🌿 Cephalotus follicularis "Black Purple" (Australian Pitcher Plant)

Cephalotus follicularis "Black Purple" is a beautiful Australian pitcher plant native to southwestern Australia. This variety is especially appreciated for its ability to develop deep red to dark purple coloration under strong lighting, giving it a bold and eye-catching appearance.

These plants are approximately 2–3 years old divisions and have been grown in our greenhouse under a humidity dome. Because of this, we recommend providing moderate to high humidity at first to help the plant adjust smoothly to its new environment.

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📦 What You’ll Receive

• Plant will be shipped potted in a 2.5" pot
• Healthy, established divisions (2–3 years old)
• Ready to grow—no immediate setup needed

Plant sizes:

• Small: ~1" in diameter, mostly non-carnivorous leaves or very small pitchers
• Medium: ~1–1.5" in diameter, includes 1–2 juvenile pitchers
• Large: ~1.5–2" in diameter, a mix of juvenile to larger pitchers
• XL: ~2–3" in diameter, fuller plant with juvenile to larger pitchers

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🌱 Current Growing Conditions

These plants have been grown in stable greenhouse conditions:

• Light: ~12 hours daily under LED grow lights
• Day Temperature: ~78°F
• Night Temperature: ~60°F
• Humidity: ~65–75% (under a humidity dome)

👉 Important: Try to provide similar humidity and conditions for the first few weeks to help your plant acclimate successfully.

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🌿 Beginner-Friendly Care Overview

Cephalotus can be slightly sensitive at first, but they thrive with consistency and proper care.

☀️ Light
Provide bright light to partial sun. Strong lighting helps bring out the deep purple/red coloration this variety is known for.

💧 Water

• Keep the soil damp, not soggy
• Avoid letting the plant sit in deep water for long periods
• Use only distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis water

🌫️ Humidity

• Ideal range: 50–75% humidity
• Higher humidity is recommended initially since these were dome-grown

🌡️ Temperature

• Best between 55–85°F
• Prefers warm days and cooler nights

🌬️ Airflow

• Provide good airflow to help prevent rot and keep the plant healthy

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⚠️ Important Care Tips (Please Read!)

🚫 DO NOT REPOT RIGHT AWAY
Cephalotus are very sensitive to root disturbance. Repotting too soon can shock or kill the plant.
✔️ Allow the plant to fully acclimate before attempting any repotting.

🌿 Handle with care
Avoid disturbing the roots or moving the plant too much. Stability is key.

🍂 Leaf & pitcher changes are normal
It is completely normal for your plant to:

• Lose some leaves or pitchers after shipping
• Grow new leaves before producing new pitchers

This is part of the plant adjusting and growing.

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🎨 Color Changes

Cephalotus can change color depending on lighting:

• Lower light: green to lighter tones
• Bright light: deep red, purple, or even very dark tones

Stronger light will enhance the rich “Black Purple” coloration.

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🌟 Beginner Tip

If this is your first Cephalotus, think of it as a “slow and steady” plant.
Avoid sudden changes, keep conditions consistent, and be patient—it will reward you with beautiful, colorful pitchers over time.

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Cephalotus follicularis
Plant Size	Approximately 1–2" in diameter, with juvenile pitchers and/or non-carnivorous leaves, depending on size selection.
Light	Bright light to partial sun. Can be grown under T5 or full-spectrum LED grow lights.
Potting Medium	Long-fiber sphagnum moss or a well-draining carnivorous plant mix.
Feeding	Feed small insects or fish food every 2–3 weeks. Optional: light foliar feeding every 2 weeks using Maxsea (diluted).
Water	Keep soil damp but not waterlogged. Avoid sitting in deep water. Use only low-mineral water (distilled, rain, or reverse osmosis).
Humidity	Prefers 50–80% humidity but can adapt to average indoor conditions once established.
Temperature	Ideal range: 45–85°F. Avoid extreme heat or freezing conditions.
Mature Size	Varies by growing conditions and age; plants slowly increase in size over time.
Dormancy	Growth may slow during winter, especially in cooler conditions. This is normal.