Noah, a Nepenthes Alata or Monkey Jars plant, is probably one of the weirdest looking plants you'll find, I mean, look at him!
Interestingly, the "ala” part of Noah's Latin name, means “wing,” and refers to his prominent lower pitcher wings. Along with these 'wings', Noah has a series of pitches, which usually start slender and expand into a bulbous lower third - think a saxophone.
Native to the tropical rainforests of Borneo and the surrounding area, Noah is used to the rain, which is why he likes having a lot of water and high humidity. Noah's pitchers can stay attached for years, depending on how happy he is, but if he's not given enough to drink, they may dry out and die off.
Noah relies on insects, beetles, and spiders to supplement his diet. Prey, lured by his bright colours and sweet nectar, enter his pouch-like leaves, only to lose their grip on the smooth and waxy surface before dropping into a pool of liquid at the base. The nutrients from their bodies are then absorbed by Noah.
Noah, Monkey Jar Plant
Noah prefers bright indirect light to partial shade, without prolonged exposure to direct sun - a touch of morning sunlight wouldn’t go a miss.
If you’re not sure what level of light you have, check the shadows cast by your plant:
- Minimal shadow = lower light
- Half shadow = indirect light
- Full shadow = direct sun