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Carnivorous Plants/nepenthes
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Question
i was wondering if I should fertilize my nepenthe miranda I have had the plants for about 2 months and I still have no pichers. I know its not the lighting because the leaves are getting that redish tint to them. so I was wondering if I should. if I should do you recomend a fertilizer.
Hello Kyle,
Some Nepenthes species pitcher less readily than others. It could still be getting used to your environment as humidity drops can shock a Nepenthes for several weeks or months to the point that the plant simply does not pitcher for that time.
If you want to fertilize the plant, the best way to do this would be with foliar feeds recommended for Orchids. A water soluble foliar feed can be mixed in a 1/8 to 1/4 solution and wiped or sprayed lightly on the leaves, top and bottom, once every two to four weeks. Be careful not to get fertilizer in the soil or to over-fertilize.
Christopher
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Answers by Expert:
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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