Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 12/21/2011

Question
I'm not quite sure which type it is, but I saw another photo and think it may be a Nepenthes Sanquine.

The leaves have reddish coloring on them and the pitchers aren't growing more than a quarter inch before they stop. The leaves of the bottom petioles have turned all black and I've cut a few of them off. I keep the soil regularly moist, but perhaps I've made it too soggy and it's harming the plant? How often should I water it?

It's in some sort of peat moss or sphagnum moss in which it came when I bought it. It's underneath a grow light as is the rest of my carnivorous plants.

Eastern U.S., but it's inside all the time. Gets the grow light and sunlight from my window.

Hope the photograph helps. The new leaves start off with a waxy green coating that looks healthy, but after it starts to grow larger it loses its shine. I hope it's not too far gone to save it!

Thanks for reading and responding to my questions!

Answer
Hi Devon,

You're plant actually looks fine.  I would say it is Nepenthes sanguinea.  The color is fairly normal for this plant, but if your soil media is too dense, such as too much peat moss in the media, best to change it out to a looser mix.  Water it more like a regular houseplant rather than like other carnivorous plants.  Soil should be moist, but not sitting in water.  In a dry house in the winter that will be once or twice a week.  They will tolerate drying in the soil, but do better if it stays evenly moist.

Did something happen to the top of this plant?  It looks like it was cut or had some sort of damage.  The growth looks like an emerging bud.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com