N. lowii X spectabilis
purchase date: 06 / 12
arrived as a size 3
plant origin: Exotica Plants
photo taken:  01 / 13

Nepenthes lowii X spectabilis is an Exotica Plants hybrid between a two highlanders. All of Exotica's N. lowii hybrids are extremely popular and this one has a lot of potential to be very spectacular. This cross has been available for a while now and turns up in the forums but no upper pitchers with the N. lowii hourglass shape have been observed. Hopefully this will change as more mature specimens are grown out. I've had some difficulty getting this hybrid established from smaller specimens. I don't think they tolerate the cold as well as other highlanders and are a bit more tempermental getting acclimated outdoors. Both parent species have proven difficult to maintain long term outdoors for me especially N. spectabilis. My feeling is N. spectabilis likes more intermediate conditions than I can give it and stresses on cold nights. And N. lowii can rot out during winter if kept too wet which is difficult because of the rainy winter weather.  Finally I have a few plants that appear to be acclimated and accustomed to my lower night temperatures and should be more vigorous come spring.   

Cultivation: moderate grower outdoors, can stress in low 40's temps, needs time to acclimate to outdoor conditions
Market availability: size 3, large plants, rooted cuttings?; available 
Species variability: maybe a little among the seed grown plants 
$ / size: moderate to expensive: $40.00 to $75.00 for larger plants
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: unknown