Expert: Christopher Littrell - 9/4/2010

Question
Hi and thank you, I have a pitcher plant that is growing nicely, the baby pitchers grow at the root line but I never get any at the end of the leaves, the little pots end up turning brown and dying. The plant is in a well lit window and I water it according, I just don't know how to get any pots. I haven't ever furtilized it and I think it's a year or year and ahalf old. Thank you

Answer
Hello Cathryn,

There could be any number of factors involved with your plant. From your description, you have a Nepenthes? There are five known basic types, or genera, of Pitcher Plant and each has its own likes and dislikes in general.

From my experiences, Nepenthes may or may not do well in windows according to how wide the window is and how much sun can get through. They need partial light like they would get outside under a large tree, but do well indoors if they have a large window or strong florescent light. Failure to pitchers is most often caused by too little light. Try adding a 40 watt shop light with cool white florescent tubes over the plant at about 8 inches distance and on for 16 hours a day and see what results you get. Such a light would increase the lumen intensity by 6000 alone. You should get enough for pitcher formation in addition to the window light.

Humidity is usually not a big deal for Nepenthes that have been in a particular environment for a long time as most Nepenthes can adapt to low humidity. There are a few species that cannot readily adapt that will simply fail to pitcher regardless of other factors if the humidity is not high enough. Determining the species of plant would be helpful in detecting what conditions it needs. On that note, if the plant is near or under blowing air from air conditioning vents, the moving air might be drying out the pitchers before they can form.

Make sure that there are no chemical sprays near or on your plants. The tendrils that form the pitchers are very sensitive and can be damaged by chemicals sprayed on them. They can also be damaged by too much handling or by cats swiping at them for instance.

If the plant has some pitchers, try placing small insects in the pitchers so that the plant can get some nitrogen for further pitcher formation. Normally they do not really need feeding, but an occasional ant or fly in a pitcher every couple of weeks would boost the plant's nutrient input. If not, you could try very weak foliar feeds for orchids with just a little fertilizer sprayed lightly on the leaves or wiped on the leaves with a paper towel. Use a foliar feed with the same ratio or nitrogen, phosphorus and other ingredients and just mix it in 1/8 to 1/4 strength. Too much fertilizer on the leaves can cause leaf burn, but a little might perk the plant up and get it to pitcher again if it has none at all. Only fertilize about once every two to four weeks and only lightly. Never in the plant's soil.

Christopher