Question
Howdy again gentlemen!

I have a new cephalotus that I've been growing for about a month now. When I first receive the plant, it was growing in a cramp 3?pot.

I reviewed your video on Tropical Pitcher plants and followed your instruction on their care (soil, light, water). BTW, these are a great series of videos that I would recommend to anyone wanting to successfully grow CP抯!

I transplanted it into a roomier 6?pot, with an additional outer pot to keep the soil from overheating, and the pitchers have spread out over the surface, and are covering a good 4" area now.

I have them growing on the kitchen windowsill (east window) not unlike the way Jeff demonstrates in your video, where they get a good 4 to 6 hours of direct light and indirect light the remainder of the day. I have been top and side watering until the water drains out the bottom of the pot. The pot does not sit in a catch tray. I water the plant once every two days

I live in New Mexico, up in the mountains (6670 ft). Our humidity levels vary from day to day during the summer (night 35% cool 65degrees, Day 3 to 5% humidity and temps in the mid 80抯 to mid 90抯). Spring and fall are mild, and winter can be cold and night and cool during the day. I felt that these plants would be a good fit for an indoor plant.

There are new petioles with pitcher nodes worming their way out. Several new pitchers are pea size now!

Now that you know the background, the questions I have are:

1. I was told by another CP hobbyist, that if I top water the plant, I will cause root rot at the crown. I should always water them from the bottom. (So, is this correct info?)

2. I noticed that some of the pitchers lids are drooping over the opening, as though they are closing. The lid is firm and not limp. (Is this a normal function, or is the plant trying to tell me something?)

3. Some of the leaves at the crown are turning brown and dropping off. (is this normal?, or is this a sign of the crown rot?)

I抦 new to this species, and my wife and I love this plant! I just don抰 want to anything wrong and kill them!

Thanks again for being there, and I watching your sight for any new Nepenthes that come up for sale!

Answer
Hi John,

If you make a habit of watering directly into the crown of the plant, especially at night, it can cause problems if it stays wet for long periods of time.  I would totally disagree with only doing bottom watering, however.  This plant benefits from having water flow through the soil and oxygenating the roots.  Just don't hose down the crown of the plant; water the soil.

Lid drooping can occur during very warm, dry conditions.  It will sometimes occur when a leaf is on it's way out too.  If it's during warm conditions, they usually open back up when it's cooler.  It's a way of conserving water.

To know whether or not the leaf browning is a problem I would need to see a photo of your plant.  It's normal for older leaves to die off, and since Cephalotus grows in multi-crown clumps.  It's also possible you have some fungus, so look for white patches.  Always try to keep dead material clipped off.  If you see some fungus you would need to treat with a fungicide.

Good Growing!

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