Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 8/8/2011

Question
QUESTION: I'm replying about my n.ventricosa. I've sent a picture this time. I've given it all the sunlight I can and kept it watered. Its grown no pitchers at all this year. The last two years it was fine. Other than that it's been growing as you can see. I repotted it in late June. How does it look?

ANSWER: Hi Craig,

Thank-you for sending a photo.  It always helps.  Your plant looks pretty normal for Nepenthes ventricosa, minus the pitchers.  It is a bit yellow, but they often are in proper light conditions.

What caught my attention was the soil.  What kind of soil media are you using?  It looked like regular cp mix, 50/50 peat moss to perlite.  Some Nepenthes are ok with that, others are not.  Nepenthes need an open mix that drains freely.  If you do have it in a heavy peat mix transplant it to a mixture of long-fiber sphagnum moss with roughly equal quantities of small orchid bark and perlite or pumice.  Just add the bark and perlite until it looks like you have a fair amount in with the moss.  Wet it thoroughly, then transplant your plant into it.  A 15 minute soak in Superthrive would be good for the plant also.

After the transplant it will take some time for the plant to re-adjust.  Keep it in partial sun like you're doing, and a sunny window when it comes back inside.  Giving it a 1/4 strength orchid fertilizer every two weeks will help also.  Let me know how it goes.

It's also possible that your summer heat is the culprit.  I know the East coast has been having record heat waves, and N. ventricosa is a highlander.  The lack of cool nights could be affecting it.  We often see this in our greenhouse when we have hot summers in the Northwest. (Not this year!)  As we approach fall that will change, or if you air condition your house moving it back indoors could help.

Good Growing!

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The soil is 1/2 peat, 1/2 perlite plus some orchid bark. I can't find that orchid fertilizer you recommend around here. It all contains urea. I have it hanging from the remains of a crabapple tree, knocked down by an ice storm 6 years ago. It gets sun from noon till about 6:00 pm when the sun goes down behind the houses across the street. To the east is nothing but trees and houses.  Craig

Answer
Hi Craig,

Here's a link to an orchid fertilizer we've used for years:  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004OYZ6L6/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539

Good Growing!

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