Question

Browning Leaves   Hi Jeff/Jacob,
I am wondering if you can help me. I grow a Nepenthes Sanguinea, which during the three and a half years I have had it, it has grown very impressively and at least tripled in size. I grow it in a 2:1 ratio of live sphagnum to perlite and put it outside from around June to early September, watering with rain water only. The plant is accustomed to quite strong sunlight - when indoors it is grown in a west facing window and on sunny days after the spring equinox the plant would easily receive 5-6 hours of direct sun. (When outside this time of the year I like to keep it hanging under a small tree to dapple the light a little).
The problem I have is that since putting my plant outdoors (this did not occur when it was in my bedroom) multiple leaves are developing a red/brown tanned appearance, and I don't know what is causing it.
The pot is allowed to drain freely, but I don't know if rain showers are keeping the media too moist and the leaves/roots are rotting, is the strong light tanning the leaves, is it burning? If this is of any use to you - I am in England and average day temps this time of the year are low 20s and nights are the low to mid teens (low 70s and mid to upper 50s Fahrenheit) respectively.
Thank you, Chris.

Answer
Hi Chris,

Your leaves are darkening from sun exposure.  I see this is the dark pitcher form of N. sanguinea, so the reddish leaves are normal for it.  I don't see any burn, but you may want to provide some shading or dappling of the light when outdoors.  Glass in windows indoors shields most of the UV, so the plant has to re-adapt to full UV exposure, so you can see some leaf burn when putting them outdoors.  

What I like to do is find a tree or shrub where you can place the plant that gets more of an Eastern exposure, with a some shading, that often works well.  Since you are in the UK, I'm assuming you often have cloudy mornings in the summer since you have a maritime climate like us here in the Pacific Northwest.  You want the plant to get some sun, but just not the amount you would give Sarracenia.

Your watering and other conditions sound fine.

Good Growing!

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