Question

Picture of burnt pitch   I have an asian pitcher that had been doing fine on my patio. But yesterday it was a little bit colder with a lot of of wind. I also put it in sunlight longer then I usually do I move it just outside of my patio for more sun shine everyday for a few hours. The day after the tops of my some of the pitchers turned brown. I am wondering if I burnt them in the sun or it was the weather or something something else altogether. Any help would be great.

Answer
Hi Becky,

What you have is just an older pitcher dying off; nothing unusual there.  However, you're doing what I call, "Move it here, Move it there" Syndrome.  All plants hate that.  What happens is you keep changing the micro-climate, and they never have a chance to adapt to the local light, humidity, etc...  This is one of the best ways I know to make a Nepenthes stop producing pitchers.

What you want to do is find a spot that seems suitable, and leave the plant there.  If you're going to leave it out for the summer, leave it out.  It should be a spot with partial sun, best it it's East facing for morning sun, but not the hot afternoon sun.  It's fine to stay out until the temperatures start dropping below 50, then it would need to come in.  Placing it under the partial shade of a tree also works very well.

If you don't have that kind of location, find a sunny window in the house and park it there.  Indoors you want a very sunny window since glass blocks most UV light.  You will need a location like this for winter anyway.

Here's more information an growing Southeast Asian Pitcher Plants:  http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com/Articles.asp?ID=266

Good Growing!

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