Tropical pitcher plant 'Nepenthes rafflesiana'

Nepenthes rafflesiana is a lowland species found throughout south-east Asia. In the wild it can grow to 15 metres but will rarely do so when cultivated indoors. Pitcher colouration varies greatly from dark purple to almost completely white. The typical form of Nepenthes rafflesiana is light green throughout with heavy purple blotches on the lower pitchers and cream-coloured aerial pitchers. When it blooms, Nepenthes rafflesiana produces clusters of yellowish brown flowers that can appear all year round.

As with other Nepenthes species, Nepenthes rafflesiana requires a great deal of sunlight, but not direct sunlight or it will become dehydrated. The best temperature to cultivate this species is between 20 and 30 degrees Celsius, certainly no lower than 10 degrees Celsius or higher than 35 degrees. It should be watered regularly with rainwater or distilled water, sprayed with water at regular intervals and kept in an environment with a high level of humidity. The best growing medium is neutral to slightly acidic peat. No additional feeding in the form of plant food is required.