Question

Nepenthes damage  
Generalized damage   QUESTION: Three days ago, 4 of my 8 indoor Poi Dog Nepenthes suddenly crashed.  The leaves began to wilt and turn black.  New and old pitches for these 4 plants wilted and collapsed.  These 4 plants were located on the same shelf where they have been happily growing for some time.  The 4 plants on the upper shelf (~1 foot higher)are fine.  These plants are still in their original soil (as purchased from SNW mid winter) and I only water with RO water.  I live in zone 6/7, but keep the plants indoors with a plant light year round.  Until this time, they have been thriving and producing many pitchers. The only environmental change over the past 2 weeks is that the weather turned unbearably hot and we turned on the air conditioning and closed the windows.  The temperature change was only about 10 degrees cooler, but the overall humidity dropped somewhat.  I am assuming the death and destruction seen in the photographs is a result of the rapid temperature/humidity change. I thoroughly watered all 8 plants and put a humidity bag over the affected plants.  Can you confirm this is indeed the problem plaguing the poor pups?  If so, how do you recommend I nurse them back to health?  Should I remove all leaves affected? One of the plants is a very slow grower (see image), and I am afraid to cut off all of the leaves for fear it won't have any way to photosynthesize.  Why do you think the 4 plants located on the upper shelf were unaffected?  Do you think the lower plants were just at the tipping point? Thank you very much for your time.

ANSWER: Hi Amy,

As I looked at your photos I bounced this off of Jacob and we both thought this looked like cold damage we've seen on our plants whey they've been exposed to low temperatures suddenly.  Lowland varieties are especially vulnerable.  Were those plants on the lower shelf exposed to a direct draft from either an air conditioner, or vents from central air?  If so that would be cold, dry air in the 50's F, and that could cause that kind of damage if the plants were warm toasty and humid before.  Air from air conditioners is also super low humidity since the compressors remove water from the air.  It would also explain why the upper shelf plants had no problems.  Take a look and let me know.

Good Growing!

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

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more damage  

more damage   QUESTION: Jeff, Thank you for such a quick response.  The central air vent is located on the other side of the room, however the return vent is located almost directly above the shelves.  This could create a draft around the plants.  The plant closest to the return vent (on the lower shelf) did sustain the most damage.  I have since crowded all 8 of the plants onto the upper shelf and their turgor pressure seems to be stabilizing. I have not seen any additional damage or wilting.  Oddly enough, 3 of the damaged plants had tiny offshoots with tiny pitchers and none of these sustained any damage.  Perhaps the leaves of the parent protected the younger plants from too much air circulation?  How should I proceed at this point?  I can put them outside for the remainder of the summer - it is quite warm and humid.  I can hang them in a tree.  I don't want to add any additional stress.  Overall, these plants have been extremely healthy and growing like dandelions, so this is very distressing to me. Please advise.  Thank you for your time and expertise.  -Amy

Answer
Hi Amy,

I think moving them to the upper shelf is going to be fine.  Moving them outside right now could be very hard on them depending on what part of the country your from.  If temperatures in your area are just in the 80's I'd say go ahead, but I know most of the country has been having very hot weather.  If you did try outside make sure the light is dappled from a tree or shrubs.  Be sure to water daily.

You might try putting a thermometer on that bottom shelf to see if it is getting temperature swings.

Good Growing!

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