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Carnivorous Plants/Nepenthes Rajah Roots Disturbed

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Expert: - 7/13/2010


Question
Hello, I just got a Nepenthes Rajah, and decided to repot it.  I gently squeezed around the pot, and all the soil came together, then I dunked it in a bowl of water to let the old soil fall off, then I put it in a new pot with a mix of 1/3 pumice, 1/3 orchid bark, 1/3 sphagnum moss, and a top dressing of live sphagnum.  The soild drains very good, and holds some moisture.

The only problem is that when I dunked it in the water to let the old soil fall off, so did over half it's roots, and I didn't even pull, tug, nor cramp its roots.  I didn't disturb any of the main root stalk though.  Will it be fine?  Can I give it any thing to help?  Thank You.

Answer
Hello Agustin,

While N. rajah does not like root disturbance, if you were cautious, it should be fine. The roots that fell off might have been dead or loosely attached already and just ready to fall off. The only thing you can do is give the plant some time, keep its roots cool, do not disturb it any more, provide it with the cooler night temperature drops it likes, water it and give it partial sun all day. If the plant is healthy to begin with, it should respond and begin growing normally again after a few weeks. N. rajah is one of the more difficult Nepenthes to grow. They are demanding in that they prefer very specific conditions in their environment. Make sure those conditions are met, and you will be successful.

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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