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I think not enough people talk about this hybrid, so here it is!

California Carnivores created this cross a few years ago. This plant combines the tolerant, fast-growing nature of the tall H. tatei with the shapely elegance of the short H. pulchella. The result is fantastic! It kind of looks like a shorter ionasi(i) This plant is very vigorous and fast growing for a heli. Grown under intense light, the result is a really dark red coloring, almost purple, while under lower light the pitchers are green with nice red venation. Regardless of what light it is grown under, pitchers color up over time. Another great characteristic of this cross is its extremely long-lasting pitchers. I still have pitchers on this plant that are over a year old! Also, I've found that this plant doesn't mind a peaty mix, unlike my other helis. My only complaint is that they made it with the Cerro Duida form of H. tatei- I think if they made it with the Cerro Huachamachare form or the Cerro Marahuaca form the result would be interesting because it may form a short stem, like the tateis from those tepuis.

Wow, great looking Heliamphora!! Makes me miss my collection that I neglected and let die a few years ago

Why Matt, WHY???

Matt wrote:Wow, great looking Heliamphora!! Makes me miss my collection that I neglected and let die a few years ago

Thanks, Matt!

Noooo! Helis are the best!

Copper2 wrote:Why Matt, WHY???

It was a sad, sad day for sure. I just got so involved with other things that I spaced on my Helis. They were in a terrarium that was easy to ignore due to the fact that I had it wrapped in reflective foil for better lighting and couldn't see into it unless I walked right up to the top of it.

Nep - The division I bought from you back in April '19 is doing GREAT! In the year I've had it, it's grown 5 or 6 new growth points, and is carrying about 10-12 pitchers now. It's quickly overgrowing the pot I have it in, and I'm sure I'll need to repot soon. I've been keeping topped off with distilled water and feeding with MaxSea every few days (and dropping the occasional bug in there, so he doesn't forget his ancestral roots )

This pic was from back in Feb. It's since grown a few more pitchers, and I switched to stronger lighting so I'm finally getting some more red/veining.

Thanks again!

heli_im4ya wrote:Nep - The division I bought from you back in April '19 is doing GREAT! In the year I've had it, it's grown 5 or 6 new growth points, and is carrying about 10-12 pitchers now. It's quickly overgrowing the pot I have it in, and I'm sure I'll need to repot soon. I've been keeping topped off with distilled water and feeding with MaxSea every few days (and dropping the occasional bug in there, so he doesn't forget his ancestral roots )

This pic was from back in Feb. It's since grown a few more pitchers, and I switched to stronger lighting so I'm finally getting some more red/veining.

Thanks again!

Wow, man, it is looking GREAT! I should grow one of mine in lower light because, while I do like the red coloring, I really like the curvy openings you get in lower light. Do you know the species of fern that's in its pot? What humidity do you grow it in? It's looking like it likes wherever it's growing.

So glad it's doing well!

heli_im4ya wrote:Nep - The division I bought from you back in April '19 is doing GREAT!

That thing is gorgeous!!

Nepenthes0260 wrote: I should grow one of mine in lower light because, while I do like the red coloring, I really like the curvy openings you get in lower light.

I agree. I like the shape of the pitchers much better in lower light.

So this thing is a real trooper. I'm actually growing it at my office desk! I water the pot through with distilled water until the tray below is filled, keep the pitchers topped off, and occasionally mist. The humidity has got to vary throughout the day, but this guy seems to enjoy it. I think growing it in live sphagnum really helps.

As for the fern, I collected it from one of the glens around me in Upstate NY (don't tell the DEC) and I've always known them by "Lady Ferns". They seemed to really like moisture and limited nutrients growing on rock walls, so I figured why not?

Just repotted this big guy today. I took a division but it was unrooted, so I'll have one available in a couple of months. I also found a flower stalk on it (yay!) so I may be able to produce some hybrid seeds with a heterodoxa x minor I currently have blooming or tatei x folliculata pollen I saved from last winter.

heli_im4ya wrote:So this thing is a real trooper. I'm actually growing it at my office desk!

Such a nice heli! What light are you using? Does it get and nightly temperature drop?

I got mine from @nep0260 with a single pitcher. It looked kinda depressing. Now it has two, but should have four (as I was arranging pots, two pitchers (baby ones) snapped off. What a lovely plant. He grows his plants very vigorous.

I keep mine in a heli setup, but it only gets a single CFL above it. It does not really get a temperature drop, temps are always ~70-80 in there. Uncinata loving it too.

Nep260, I know Tennessee is much different from your neck of the woods, but do you think a heli would tolerate or even thrive outside in Tennessee? My Sarrs are all just loving it here, and I was thinking a heli would be nice to get as my next plant. But it would have to be an outdoor pet as I don't have any more room inside.
I don't want to spend the money on a plant that wouldn't be happy here.
Your thoughts?

ChefDean wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 12:47 pm Nep260, I know Tennessee is much different from your neck of the woods, but do you think a heli would tolerate or even thrive outside in Tennessee? My Sarrs are all just loving it here, and I was thinking a heli would be nice to get as my next plant. But it would have to be an outdoor pet as I don't have any more room inside.
I don't want to spend the money on a plant that wouldn't be happy here.
Your thoughts?

I’m not nep but I think they would be fine in Tennessee as long as they social distanced from your other plants

optimus prime wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 12:48 pm

ChefDean wrote: ↑Thu Jul 30, 2020 12:47 pm Nep260, I know Tennessee is much different from your neck of the woods, but do you think a heli would tolerate or even thrive outside in Tennessee? My Sarrs are all just loving it here, and I was thinking a heli would be nice to get as my next plant. But it would have to be an outdoor pet as I don't have any more room inside.
I don't want to spend the money on a plant that wouldn't be happy here.
Your thoughts?

I’m not nep but I think they would be fine in Tennessee as long as they social distanced from your other plants

Nope, I'm a tough love guy. Throw them to the wolves, let them mingle, let them get the 'Rona, then they're immune after they recover. Problem solved.