This terrestrial or epiphytic perennial has twining stems that form a climbing habit. It has light green oblong leaves that may produce cylindrical reddish green pendant pitchers and the small male and female flowers appear in a raceme during summer.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Nepenthes ventricosais naturally found in the Philippines growing in rainforests on host trees or on the ground. It prefers a semi-shaded wind protected humid position and grows in composted leaf mould that is moist and moderately well drained and is frost and drought tender.

The Tropical Pitcher Plant is grown for its pitchers and its clumping-twining habit. It is planted in tropical settings as a specimen or used in hanging baskets in botanical collections and is grown under glass or in a conservatory in cold climates. It establishes from division in 2 to 3 years and is moderately long lived.ID 541

Note:
The pitcher is produced at the tip of the leaf from an extended mid rib, but not all leaves produced pitcher usually because of environmental conditions such as a lack of light or humidity. The young pitcher has the lid closed and as the body inflates fluids acuminate inside the base.
The new pitcher has weak walls that harden over a few days and the lid opens. When the pitcher captures insects the lid remains open as its job is to continually attract the insects with the nectar glands at its base and to stop rain from filling the pitcher.

The inner rim has down pointing teeth and below it has a smooth glandular surface from which the insect can not climb out of. Digestive fluids are found at the base of the pitcher and these absorb the trapped insect.

Nepenthes(nay-PEN-theez) ventricosa (ven-tri-KOH-sah)

Nepenthaceae(NEP-en-THAY-see-ee)
Pitcher Plant