Expert: Christopher Littrell - 4/30/2011

Question
A few months ago I bought a highland Nepenthes mix and it was doing fine, but about two weeks ago ago I noticed some tiny white bugs on it, and now the leaves are turning yellow and brown at the tips.  All the pitchers have died.  I water it once or twice a week with distilled water, and it's growing on a western window supplemented with a grow light. What could be killing it?

Answer
Hello Anna,

Is it one of the tougher species that can tolerate warmer nights? If not, make sure your nightly temperatures drop a good 10-20 degrees down to the 60s or 50s as some of the highlanders simply cannot tolerate warmer temperatures at all at night. Some highland species simply do not do well without nightly temperature drops.

The insects are the main concern for now as they may be the problem itself. There are many insects that are tiny and white. Some aphids are white in color, there are thrips, mealy bugs, and a great many others. The main thing is to get some pesticide that is not soap based. Usually pyrethrins are good as well as neem oil based products. Use only as the manufacturer directs. Ortho usually makes good all around products. The pests may be draining the plant of sap or eating away at the roots according to what species they are.

What kind of water, soil, and temperatures do you have for your plant? Does it sit in a tray of water and is the combined window and plant light enough for it? I have encountered lighting problems in which a Nepenthes is in a South facing window with 12000 lumens of florescent light over it and it still failed to pitcher properly. I adjusted the light, placing 18000 lumens of florescent alone over the plant and closer, to about 8 inch distance, and the plant does fine. Do you fertilize the plant at all? Where did you buy the soil mix? There are a host of potential problems that need to be looked at to determine what is harming your plant.

Christopher