Expert: Christopher Littrell - 3/21/2011

Question
My pinguinicula is producing Sticky substance in the flower stem why is it and Is it normal. And I put water in my nepenthes tuncata paisan highbird can that kill the pitcher that I put water in.

Answer
Hello Alberto,

Pinguiculas commonly have glands that produce droplets of glue on their leaves, flower stems, flowers, and almost any other part of the plant. A Pinguicula will capture gnats, mosquitos, and fruit flies on all of the aforementioned parts.

Is there some reason as to why water was added to the pitcher? Nepenthes can produce their own fluids, a mixture of benzoic acid, peptic acids, sugary nectar, and water inside the pitcher. There is no need to add any fluids to a pitcher. If the pitcher was accidentally emptied while moving the plant around, don't worry, it will make a little more to add to the pitcher reserve and more pitchers will grow if the plant likes its growing conditions. Adding water will not kill the pitcher, however; can lead to fungal growth, if there was prey decaying in the pitcher, and could also lead to a foul smell due to bacterial growth in the water and mold spores released in your house. Nepenthes keep bacteria and mold down by secreting benzoic acid to kill off bacteria and spores, so if just pure water is added to the pitcher, it will reduce the plant's natural ability to preserve prey and kill bacteria.

A simple rule I go by with my Pitcher Plants of any species is just to look at the hood or lid of the plant. If the lid or hood structure covers the entire top of the opening of the pitcher so that rain will not get in easily, the plant is trying to keep water from falling in accidentally for some reason. If the hood or lid structure is open to rain, that is, if you can sprinkle water over the pitcher and the drops fall in the pitcher without being deflected by the hood or lid, then the plant is allowing, even welcoming, water inside the pitcher for some reason.

Christopher