Catopsis berteroniana is a rare, carnivorous bromeliad nicknamed “The Jungle Lantern” because it grows as an epiphyte in trees and is a glowing, bright yellow-green color like a lantern. It produces enzymes to digest insects, which slide down its leaves into the watery reserves at the base. It can grow up to 1.5 feet across and has lime-green leaves coated in a white, chalky substance. It is native to Florida and South America and prefers high humidity and heat. These plants can sometimes wiggle out of the pots in shipping but no need to worry! Just pop them back in the pots!
Care Instructions
Growth Habit: Catopsis beteroniana is an epiphytic bromeliad, growing on trees and attached to other substrate. They grow upright, with deep, vase-like rosettes to catch water and nutrients, and their green leaves are soft, bending downwards from the center of the plant. Lower leaves will die back, leaving a papery husk that you don’t need to trim. They will form pups at the base of the plant over time, making a clump of plants.
Sun: In areas where it can be grown outdoors, bright, diffuse light is best. In greenhouses and terrariums, they appreciate full to part sun with high humidity. If grown under lights, keep the lights on a 10-12 hour day length and hang them 10-12” from the plant, depending on the strength of your light.
Water & Humidity: Water overhead to fill the middle of the plant, keeping the soil moist but not constantly wet. Only use reverse osmosis, distilled, or rainwater, as these plants are very sensitive to the minerals and salts in water. Catopsis need humidity of at least 60% to thrive. Growing them in less humidity can lead to slower growth and more browning/crisping of the leaves. If you have lower humidity, water more frequently.
Temperature: 65 degrees - 85 degrees but can tolerate brief heat waves up to 100 as long as plant is well watered and temperatures cool at night. Does not tolerate cold temperatures.
Dormancy: None needed or required.
Fertilizer: Apply diluted Maxsea fertilizer once or twice a month to the leaves and inside the central water reserve of the plant.
Soil & Repotting: Catopsis require a soil mix that does not hold too much moisture. They can be grown in an orchid mix or a in a mix of long-fibered New Zealand sphagnum moss, orchid bark, pumice, and perlite. You can order our Nepenthes soil to use for your Catopsis, but you do not need to repot your plant for at least a year after receiving it from us. You can repot every three years and only move to a slightly bigger pot. These plants can be grown as ephyphites but it’s easy to accidentally dry them out so be very careful if you try this.
More Information: For more information, check out our FAQ page or our YouTube channel!
