Question
QUESTION: A few months back I purchased a small cephalotus follicularis.  It arrived potted and in lovely condition.  For a while, it appeared to be doing well.  I followed the instructions that came with it and kept the "humidity dome" on it for the first two weeks after arrival.  Following that, I slowly began to remove the dome for a little longer each day until I was only putting it on at night.  The plant grows in a window that gets bright early morning sunshine.  I only used distilled water.  

Unfortunately, I noticed one morning that my plant had what I believe to be botrytis growing on one of the pitchers.  I removed the pitcher but more and more pitchers have turned yellow and they've all had a very small amount of a grey dust-like substance on them.  I've been removing them as it happens. After researching online I stopped using the humidity dome, purchased a 40 watt CFL to hang over the plant, and ordered some Daconil.  It said online to decrease humidity, increase temps and lighting.  Also, I found online that Daconil fungicide would be safe for the plant and help eradicate the botrytis.  My plant looks awful.  It looked better before I used the Daconil for sure.  I don't know if the increased lighting, temps, or decreased humidity have also taken a tole on my poor plant.

When I look up close it looks like there are new little tiny green pitchers forming but I don't know if this is necessarily an indication that the plant may pull through or not.  Perhaps they'll suffer the same fate as the rest of my pitchers.  Also I feel that I should mention that even though many of the pitchers are dying that there are a few that still look very nice.

Thank you for any advice you may be able to give me.  It is much appreciated.

ANSWER: Hey Sarah,
Well its really hard to tell without any pictures, but if it is indeed boytrtis, what you are doing is correct. Decreasing the humidity should help against the disease. Only thing you can really do at this point is just continue to watch the new pitcher growth and see what it does. If the green pitchers are coming in, its indeed a good sign. My suggestion to you is too wait and see what happens, you wont see dramatic results with this plant over night, things take time. I have a couple of good buddies on my site that seemed to have this same issue, you might join and ask the question if you still continue to have problems.

I hope this does help you,
Jake
thecpforum.com

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you!  I will definitely look into that website.  I also learned that I was not providing an adequate drop in temperature at night.  For the past two nights I have been placing it outside at night where the temperature has been 60 degrees F or so.  Is this the right thing to do?

Answer
Hello Sarah,
Yes it is. I give with mine, aprox a 20 degree drop. As long as they are getting some type of drop in temps you are doing it correctly.

http://www.thecpforum.com/uploads/gallery/album_2/gallery_1_2_1078188.jpg

Happy Growing,
Jake
thecpforum.com