Question

My growing area   What can I do inside? I haven't got room for a philodendron.  The windowsill is definitely CP territory.  What can I give the Nepenthes x ventrata I'm ordering to climb on a not-too-well-lit-two-and-a-half-foot-window-with-a-gro-light already using room for a Cape Sundew,a butterwort (soon), and extra space for a pygmy sundew and bladderwort someday (plus an alarm clock)? I've included a picture of the growing area.
John

Answer
Hi John,

Thank-you for sending the photo.  That always helps.

The trellis part is easy.  You can use bamboo stakes and some twist and ties, or they make some different types of coated wire to wrap around plant stems.  It's not something you would need to do right away, but if you want the plant to go up, it needs something to climb on.  Some garden centers have actual houseplant trellises.  Here's an example:  https://www.earlmay.com/products/index.cfm?houseplant_mini_trellis&show=product&productID=21971  You'll just have to check with local garden centers to see what they have.  From the picture you see and example of a commercial unit, but with a little creativity you should be able to fashion something from what you already have around.  This is not an exact science, and there is no one right way to do this.  Nepenthes are fine hanging too, or sprawling out.

To make your little window work for the number of plants you're planning on getting you need to think about having a shelf there.  I used to have a houseplant shelf (got it at Lowe's I think?) of a coated wire construction.  It fit neatly in a window up on a table.  The wire unit had the advantage of letting more light through than something solid.  Here's an example:  http://www.lowes.com/pd_498310-47981-52334_4294612572__?productId=50022574&Ns=p_
This kind works great too:  http://www.lowes.com/pd_328959-80752-142430B-DS_0__?productId=3468765&Ntt=steel+

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com