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Carnivorous Plants/nepenthes alata

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Question
you have proberly been asked this question a 100 times over but after scanning threw a heap of the qs and answers i couldn't find what i want to no so hear i go im in New Zealand in the north island where its usually pretty warm but we can have quite a few frosts in winter, i have 2 nepenthes alata which i have had for 8mnoths they had a few pitchers die off in the first month i bought them home but otherwise they were growing very well and had 50-60 pitchers between them. i had them on our covered deck but now that its winter i have now bought them inside and they are in my bathroom on the window sill and get alot of filtered light but around 15-20 pitchers are drying up   going brown and dying even the new young pitchers.  can you tell me what the common reasons are for this to be happening as its a bit heartbreaking to watch this happen also how long does each pitcher last for. thanks Willie

Answer
Hi Will,

For whatever reason, this isn't mentioned in books or websites much, but Nepenthes often drop their pitchers during the short days of winter in temperate areas.  Your plants are fine.  Just cut off the dead pitchers and keep them watered.  In the spring they will begin pitchering again.


Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com

Carnivorous Plants

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Sarracenia Northwest

Expertise

If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!

Experience

With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again. Get the straight facts from the guys who grow and propagate thousands of these plants every year.

Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.

No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.


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