N. ventricosa X mapuluensis "a"
purchase date: 7 / 06
arrived as a rooted cutting
plant origin: Exotica Plants
photo taken:  12 / 06

Nepenthes ventricosa X mapuluensis is an Exotica Plants hybrid between a highlander ( N. ventricosa) and a lowlander (N. mapuluensis). I have never seen a N. mapuluensis available so I don't know if Exotica Plants used their N. mapuluensis as the male parent or how this hybrid came to be. I think this is the only hybrid I've ever seen with N. mapuluensis. I've have had difficulty growing this hybrid outdoors as a highlander. I've found that it doesn't like highland temperatures and prefers to be grown more as an intermediate. It seems to tolerate temperatures to the mid 40's F for some period of time but doesn't like it at all below 40 F. I have moved my "a" clone indoors to recuperate from my cold winter and it is putting out new growth. I will probably grow it indoors as a houseplant to see how it does. Once it gets re-established I'll move it outdoors under the shade cloth until winter when I'll have to bring it inside to weather the cold temperatures. Clone "b" just arrived and I'm hardening it off indoors. For my growing situation I've found that rooted cuttings need time to establish before going outdoors in my climate. So this is why I'm going to keep in inside to get used to household humidity for a while and then I'll move it outdoors by early summer. In winter I suspect I'll have to bring it inside when temperatures stay in the low 40's. I really don't know anything about this plant as to variation among the seed grown plants or what. I guess I'll just grow it out and see what happens. Maybe more photos will surface in the various Nepenthes forums regarding this hybrid.  

Cultivation: moderate grower outdoors, maybe quicker as an intermediate indoors, doesn't like typical highlander temperatures
Market availability: rooted cuttings;  available at times
Species variability: maybe some among the original seed grown plants, none if from cuttings
$ / size: moderate to expensive $30.00 to $50.00 and up (rooted cuttings are the most expensive)
Cuttings: none available for trade
Sex: clone "a" is male and clone "b" is female