N. albomarginata "Penang red"
purchase date: 1 / 03
arrived as a size 3
plant origin: Exotica Plants
photo taken: 7 / 04

Nepenthes albomarginata is more of a lowlander than a highlander. It grows from 0-1100m in nature. A variety of color forms exist: green, purple, red and many other locality names. All N. albo's have the white collar around the peristome. Hence the name "albomarginata". I have had mixed success growing them outdoors. The red variety is doing fine for me outdoors although it drastically slows down in winter. When the temperatures warm up in spring, it comes back as normal. To me, N. albomarginata has a somewhat papery leaf that makes it prone to lower humidity problems, but the red variety doesn't seem to mind as much. I have 2 purple varieties that I'm currently growing. My first one I purchased from the CP Jungle years ago and grew it outdoors. It did alright through summer but really stressed in winter. I moved it indoors and it seemed to bounce back. Because it started doing well, I put it back outdoors. I ended up growing that one as a windowsill plant and it is doing better. I recall the pitchers on that plant being very similar in color to those in Chien Lee's poster Nepenthes Pitcher Plants of Sarawak. Then I got a chance to bid and win another albo purple on the Terraforums annual auction. Tony Paroubek donated one from his collection. I believe his came from Exotica Plants as well. This guy is outdoors and doing fine. It potted up well and didn't have any shock or stress. When the temperatures start declining, I may have to move it indoors to avoid leaf damage and / or death! But I think it will do fine. N. albomarginata is an easy growing plant that will do just fine in typical lowland conditions and as a windowsill specimen. If grown outdoors, it may have to be moved indoors until spring when temperatures again increase. 

Cultivation: moderate grower as a highlander; more vigorous as a lowlander or windowsill plant. Monitor during winter months for stress levels if grown outdoors
Market availability: size 3 to rooted cuttings
Species variability: red / white, purple, red spotted, green, and other locality names
$ / size: moderate; $25.00 and up for larger plants and cuttings
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: unknown