Growing Cephalotus and Nepenthes Outdoors in Tennessee: Shade and Cool Root Strategies

Question

What recommendations would you have for growing some of my carnivorous plants outdoors for the summer. I live in south middle TN. I am thinking of placing a N. biclarcata or a N. miranda in a hanging planter and hanging it from a tree branch so it would only get the full sun in the morning. I also have a few cephalotus I would like to experiment with growing outdoors during the warmer months. Should I do anything to keep the roots from getting too hot? Perhaps shade the middle of the day? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Answer

In the wild, Cephalotus will get partial to full sun. (Definition of full sun is 6 or more hours of direct sunlight.) However, they also have a constant supply of water running through their roots. To prevent your plant from over heating, you should shelter your plant from the intense summer sun, particularly in the afternoon. It's also a good idea to top water your plant daily.

Another worthwhile trick is to place the pot in a glazed ceramic pot that is just large enough to fit the pot with the Cephalotus. Make sure the ceramic pot has drainage holes because you don't want the Cephalotus to sit in water during the summer. Instead you want the water to drain through the pot. This is why you'll need to water daily. The daily watering will provide moisture and aeration. The glazed ceramic will shield the inner pot from intense sunlight, helping to keep the soil cool.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin