Tropical Pitcher Plant Nepenthes Alata Carnivorous
Nepenthese Alata AKA pitcher plant, each new pitcher or "monkey cup" can collect numerous insects that it attracts with its unique nectar and converts those digested insects into fertilizer. Excellent inside your home, very easy and forgiving. It is a vining plant and will do well by the window sill.
A tropical pitcher plant native to parts of South East Asia, India, Madagascar, and Australia. Most are vines, but some remain compact in growth habit. The name "Monkey Cups" comes from monkeys occasionally drinking the fluid in the pitchers. The pitcher is actually a swelling of the mid-vein in the leaf. Ensure that the soil is always kept moist. The pitchers should always have some water in them, so it is good to get some water in them while you're showering your plant, just make sure they are no more than 50% full of water. Failure to produce pitchers indicates that the plant isn't receiving adequate light, humidity, or water issues.
These plants thrive in humid environments and should only be watered with distilled or rainwater. They are sensitive to minerals, fluoride, and chlorine, which can cause yellowing or browning of their leaves. Additionally, avoid using regular soil, as it's too rich in nutrients for them. Instead, we offer Sphagnum Moss, which is the ideal medium for their growth. They prefer bright light. Fluorescent or other cool-temperature grow lights can be used for the indoor cultivation of smaller species. A terrarium of smaller carnivorous plants under such lights can make a great starter set-up.
Whether kept indoors or outdoors, there’s no need for regular feeding. They will naturally catch gnats or flies from the air, which provides them with the nourishment they need to stay healthy and vibrant.
Available in the following packaging based on your preference:
-
Nursery Pot - Standard plastic 2-inch or 4-inch hanging planter pot that can be placed inside a larger pot or left as is until it outgrows it.
We recommend you check our bundles for better pricing on the 2" nursery pot.
- Amelia Porcelain Hanging 4" - White or Blue your choice. This plant comes packaged in a hanging white round pot ready for your home or office space with an s-hook for ease of use to hang on any wall or patio area. The bottom is flat if you want to display the plant on a shelf or table without hanging it. Does have a hole for drainage.
- Olympia Ceramic 3.5" Marble Planter - The plant comes packaged in a grey-white marble style cylindrical porcelain planter raised on a white metal stand. Does have a hole for drainage.
- Nursery Hanging Planter - We now have a smaller 4" version of our hanging basket. The 8" basket is a huge version of our favorite. We now have this gorgeous 8" hanging planter available with some good-sized (3" +) pitchers on the plant. The pot opening is about 8-9" wide and 5" deep - the hanger is almost 15" long making the entire plant close to 22" total plus all the beautiful hanging pitchers.
Looking for more plant goodies? Check out our accessories.
For added humidity, our Lyfe Rose Gold Signature Mister will make a perfect addition to your plant shelf for both function and beauty. We also recommend adding our Plant Shield & Shine to your order for routine maintenance and pest prevention.
Our plants are shipped from our indoor greenhouse in South Florida. Please note all our plants are one of a kind and if you want to message us we can send you a picture of the exact one you will receive. The product image here is intended to be the best representation of what you can expect to receive but yours may have slightly less or more growth depending on the crop we have when your order is placed. Any lifestyle pictures are meant to demonstrate how a fully grown or more mature plant looks for you to get a sense of it in your space.
- Botanical Name
- Nepenthes Alata
- Common Names
- Tropical Pitcher Plant
- Plant Type
- Carnivorous Perennial
- Mature Size
- Can grow up to 8-12 inches tall; pitchers reach 4-6 inches
- Sun Exposure
- Bright, indirect light to partial sun
- Soil Type
- Well-draining, nutrient-poor medium (e.g., sphagnum moss and perlite)
- Watering
- Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; prefers distilled or rainwater
- Humidity
- High humidity (60-80%)
- Bloom Time
- Seasonal, typically in spring or summer
- Flower Color
- Unshowy, often greenish or reddish
- Hardiness Zones
- Zone 10-11; commonly grown indoors in all climates
- Native Area
- Tropical regions of Southeast Asia
- Toxicity
- Pet Friendly; non-toxic to cats and dogs
Two days only! Get free shipping on orders of $60 or more! Offer valid thru Nov. 13.
Plants ship from our location in Florida and arrive nationwide within 5-8 business days. All our plants ship exclusively with UPS to ensure they arrive timely and in good condition. For those users in Florida, George, North Carolina, South Carolina, or Virginia, shipping may be faster. Estimated shipping dates can be seen in checkout. Plant exclusions may apply.
We monitior the weather in each destination location to maximize the shipping time and utilize thermal protection to ensure that the plant is protected. You can add a heatpack or thermal bag to your order if temperatures at night fall below 40 degrees.
You can visit our shipping policy to learn more.