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Carnivorous Plants/Orange Nepenthes Truncata Leaf

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Expert: - 2/2/2009


Question
Hi I have a Nepenthes Trucata that over the past 2 months has had one its newer leafs turn orange. I read in the Book the Savage Garden about the fungus Rust Spot. What do you think it is? I have it growing where it will receive dappled sunlight and very bright indirect light the rest of the day. The tempatures in my house get in the low 60s farenheight at night and I have warm days. Any suggesttions? I have a couple of pictures but dont know how to put them on this site.
Thanks!

Answer
Hello Alaric,

Without seeing the plant it is a bit difficult to offer as much help, however; it sounds like light adaptation to me. Nepenthes in bright light will develop bright pink, red, and orange coloration on their pitchers and leaves. I have a N. truncata sitting in very bright light right now as matter of fact and its leaves are dappled with orangish mottling. If the coloration looks like part of the plant, it is not a worry, if it looks like something growing on the plant and can be wiped partially off, it is potentially a threat.

Take a damp paper towel and wipe the leaf with it. If the coloration rubs off on the paper towel, it might be fungus and should be treated with sulfur based or neem oil based fungicide. If not, it is likely nothing to worry over.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

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