October 2020. First mature pitcher under my care.
January 2022. This is the fourth mature pitcher, just achieving its final shape and strongest color.
March 2022. This new pitcher is slightly larger than the previous one, that can be seen in the foreground.
Close-up of the lid, or spoon. The excess of scented exudate drips over the mid rib of the pitcher. The hairy rim, in contrast to the glabrous inner side, is another interesting character of this fabulous species.
Same pitcher viewed form the top, showing the phytotelma.
Heliamphora macdonaldae combines in-your-face features with more subtle characteristics, making it the most fascinating species of the genus. The large, sculptural pitchers boast a prominent deep red nectar spoon and a highly unusual, very pronounced inner veining. There is more to see when looking closely, such as a line of hairs along the pitcher rim, and drops of nectar under the lid and along the neck.
- Source: Cerro Duida, Venezuela ; Wistuba clone
- Environment: terrarium placed close to a south-facing, blinded window
- Temperature: from 10°C at night to 25°C during the day in the coldest months ; from 15°C to 32°C in the warmest months
- Light: two 4000K 12W LED bars with reflector, located 50 cm above the plant, alight 12 hours a day ; occasional shaded sunlight in the morning from October to April
- Soil: 2 parts milled pine bark, 1 part coarse quartz sand, 1 part perlite, live sphagnum moss topping, in a planter made of compacted tree fern roots
- Watering: daily mistings of demineralized water on the sphagnum moss
© 2020-2023 Florent Chouffot, all rights reserved.