Heliamphora

Family. Sarraceniaceae.

Origin. Guyana, Venezuela and Brazil.

Description. Heliamphora is a beautiful insectivorous perennial herbaceous plant. The pitcher-shaped leaves of most species are green, but some individuals have red or very dark burgundy - almost black pitchers 20-35 cm long, 3-5 cm in diameter. Even green pitchers have noticeable red veins. The pitchers are equipped with short, downward-directed hairs with a silky sheen. A characteristic feature of these plants is that the pitchers have a gland at the top that secretes a sweet liquid that attracts insects. At the bottom of the pitchers there is often juice that digests insects. Excess juice, as well as excess water when watering, flows through a small crack in the leaf. Peduncles are tall - about 60 cm, rise vertically above the pitchers, carry 3-5 white or pinkish flowers that open one by one over several weeks. The buds do not have true petals, but consist of sepals.

Height. Mature plants have peduncles up to 65 cm tall and pitchers up to 35 cm. 

Home care

Temperature conditions

Regular room temperature year-round. Does not like heat; daily differences between day and night temperatures within 10 ° C have a very good effect on growth.

Lighting

A large amount of direct sunlight, light shading only on hot summer days.

Care

Heliamphora does not require a winter dormancy period and grows all year round. 

Substrate

Poor soil, well drained, for example consisting of sphagnum moss, perlite, pumice, pine bark, coarse sand.

Feeding

Plants can be sprayed with a hydroponic solution high in nitrogen and other nutrients, or the nutrients can be supplied directly into the pitchers.

Flowering time

Summer.

Air humidity

High air humidity. Use a room humidifier or place the pot on a tray of damp pebbles.

Soil moisture

For watering, use only soft rain or distilled water at room temperature. In summer, water deeply and often. 

Transplant

Mature specimens need to be repotted every 2-3 years and take a long time to establish.

Reproduction

The easiest way is with lateral processes. Seeds that are sown on clean sphagnum moss and kept at constant high humidity. Seeds germinate within a few weeks, plants obtained in this way bloom after about 7 years.

Pests and diseases

Botrytis. Of the harmful insects, the main danger is aphids, scale insects, and mealybugs.