. I use a spray bottle to mist the plants or water them overhead with a sprinkling can. Fertilize every two or three weeks.

2. Light Requirement:

Heliamphoras grow in the clouds with occasional sun breaks. They appreciate high indirect light levels or partly sunny conditions. Greenhouses in noncoastal areas may need shade cloth. If you grow the Sun Pitchers in a dry fish tank use a full spectrum fluorescent plant light in the light fixture. In a covered glass or plastic container, a 23W compact fluorescent plant light in a desk lamp should be placed over or on the side of the container. Whatever container is used, it should also be located near a sunny window just out of the sun. Glass and plastic heat up quickly in direct sun light. The plants should be grown in pots and set in gravel rather than planted in soil in the terrarium container.

3. Water Requirements:

This is a bog plant. Never let the soil dry out. Distilled water, rainwater or water filtered with a reverse osmosis unit should be used. Plants grown under a daily misting system should be placed so the pots will drain. In greenhouses with swamp coolers or cold steam units but no daily overhead water systems the pots may be allowed to stand in a half inch or so of water. Terrarium plants should be checked once a month to be sure the soil is damp.

4. Potting Instructions:

Winter and spring are the best times to repot Heliamphoras. Their fleshy, white roots are extremely delicate. A light touch is very important. If your plant needs dividing use a sharp knife to avoid bruising plant tissue. Make sure each division has a growth point and a root system. I use a soil mix of 2 parts superfine perlite or washed builders sand and 1 part peat moss. Mix and moisten the ingredients well. In the bottom of a 3”(or larger) pot, place just enough orchid bark or crushed gravel to cover the holes so the soil mix stays in place. Fill the rest of the pot with soil mix. Press it firmly into the pot. Make a depression, in the soil, in the center of the pot, large enough for the plant’s root ball. Make sure the depression is large enough to fit the roots of the plant without bending or breaking them. Lift the root ball and a little soil mix with a spoon or similar tool and place it in the depression in the soil. Carefully place the roots and base of the plant at the same soil level they were previously growing. Gently, cover the roots with soil. If you feel you need to press the soil mix down, do it very lightly so the roots will not be crushed. Tap the bottom of the pot to settle the soil. Water the plant overhead to finish settling the soil mix and rinse off the leaves.

5. Comments:

If the nectar spoons shrivel or do not develop the humidity is too low or the temperature is too high. Any questions not answered? E-mail me at cambrp@premier1.net

For More Information: Timber Press sells the book “Carnivorous Plants of the World” by Pietropaolo and Pietropaolo. “ The Savage Garden” is a great new book by Peter D’Amato.