Re: nepenthes in southern california?

Oliver T Massey CFS (massey@hal.fmhi.usf.edu)
Fri, 17 Nov 1995 10:11:35 -0500 (EST)

(snip)
> Hi everyone,
>
> I am wondering whether anyone has any experience/advice/
> suggested specied or hybrids on growing Nepenthes outside
> in the Los Angeles area. I live in Pasadena (about 2 miles
> west of the Huntington Botanical Garden), in USDA zone 10
> (Sunset zone 21). Our high temperatures throughout the year
> are typically in the 60s-90s, with lows in the low 40s-low 60s.
> Our humidity is often low in the afternoons, particulary when
> it is hot, and often high in the night/morning, with fog not
> uncommon. Frosts are infrequent (I'm not sure that we ever hit
> freezing last winter) and light, giving way to much warmer days.
> Winters are rainy, summers dry.
> Thanks!
> Randy Story

Randy:

Here in Tampa I am in zone 9b. I believe zone 10 in Florida begins around
Sarrasota. I believe your experiences will be close to mine. Here I bring in
my Neps when the temps get down to around 55-60. I end up bringing the plants
in two or three times a year, typically for a few days, last year they spent
about a week indoors at one time. We did not have any hard freezes in Tampa
last year, although we did have frost several times. Humidity on the other
hand, can sometimes be a problem. I have a few plants that simply will not
pitcher outside, but will pitcher in terrariums under light - real pain in the
butt.

The zone map for Florida shows that it has 7 zones: 8a,b; 9a,b; 10a,b;
and 11. Zone 8a was described as having several freezes every year,
while 11 had 1 freeze every twenty years. I am right in the middle.

Hope this helps.
Tom in 9b

PS Yes it is a big pain to bring them in, I have a few really big ones that I
just throw a blanket over.