Question

My Pitcher   Hi Carnivorous Plant Guys!

I have a Nepenthes Pitcher Plant and there are a few things that I'm not quite sure is normal about it. To begin I've only had this plant for two week from now so I don't exactly know the species since I received it as a gift (I think its a Nepenthes Merrilliana, see pictures). The region is Australia, Brisbane. Since it's still young,I didn't repot it yet, so I don't know what soil it is in at the moment. I don't water them, but moisten them in this winter time with rainwater from the rain tank. For light, I keep it on a south facing balcony which you would imagine is quite strong even in winter because of my region.

My issue is the smell. Since it winter at the moment in Brisbane, some of my Nepenthes' pitchers are turning black. I've researched that there is no dormancy period for Nepenthes, so I'm thinking that this is just growth (especially because it's the larger ones that are turning black). In Episode 1 of 'Ask the Carnivorous Plant Guys', I saw that the pitchers that you removed are completely dry. Mine are not and I've did some research and learned that I should let them stay until completely dried out because they can still provide nutrients to the plant.

I was given a young Venus Fly Trap along with my Nepenthes and I treated them the same until I did some research and discovered that Nepenthes are not meant to kept standing in water! I fixed this problem immediately by draining it and letting it stand on pebbles in shallow water so there is no contact with it and the water but it will gain some humidity for pitcher production.

So I was wondering what is causing the awful rotting smell?
Is it the black pitchers still digesting insects? Or is it that the roots are rotting because I let it sit in water?

Thank you very much for your time and concern! :)
Regards, Sam

Answer
Hi Sam,

If the plant has caught lots of bugs, then it may be the pitchers you're smelling.

Definitely don't let the Nepenthes sit in water.  They will rot out if kept waterlogged.

You might want to consider dappling the light slightly for your plant.  Nepenthes like it bright, but full direct sun can burn them sometimes.  Try putting some other plants around it so the light is more broken up.

Your pitchers browning this time of year because of short days.  This is very common in the wintertime.  When it comes to cutting pitchers off, they can still absorb nutrients as long as the bottom part is green, but once the whole pitcher is black or brown, the tissue is dead, and can no longer absorb any nutrients.  We cut them off when we can't stand looking at them anymore. :)

Since your beginning in your cp adventures, you might consider taking a look at our instructional DVDs.  They can be a sound investment helping you avoid the pitfalls so common to new growers.  http://www.cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=38  Also checkout our caresheet pages for general care:  http://www.cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=7&chapter=1

Good Growing!

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