This plant is acute in danger of extinction - the plant is listed in Part I of the CITES list.
Nepenthes rajah - discovered in 1858 by Hook - is one of the famous and biggest pitcher plants. This highland species can be found in the rainforests of Mount Kinabalu and Mt. Tambuyukon (both Northern Borneo) in a height between 4700 and 8400 ft (= 1500-2650m). So the daily temperature reaches 25-30°C and over night it's getting cool. Because of the high humidity over night are rising foggy banks. The soil is lightly alkaline because of Magnesia and very coarse. The whole year is warm and sunny (12 hours sun each day).
Nepenthes rajah is growing very slow. From seed to first flowering you have to wait 10 years and more. Until the plant is grown up you have to wait 100 years. The plant isn't climbing and has 12-20 inches (50-80 cm) long leaves with nearly 10 inches big pitches. The pitcher can contain 2-3 litres of digestion fluid.
Culture:
Because of the huge pitches Nepenthes rajah is one of the most wanted pitcher plants. Because of the invitro-multiplicaion it is not difficult to buy one, but be careful - the plant is very difficult in culture. The soil should be very light and loose - often with sphagnum moss as base. Bigger plants should have s special mixture with peat, perlite and bark. The roots of N. rajah are big - so the pot should be big enough. For highland species it is recommend to have warm (not hot) days and very cool nights. A very high humidity (especially in the night) is recommend. The plant needs a lot of light - extra lightening is useful.
A very young plantfrom tissue-culture.
Next Pic's - a half year later.
Actual pic:
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