Tropical Pitcher Plant for Beginners (Monkey Cups) • Pre-planted in PROmix™

🌿 Tropical Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes) - Your Own Miniature Jungle Hunter

If you've ever wanted a plant that feels like it belongs in a rainforest documentary - this is it. The Tropical Pitcher Plant (Nepenthes) is exotic, colourful and surprisingly easy to grow indoors. These aren't your typical houseplants - they're living bug traps with dangling cups (pitchers) that lure, catch and digest insects all on their own. It's like having a tiny jungle predator on your windowsill.

Each pitcher hangs from a tendril at the tip of the leaf, filled with a little digestive fluid that breaks down any unlucky bug that tumbles in. In the wild, monkeys have been spotted drinking water from these pitchers - which is how they earned the nickname "monkey cups." Ants are a particular favourite snack! There's no need to feed or fertilise - it literally feeds itself. Want to give it a boost? Our Magic Mist foliar spray works wonders for healthy, vibrant growth.

And here's the best part – All of our plants are locally grown and fully adjusted to our climate, so they're ready to grow from day one - no matter where you are in SA! This Beginner-range plant also comes pre-planted in a colourful DECO planter with our long-term Nepenthes PROmix™ soil for vibrant growth and healthier roots - just carefully unwrap, place in bright indirect light and keep the tray topped up with clean (low-mineral) water. It honestly doesn't get easier (or more exotic) than this!

Oh, and because it's Cultivo, you'll also get a local South African plant care guide and free after-sales support to help your plant adjust smoothly to its new environment.

🌿 Highlights

• Tropical vibes, local roots - Grown right here in South Africa and fully acclimatised to our conditions. Perfect as a houseplant or for a sheltered semi-shade spot outside (just bring it in during winter).
• How it works - Each pitcher dangles from a tendril and fills with a little digestive fluid. Bugs (especially ants!) are attracted by colour and nectar, slip inside and get digested… slow-motion jungle magic!
• Trailing growth habit - As a vining plant, Nepenthes naturally trail and climb. The pitchers hang beautifully from tendrils, creating a cascading jungle effect perfect for shelves, hanging displays or terrariums.
• Bright light = more pitchers - The more bright (but indirect) light it gets, the faster it grows and more pitchers it produces. There's nothing more exciting to see those tiny tendril tips develop into a real bug-catching cup with its own 'stomach juice'!
• No dormancy needed - Unlike some outdoor carnivorous plants, Nepenthes don't go fully dormant. They slow down in winter and old pitchers die off, but the foliage remains and they start growing actively again in September / October when it warms up.
• Perfect for beginners - Super forgiving and rewarding. If you can keep a houseplant, orchid or fern happy, you've got this. Promise!
• Sizes available - Choose your perfect fit. Plants are well established and actively growing, with pitchers at varying stages of development. New pitchers continue to form as the plant settles into its new home:
  • Starter (5–6 cm across)
  • Medium (7–11 cm across)
  • Large (12 cm+ across)
• Format - Pre-planted in our deluxe Nepenthes PROmix™ carnivorous plant soil inside a colourful DECO planter with clip-on tray. Just keep the tray topped up with rain or low-mineral water and you're all set.
• Bonus - Includes our full care guide, Alive-Arrive Guarantee and ongoing support from your local carnivorous plant experts right here in South Africa.

This little jungle hunter is guaranteed to become a conversation starter. Between the dangling pitchers, vibrant colours and bug-catching action, you'll find yourself checking on it every day to see what's new. Exotic, fascinating and full of personality - the Tropical Pitcher Plant is proof that growing carnivorous plants really can be that easy.

🌱 Carnivorous Plants for Beginners - Cultivo Exclusive

Our beginner range was made for South African growers who want to try something different - a mix of easy, colourful carnivorous plants from around the world that are already 100% adjusted in our climate. They're strong, settled and ready to grow from the moment they arrive.

I've already done the setup for you - each one comes pre-planted in a colourful pot with the perfect carnivorous plant soil mix, the same kind of conditions they'd enjoy in nature. So there's nothing complicated waiting on your side. You literally open the box, give it some light and pure water and you're good to go.

The whole idea behind this range? Making it fun and effortless to grow real bug-eating plants right here at home. It's meant to be exciting - not stressful - and once you see yours in action, you'll understand why this hobby is so addictive.

Every Cultivo order comes with a plant care guide tailored to South African climate - packed with easy tips to help your plants settle in and grow happily. And if you ever get stuck, I'm just a message away. I love helping people get the hang of these plants, so you'll always have support to help your plant get settled in at its new home.

