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Carnivorous Plants/nepenthes truncata

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Expert: - 5/17/2007


Question
Hi, my N. Truncata has experienced a low temperature of around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. At the most a couple of days outside in a greenhouse.  I brought it inside and there were some small brown spots on the leaves.  the leaves were also a lighter green.  they are small plants.  Will they get there dark green leaves back?  And will my plants be all right?  I know it was a low temperature for them, but they were actually doing fine a few days ago.  

Answer
Hello Brian,

Nepenthes truncata is a tropical that does like lower temperatures at night, but it's tolerance is only down to about the mid-sixties. The plants probably experienced some shock from such low temperatures, but might be alright if they were not in 40 degree weather for too long. Since you brought them in, they should warm up and start growing back. Give them plenty of light and keep them hydrated and I would think that they will recover. If they survive, their new leaves will darken if they are given a long enough photoperiod of high intensity light (40 watt shop light florescent or 100 watt compact florescent about 6 inches from leaves or a sunny window).

Keep an eye on that weather and keep your tropicals warm when needed.

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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