N. hirsuta "spotted"
purchase date: 4 / 02
arrived as a size 3
plant origin: Malesiana Tropicals
photo taken:  6 / 04

Nepenthes hirsuta was a species I first purchased in 1993 from California Carnivores as a rooted cutting. Back then, I used to grow my Nepenthes as hanging plants in front of a window. Later, I made a large terraium and grew the plant in a closet under grow lights. Eventually I had to move and I gave the plant away. I remember N. hirsuta had a "hairy" growing stem. I've seen two varieties for sale; green and spotted. There's a good photo of the spotted form on the poster "Nepenthes of Sarawak". I decided to try and grow my guy outdoors because N. hirsuta was at the upper range of 1000 meters to becoming highland material and also very cheaply priced.  My plant has adapted well to my outdoor growing conditions and is pitchering up. In the past, I've had difficulties with this species outdoors because of the papery leaves and lower humidity. If adapting to outdoor conditions, do it during the spring months when temperature and humidity is most favorable. This species will do fine indoors or in typical lowland conditions.

Cultivation: moderate to semi-difficult outdoors; fairly easy under normal lowland conditions or as a windowsill plant
Market availability: size 3 to rooted cuttings; common
Species variability: green, spotted forms
$ / size: inexpensive; $15.00 and up for larger specimens and cuttings
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: unknown