You can collect in Centurion, get it sent to a local Pargo pickup point closest to you or have it delivered straight to your door anywhere in South Africa - whatever makes it easiest for you.

✨ Complete Your Carnivorous Plant Journey!

Collect all 7! Build your own bug-munching family with these pre-planted favourites from our Carnivorous Plants for Beginners range:

• Sundew (Cape Sundew and Forkleaf Sundew)
• Venus Flytrap
• Trumpet Pitcher Plant
• Terrestrial Bladderwort
• Purple Pitcher Plant
• Tropical Pitcher Plant
• Mexican Butterwort

👉 View the full 'Carnivorous Plants for Beginners' range 👈

Frequently Asked Questions

What species of Nepenthes will I receive?

Monkey Cups in Cultivo's Beginner Range is a curated selection of easy-to-grow Nepenthes species and hybrids, either seed-grown or rooted cuttings, labelled by type only ie. Tropical Pitcher. Each plant comes with a water-proof plant label, pre-planted in our Nepenthes PROmix™ and a colourful DECO planter - you can select your preferred size from the options available.

Do I need to feed my Nepenthes insects?

Nope! Your Nepenthes will catch its own bugs (especially ants). But if you want to give it a boost, our Magic Mist foliar spray is fantastic for promoting healthy, vibrant growth and more pitchers.

How often should I water my tropical pitcher plant?

All our Beginner Range plants come pre-planted in a DECO planter with clip-on water tray. Keep the tray filled with clean water (rain or low-mineral water). Nepenthes love consistent moisture - just make sure there's always water in the tray and you're sorted.

When should I repot my Nepenthes?

When the pitchers start touching the surface around the pot, it's time to either repot into a taller planter or hang it up so the pitchers can dangle freely. If it's a Cultivo Plant you can simply transplant using the existing soil - there's no need for a fresh, from scratch, repot.

Do Nepenthes go dormant in winter?

Not fully. Nepenthes slow down during the colder months and old pitchers die off, but the foliage remains green. They start growing actively again in spring when it warms up, producing fresh new pitchers on new growth.

Will my Nepenthes grow a new pitcher where I cut off the old one?

No - new pitchers only grow on new leaves. Once you trim off an old pitcher, that spot won't produce another one. But don't worry, new pitchers will form on the new growth at the top of the plant!

Can I grow Nepenthes outside in South Africa?

Yes, in a sheltered semi-shade spot! Nepenthes love warm, humid conditions and do well outdoors in protected areas during the warmer months. Just bring them inside during winter to protect them from cold and frost.

Why are Nepenthes called "monkey cups"?

In the wild, monkeys have been observed drinking rainwater from the pitchers - giving these plants their cute nickname. The pitchers can hold quite a bit of rainwater, making them natural little drinking cups in the jungle!

Where can I buy a specific Nepenthes species?

If you're looking for something with a dedicated plant label or prefer to pot up or grow it your own way, our Collector Range is the best place to find named species, hybrids and exact-plant-pictured listings.

How are Nepenthes sizes measured at Cultivo?

At Cultivo we offer tropical pitchers by actual plant size because in Nepenthes world, growth rate, tendril length and pitcher sizes vary across species. Based on the size you choose, you'll receive a healthy, well established plant sized by leafspan instead (measured across from leaf-tip to leaf-tip of the largest two leaves, excluding tendrils and pitchers), as seen in the image below.

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Quick FAQ

Why Pargo and not PUDO?

We partner with Pargo because it’s part of our approved fragile-goods courier network. Parcels are kept indoors at local shops and businesses, protected from heat, sunlight and weather until collection — ideal if you prefer to collect at your convenience or aren’t home during the day.

To keep every order safe and uphold our Arrive-Alive Guarantee, we deliver only via Pargo and other approved delivery services trusted for handling fragile and temperature-sensitive items.

• Just a quick heads-up: Since plants are natural products, you might notice some slight variations when unboxing your plants
• We do our best to make sure the plants you receive look like the ones in the photos, but keep in mind that seasons change and plants grow. Some leaves might age and die off, new ones might sprout and the plants may look a bit different over time
• Cultivo is a boutique-style store and 99% of what we sell are one-of-a-kind collector items, so you will receive the exact plant pictured. Some are once-off or limited releases, which means they are available only while stocks last. The labels are spot on, so even if the plant looks a bit different, we 100% guarantee it’s the real deal
• Also, all the photos you see are of our own plants unless we mention otherwise. We update images occasionally to keep things fresh. If you want to see updated pictures before you buy, just let us know - we’re happy to help!