AboutSarracenia Northwest Expertise Got a carnivorous plant problem? The growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin have helped thousands of growers around the world, and they can help you too. When you submit your question, they will diagnose your situation and offer a solution to help you get your carnivorous plant back on track.
Experience With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. Get the straight facts from the guys who grow and propagate thousands of these plants every year.
PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTION:
We no longer answer how-to questions (i.e. How do I propagate...?; How do I grow...?).
Instead, we help growers by diagnosing a specific plant problem and offering solutions (i.e. Why is my sundew not producing dew?; Is now a good time to divide my Sarracenia?; Why are the traps turning black?; What's a good substitute for perlite?; Why didn't my seeds germinate?; Can you identify this carnivorous plant for me?)
Question Hi
I have 3 nepenthe alata plants. And I have a few questions.
1-Do mosquitoes lay their eggs in the water in the nepenthes? Inside is definitively the condition they need.
2-They are doing great, but I am just wondering if they would keep growing bigger and bigger (i had mine for 1.5 years now), do they have a maximum size?
3-I left my plants outside in almost full-sun light and the stem is alittle red. Is it a good idea?
Answer Hi Dennis,
1. They probably can, but Nepenthes strong digestive enzymes are hardly ideal conditions. Personally I've never seen larvae in Nepenthes pitchers. Now, having said that, they probably do have symbiotic insects that live in the pitcher water in their natural habitat. Also, if you live in an area where Sarracenia purpurea may occur in the wild, Wyeomyia smithii mosquitos may try and lay their eggs in Nepenthes pitchers. They may be able to survive the enzymes, but S. purpurea enzymes are much weaker than Nepenthes.
2. Totally depends on the species. Some species such as N. ventricosa stay smaller, others such as N. sanguinea form scrambling vines that can grow hundreds of feet up trees. While I was in Hawaii last December, I saw a Nepenthes that a nursery owner had planted in the ground next to an Ohia tree. The vine had traveled about 50 feet up and was hanging off of the branches.
3. A little redness of often part of the plant's color. Most Nepenthes like some shade when outdoors. (Indoors is very different.) If any of the redness turns brown, that is burn, so give it a little more shade.
