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Carnivorous Plants/Pitcher Plant Pod problem
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Question
Nepenthes, very healthy in green areas, the plant has seven large pods. Five of the pods have developed a brown area at the top 1 to 2 inches long. These areas appear to be dehydrated. I am very aware of the watering process and each pod has water stored inside. I mist them every other day. Is this a normal process for this type of plant? How may I stop this? Thank you very much.
ted phillips
Hi Ted,
It sounds like you just acquired a new Nepenthes and it is going through a typical transition period. It's very common for a Nepenthes to drop pitchers when moved to a new environment. When pitchers (they're not pods; pods are seed structures) die on a Nepenthes they always start from the top and slowly work down the pitcher. When you're tired of looking at them, just cut them off. Leave the leaf intact. Give your plant a couple months and you should see some new ones beginning to grow on new leaves. The most important growing factor with Nepenthes making new pitchers is light.
Here's some helpful hints with Nepenthes. Locate your plant in a sunny window, usually a west or south window. It should get direct sun for part of the day when the sun is out. Keep the soil moist, but don't allow the pot to sit in water. Avoid misting. Misting is a old myth with houseplants that does little to no good, and may even inhibit pitcher production in Nepenthes. It's fine if you want to clean of leaves once in awhile, but avoid frequent misting. Once you have a spot for your plant, leave it there. Don't move it around; plants hate that. Finally be patient and give it time. It takes them awhile to adapt to a location.
For more information on growing Nepenthes visit our caresheet pages at: http://www.cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=32 Also consider our volume #3 DVD. It can help you avoid many of the pitfalls so common to new growers. http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38&products_id=257
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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Answers by Expert:
Sarracenia Northwest
Expertise
If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!
Experience
With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again.
Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.
No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.
Just the straight facts from guys who grow and propagate
thousands of carnivorous plants each year.
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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTION: We no longer answer how-to questions (i.e. How do I propagate...?; How do I grow...?). Instead, we help growers by diagnosing a specific plant problem and offering solutions (i.e. Why is my sundew not producing dew?; Is now a good time to divide my Sarracenia?; Why are the traps turning black?; What's a good substitute for perlite?; Why didn't my seeds germinate?; Can you identify this carnivorous plant for me?) For general plant care, please read our care sheets on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets For business questions: http://www.cobraplant.com/contact |
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