During warm summer months you can move pitcher plants outdoors

On the Japanese island of Yakushima, the native monkeys and Sika deer have developed an uncanny relationship. The deer eat food such as seeds dropped on the ground by the monkeys, and the monkeys, called macaques, groom the Sika deer for protein-rich parasites such as lice. And remarkably, the monkeys will actually hop on the backs of the Sika deer and ride them like cowboys on horses.

In the garden the nepenthes or pitcher plant grows tube-shaped pitchers filled with fluid that lures insects into the pitcher to drown and proved nutrients to the pitcher plant. These pitcher plants go by the nickname "Monkey Cups" because monkeys have been observed drinking the nectar and fluid from the plant’s pitchers.

The pitcher is actually not a flower but rather a swelling in the leaf of a middle vein. The bright colors and nectar attract insects that are lured onto the slippery rim and inside walls of the pitcher. Once inside they slip and drop into a digestive fluids in the bottom of the pitcher. The digestive fluids break down the insects into nutrients that can be absorbed by the plant. The large pitchers not only digest insects, but on occasion will capture mice, lizards and other small animals.

In spite of their stunning looks and exotic behavior, pitcher plants are actually easy to grow. Give these plants a few hours of direct sunlight and bright dappled light for the rest of the day.

Since sunshine is needed for the plant to grow pitchers put the plants where they get direct sunlight for a few hours each day, and bright, filtered light the rest of the time. If you do not have natural sunlight you can supplement with broad spectrum grow lights hung about a foot above the pitcher plants.

Keep your plants away from drafts or heating vents.

Pitcher plants, unlike other carnivorous plants, will do fine with tap water, even hard water.

It is vital that the potting material drains well, so you avoid standing water which can lead to root rot. Waterlogged plants are also far more susceptible to insect damage. While you want to avoid overwatering, never let your pitcher plant completely dry out.

You don't need to mist or spray pitcher plants; they grow perfectly well in average household humidity.

A good potting mix is equal amounts of dried sphagnum moss and perlite. Never ues potting soil or compost, because they are too rich in nutrients and will kill the pitcher plant. It is best to never use clay pots because harmful salts can build up in clay pots.

During warm summer months you can move pitcher plants outdoors, but watch out for sunburn. Be sure to move the plants back indoors before temperatures drop below 50°F.

If your pitcher plant is growing where it is unable to trap insects, you can hand feed it by dropping a fly, a meal-worm or any small insect into the pitchers. Thankfully you usually do not need to worry about additional feeding.

If you bought your pitcher plant by mail you can replace the fluid lost in transit by pouring water into the pitchers, until the fluid reaches a half to three-quarter inch.

Because many pitcher plants are vines, cut the stems back to encourage the plant to send out side shoots. This makes for a bushier, fuller plant. You can also train the vines to grow up a stake. They make fascinating hanging baskets.

Letting the vines droop over the edge of a hanging basket will encourage the plant to put up new basal shoots, giving the plant a fuller look.

Grow your own insect-eating carnivorous pitcher plant and whether or not a passing macaque drinks out of the monkey cups you will have an easy to care for houseplant that you don't need to monkey with.