Question
Hi its me again i would like to know if nepenthes can be propogated though root cuttings because i left some roots on moitsen spagnum and 2 weeks later i see 2 little green stalks on the n.stenophiylla root,please say yes

-dylan

Answer
Hi Dylan,

I'm not sure what those little tiny green stalks are, but Nepenthes don't propagate or spread through their roots.  In nature they are vines, and if a vine makes good contact with the ground it can root, but the roots themselves don't do that.  Often in culture people will see another shoot coming up through the soil and wonder if they can separate it, but what's really going on is a new shoot from the stem under the soil.  This is all very different from other pitcher plants like Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, Cephalotus and Heliamphora.  All of those have rhizomes which are fleshy underground stems.  By their very nature the lend themselves to having pieces break off and start growing new leaves and roots.

No harm in waiting awhile to see what your little green stalks turn out to be.  It could be interesting.

Good Growing!

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