I have 4, 2 species and 2 hybrids. I've had them for about 6 months.
They are not hard to grow for me, but the species are VERY slow growing.
Hybrids seem to be a much better deal, as they seem to grow about twice
as fast as species. I grow mine in live spaghnum, plastic pots, under
lights. Temps are never above 80 F. I have them in acquariums in a
north facing window in my office here at work. I don't leave them standing
in water, but I do pour water over them 2-3 times per week. I also mist
them once in a while. The key seems to be keeping them cool, don't letting
the roots get soaked, and DON'T BREAK THE PLANTS. They are almost like
confection candy decorations in their brittleness. Much more brittle than
Sarracenia, let alone Darlingtonia. If you bump a pitcher you can crack it,
and if you drop the pot, you may lose the plant. Heliamphora seems to be
fairly easy to grow as a terrarium plant if you can keep them cool and give
them decent light. If you work in an air conditioned building you have it
made.
>>"Nepenthes of Mount Kinabalu" has a B/W picture of "aquatic" N. mirabilis -
>>rather remarkable. I always cringe when I see Nepenthes sitting in trays of
>>water with their soil soaking wet. But of course, even this apparently hardy
>>Nepenthes failed to grow here... (mine was actually a ssp (?) echistoma).
I tried growing several seedlings this way, and most of them died.
I don't think that as a general rule you should try N. mirabilis
in water, despite what's in Kuratas' book.
R.