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Carnivorous Plants/nepenthes alata

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Expert: - 8/23/2011


Question
Hi again while you no I live in san Francisco and I had got a nepenthes alata from home depot but I don't no if it a highland or lowland but at is pitcher slow but my leaf is turning red on a few of them is that good or bad I have it in sphagum moss bark and pelite  help thank-you

Answer
Hello Robert,

How much light is the plant getting?

Nepenthes like bright light, but full sun is not required and can burn some of them. If your plant is not in direct, full sun, and shows signs of reddish coloration on its leaves, then it is producing natural coloration that shows the plant is getting plenty of light. Mine always produce red coloration on their leaves due to the amount of florescent light they receive.

If the coloration is only in small specific spots, it may be mold growing on nectar drops on the leaves. If you suspect mold, simply wiping the leaves off with a moist cloth will remove most of it. If it is natural coloration, then it will not wipe off and is generally good sign.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

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