Australian pitcherplant 'Cephalotus follicularis' 'XL'

The Australian pitcher plant or Cephalotus follicularis is a unique, carnivorous indoor plant. Its leaves are moulded into almost demonic-looking, red cup-like shapes. These cups look really dangerous with hairs and grooved edges. They serve as snares for the unsuspecting insects. The insects drop into the cup and cannot climb out again. At the bottom of the cup is a thin layer of liquid , in which the insects finally drown. The plant makes avid use of the dead bodies by releasing enzymes into the liquid thereby extracting the nutrients out of the insects.

The Australian pitcher plant or Cephalotus follicularis is an unusual carnivorous plant to cultivate. The temperature during the day may rise to some 25° Celsius [ 77° F ]. At night it has to be somewhat cooler. Just like most carnivorous plants these species like a great deal of sunlight but they may also be grown in half shadow. The red colour of the cups only emerges by very high light intensity. Take care when the plant is at rest in the winter period, that it is placed in a cool but light spot. The ideal temperature in winter is between 5° - 15° Celsius [ 41° - 59° F ]. Cephalotus follicularis likes a humid environment. In summer the plant can be stood in a saucer filled with water but in winter the soil has to be kept moist. For cultivation purposes a mix of peat and perlite as well as mixtures with chili spaghnum are successfully used. For this very special plant Araflora also has suitable, ready-made or substrate mixtures for sale