Question

Sick Cobra   Hello,

My prize winning Darlingtonia has suddenly started to die off.  The pitchers have started to turn brownish at an alarming rate (see picture). New pitchers are still growing, but are starting to turn brown, too. The same thing is happening to 6 month old divisions of the mother plant.

I live in Oakland, CA and grow them them outside in 4-6 hours of sun. They were re-potted last winter into a peat,long fiber sphagnum, perlite mix.  I have grown this plant like this for 6 years.

Any ideas?

Thank you,

David

Answer
Thanks for uploading the photo.  That helps me out a lot.  Your plant isn't showing the classic signs of root shutdown, but something is affecting it's ability to draw up water and maintain photosynthesis.  The problem is definitely beneath the soil.  It could be an insect or it could be fungus.  In your case, get Bayer's 3 in 1, Insect, Disease & Mite Control.  It's a systemic pesticide that will take care of both insects and fungus.  Follow the directions on the bottle.  Spray the plant rather generously.  Do this in the early evening when it's cooler to improve absorption in the tissues.

After spraying your plant, monitor for the next week.  The spray should halt the spread.  I know we're entering fall, but your weather may be mild enough for the plant to produce new growth.  As long as you see new growth and the growth looks healthy, your plant will pull through.  It may take it another season for it to look normal again.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin