Nepenthes viking x N. ampullaria 'Black Miracle': The Pitcher Lid Has Opened

Nepenthes viking x N. ampullaria 'Black Miracle'

For Nepenthes viking x N. ampullaria 'Black Miracle', the pitcher first looked as small as a seed. I also had some doubts about whether a 15-watt LED would be enough, but after 23 days it formed a surprisingly decent-sized pitcher.

At first it felt much smaller, but with enough light the pitcher gradually swells, as shown below.

Pitcher before opening

Once the shape begins to settle, it turns almost like a small ripe plum. When it reaches this stage, the lid usually opens within a day or two.

In my case, I was worried the pitcher might hang down because of its size, so I rested it in the empty space around the Fuzzy Tooth pot.

For some reason, I thought the pitcher might grow better if its weight was supported.

This Nepenthes is honestly a bit of a troublemaker. Its leaves are so long that they reach into the space of nearby plants.

Nepenthes viking x N. ampullaria 'Black Miracle', Fuzzy Tooth, and a Nepenthes Gaya basal shoot

The current pitcher is around 5 cm across, and this hybrid can sometimes go beyond that size. Under stronger light, the shape can become slightly unusual, and that is exactly the kind of look I enjoy.

There is still little to no digestive fluid inside the pitcher, but it should form naturally over time. As digestion progresses, the scent and concentration are said to become stronger.