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Carnivorous Plants/nepenthes alata-brown spots

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Expert: - 12/8/2007


Question
I have had the nep on my porch hanging all summer and it did wonderfully.  however I didn't take it in until just recently(which Im sure is the problem, Im living in NC) and I know it had dried out at least once.  It is now hanging in an southeast facing window.  It had brown spots on the leaves before I brought it in and now it seems like it has more.  I cleaned off the leaves because they were very dirty(I think a smoker lives above me in our apt building).  Should I trim it up or just let it go.  Or perhaps Im watering it too much now?  This is my first experience with them.  Thanks

Answer
Hello Marcie,

You can trim off any dead leaves and pitchers. Other than that, leave any green foliage and just water it normally. Nepenthes do not like drying out, but they also do not like too much water standing in their pots either. Just keep the soil moist and well drained with no tray under it, water it every 2-3 days, and it should be fine if the drying has not permanently harmed the plant.

I hope your Nepenthes recovers,

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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