Expert: Christopher Littrell - 1/1/2012

Question
Hi Chris,

I've had this N. rajah for about 6 months now. It hasn't increased in size at all and looks the same. Just wondering if I'm not doing something I should be or doing something I shouldn't!

Growing conditions are as follows:
Location: Sydney, Australia
Season: summer, average of 27 degrees celsius in the day and 14 at night
Water: Only rainwater
Light: 12 hours indirect sunlight (most of which is under a shade cloth

Additional: I've got a evaporative swamp cooler parked next to it to reduce the summer heat and increase humidity.
Its outside as opposed to inside a greenhouse.

I bought another highland species N. lowii which is growing slowly but has at least grown. I understand both species are slow growing but my rajah is no-growing!

Please help

Answer
Hello James,

You miht want to increase the amount of light the plant receives slightly. Nepenthes like bright, strong light, but just a little less than direct sun. As young plants, Nepenthes can be rather slower growing anyways. I had a similar experience with a new N. sanguinea bud at the soil line that had been covered by the leaves of the adult for months. It took it quite a while to make any headway in growth at all until I pruned some leaves off the adult. The night time temperaturs could be just a little colder between about 45-55 degrees fahrenheit. and try to keep the day time temperatures below 80 if possible.

In any event, N. rajah can handle very bright light, so lessen the shade and you should see some snails pace growth.

Good luck with the N. rajah. It is one of the most difficult of the Nepenthes to grow succesfully even for experienced growers.

Christopher