Question

Ventrata Brown Patch   Hello, I've been growing a nepenthes ventrata for two or three months. I bought it at a nursery, and noticed that there were some brown patches on the plant. I decided to try the plant, but the brown has been spreading, especially when the browned leaves touch any other leaves. What is this, and is it bad enough that I should return the plant? Growing conditions: in a east facing window that recieves direct morning sunlight and afternoon shade (Dallas-Fort Worth area), watered when the about top 1/2 inch of soil is dry. The soil appears to be a spagnum moss mix of some sort. Thanks so much.

Answer
Thank you for uploading the photo.  This helps me out a lot.  The brown patches look like sun scalding.  This is very common when a plant is grown in a sheltered location and then suddenly given direct sunlight.  We sometimes see this on our plants too.  It typically occurs on the older leaves.  Newer leaves tend to acclimate more readily to the sudden increase in light intensity.  As long as the new growth is bright green, your plant is relatively healthy despite the sun damage.

You could shelter the plant a bit more by moving it slightly to decrease its exposure to direct sunlight.  However, the damage is already done, so my inclination is to leave it where it is and allow the plant to acclimate in that new setting.  Clip off the older leaves when you can't stand looking at them anymore.  

With that said, there is another possibility - some form of leaf miners.  You will need to examine the leaves very carefully and look for small bugs.  Check underneath the leaves as this is where bugs typically hide.  If you see them, then you'll need to treat the plant.  If you don't see them, then it's likely that the damage is from sun scalding.  

Whether or not you want to return the plant is up to you, but the situation is very treatable in either case.  

Good growing!
Jacob Farin