You are here:
- Home
- Home/Garden
- Gardening
- Carnivorous Plants
- does this Nepenthes look okay
Carnivorous Plants/does this Nepenthes look okay
Advertisement
Question
QUESTION: Alexperts,
)
This Nepenthes I got a year ago. I got the plant at Lowe's. I use know distilled water on the plant; I have used tap water for it. The bottom half of the plant is black is this norma? My main question is do I have to use superthrive when I go to repot it. I have attached a photo. I believe it is Nepenthes Venticosa.
Sincerely,
Weylin
ANSWER: Hi Weylin,
Thank-you for sending a photo. This plant is in desperate need of repotting. The sphagnum moss has broken down and turned to mush. If you are going to use tap water, at times, repot it in a more mineral soil; i.e., one that has more perlite, pumice, vermiculite, etc... The organic ingredients break down faster in hard water.
Black stems on Nepenthes are normal as they age.
Superthrive is certainly not a requirement but it helps the plant overcome transplanting shock, and develop new roots more quickly.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: allexperts,
Hey on a Nepenthes can you just use Perlite in the soil mix? Just one other question, I am due to get a P. primuliflora from you. My question concerning the P. primuliflora is can it go outside I live in zone 7 were are the middle of a heat wave the temperature is in high 90"-100's. Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Weylin
Hi Weylin,
Your can't really use just perlite and nothing else. You need to have some ingredient that holds water. We have a detailed explanation of Nepenthes on "Grow Carnivorous Plants" volume #3 DVD.
Pinguicula primuliflora is no stranger to heat. They are native to the Florida panhandle. Just give it some dappled shading. They tend to grow among grasses.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
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.
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.
Just the straight facts from guys who grow and propagate
thousands of carnivorous plants each 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?) For general plant care, please read our care sheets on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets For business questions: http://www.cobraplant.com/contact |
Follow us on Youtube and Facebook!
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.