Cephalotus follicularis care instructions 

The West Australian pitcher plant, Cephalotus, produces small clumps of colorful thumb-sized pitchers. The plant may need acclimation for a few weeks until it adjusts to its new home. We use a tray with a dome to keep the humidity between 65-75%.

Heat tolerance: Cephalotus has the reputation of being finicky when it comes to heat. In our early experience with Cephalotus, we believed that it can’t tolerate temperatures above 80°F. However, we found that a drop in nighttime temperature below 70°F (21°C) is essential if daytime temperatures are very warm. Our Cephalotus are kept at a temperature of 75-80°F during the day and between 55-65°F at night.

Artificial Lights: If a sunny window is not possible, use a couple of T5 40-watt fluorescent tubes or LED lights approximately 13–18 inches above the plant. The light should be on for 12–14 hours during spring and summer, and 12 hours during fall and winter. Avoid using incandescent bulbs; they produce too much heat and the wrong type of light spectrum.

Water: In cultivation, Cephalotus prefers damp moist soil instead of waterlogged soil. Their water preferences are similar to those of Nepenthes and Heliamphora. You can top water it and drain it into a tray or saucer. The soil should be moist at all times and never allowed to dry out. You can otherwise keep Cephalotus in a tray with a water level no higher than ¼ of the way up the pot. This provides the roots with moisture and aeration. However, if the water level is too high for too long, the roots may succumb to rot. Cephalotus is also very sensitive to water with dissolved mineral levels. Please use mineral-free water, such as rain water or distilled water.

Humidity: Cephalotus can tolerate humidity in the range of 45-85%. We keep our Cephalotus between 65-75% humidity.