Nepenthes lowii growth rate

[Sockhom]

Hello .


Nepenthes lowii is known as one of the slowest species. At least, that's what most of us have been told.
I ordered some plants from Andreas Wistuba last year and ,to my surprise, plantlets developed at a more than satisfying rate.
Maybe they have somehow inherited of a vigor that TC plants sometimes show. I don't know. You tell me.


Just the facts:

Nepenthes lowii, december 12th 2006 (a few months after reception). The center specimen barely reached 6 cm across:





The same plants on december 9th 2007:







The larger specimen is now more than 10 cm across. Not too bad for a year of growth, eh?


François.

[sarracenialover]

nice, Nepenthes Lowii are easy to get these days. Do they produce digestive fluid to digest insects? I heard they're now catching bird droppings (ewwwwwwww).

[bluesboy]

Here's a more long term growth rate; I've had this guy, from Mt. Kinabalu, for about 6 or 7 years- I got it at 1 1/2" across, after all that time it's about 16-17" across, and still has transitional pitchers. It's a long time to wait before you see the bird-feces-eating uppers, but when it happens I'm sure it'll be worth it.

Here's the whole plant:


another shot;


a pitcher;


and another


Some have suggested renaming it Nepenthes slowii, for obvious reasons. Yeah, if you want an easy plant that takes forever get one of these guys, especially the Mt. kinabalu forms, which I think are even slower than the tc Mt. Trusmadi forms that are circulating these days. A real patience tester- every pitcher that develops; ... is it... is it... damn, another lower pitcher. Imagine that for about 6 years and you get the picture. Enjoy anyway, Nick 'bluesboy'

[sarracenialover]

does anyone have a nepenthes lowii with true upper pitchers?

[Jeremiah]

There are a few growers the do but not very many.





-Jeremiah-

[sarracenialover]

That's a sweet pitcher! Can it still digest insects even though I could probably give it poop?

[Sockhom]

Fantastic plant Jeremiah! How old is it?


François.

[sarracenialover]

probably 50 years lol! Just kidding, maybe 5 to 7 years??? I do have to stress the fact tat this plant is VERY slow growing.