Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 5/5/2010

Question
Hello, I have a dewy pine that I have had now for a few weeks.  I have used your method for soil and the terra cotta pot.  I live in PHX Arizona.  I have the plant on my east patio and it receives direct sun from 7am till about 4pm.  The plant has dew on it and it's not wilting.  My question is about it's growth. When it formed a new leaf it was quite shorter then the others.  The others are about four to five inches and the new one is half that.  It's also smaller in diameter.  It does have dew on it.  Is it just adjusting, for it came from San Francisco to my climate.  I have a spot I could move it too where it would receive a few hours of direct sun and then bright shade for most of the rest of the day.  Also, I water it about every two days.  Thank you for your suggestions.

Jason

Answer
Hi Jason,

Thank you for supplying the information.  It really helped me diagnose the situation.  What you've described is very classic of a plant that's acclimating to lower humidity and strong lighting.  We often see this in our Nepenthes that we get from other growers.  The older growth that the plants grew while at the other nursery is large, while the new growth grown at our nursery is small.  Of course, we grow our plants in very bright lighting and lower humidity.

So nothing is wrong with the plant.  As long as it's producing new growth and the leaves are dewy, your plant is healthy.  Within a couple months, the old growth will die back and your plant will be more uniform in shape and size.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin