Question
Hi. I'm Daniel and my nepenthes coccinea needs help. I've kept the plant for a year now and it has not grown a pitcher since then. It has grown one pitcher however the lid just opened as a small gap. I got it from a nursery called Staunton Harold and when I first got it, it had 5 pitchers. Over the year each pitcher turned brown so I cut them off. I live in the UK and in Leicesterchire where it usually rains and theirs not quite much sunshine. I feed it with rainwater once every 2 days and I keep it on my bedroom window facing north. My nepenthes sanguinea had the same problem but when it started growing again, it only grew pitchers less than an inch long. I do the same as my nepenthes coccinea to my sanguinea. I try and keep my room as humid as possible by placing boiling water to evaporate but it appears to not work. Please, try and help me as much as you can.

Answer
The most common reason why Nepenthes fail to produce any pitchers is lack of adequate lighting.  This is a very common problem for folks living in maritime climates, like yourself.  Our nursery is also in a maritime climate, and we deal with lots of clouds during the winter months.  

However, you mentioned about putting the plant in a north window.  This is insufficient lighting, even on very sunny days.  Your plant should get several hours of direct sunlight.  So move your plant to a south window.  If you don't have a window that gets several hours of direct sun, you will need to use artificial lights.  

So that would be my first recommendation.  Increase the lighting.  Without adequate lighting, your plant won't have the energy to produce pitchers.  No amount of humidity or water will change the situation.  In fact, at our nursery, humidity will drop to 20% during the summer months, and our plants still produce wonderful pitchers.  They do so because of our bright summer days.  

Now keep in mind that what you think is bright enough and what your plant thinks is bright enough are sometimes two different things.  In the end, your plant is the final judge of what is bright enough.  After giving your plant the adequate sunlight, it may take 3-6 months before you see new pitchers again.  

For more information about growing Nepnethes, watch Volume 3 of the Grow Carnivorous Plant DVD series or read our care information online.
http://www.cobraplant.com/dvd
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Good growing!
Jacob Fairn