Nepenthes alata, the Winged Pitcher Plant, is a popular, adaptable carnivorous plant from the Philippines. It is known for its attractive, elongated pitchers with prominent "wings" that help trap insects.
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Light: Bright, indirect light is best. A few hours of direct morning sun can improve pitcher color, but avoid harsh midday sun.
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Temperature: Intermediate to warm. It thrives with daytime temperatures of 70-85°F (21-29°C) and night temperatures dropping to 60-70°F (16-21°C). It tolerates average house temperatures well.
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Humidity: Moderate to high (60% or higher). Good air movement is beneficial.
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Watering: Keep the potting medium consistently moist, but never soggy or waterlogged. Use only rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water to avoid mineral buildup.
Additional Notes
To ensure the plant is healthy and forming good traps, do not allow it to dry out entirely. It gets its own nutrients, so fertilizing is usually unnecessary, but a little fish food or a small insect placed in a pitcher can supplement its diet indoors.
