Question

Nepenthes Leaf Issue   Hi,

I recently purchased a nep. vent x truncata from your nursery. I was really pleased with the condition and shipping of the plant!
However, since I have had it, it has tried to put out two new leaves. Key word being TRIED. As you can see in the picture, the leaves are small and somewhat unhealthy looking and curled up. they quickly grew like that but aborted there after and refuse to do anything else. The old growth is fine. I have the plant in a south window and water with distilled water and it is still in your guys' pot and soil. I haven't done anything else. What's the problem? My best guess has to be something with light or shock.....
While this is a south window for sure, I do find that it gets no direct sunlight. That is, if direct sun means sun rays beating on the plant like what Sarracenia need outdoors, and in an open field, this window gets none of that. Just really bright LIGHT from the sun. Does that make sense? Is this the problem?

This may be irrelevant but the house humidity is 41-55% consistently and the temps are between 68 and 74F.

Thank you very much!!

Answer

Leilani Hapu'u Nepenth   Hi Tyler,

The new leaves on your plant look exactly like they should for new leaves developing on a plant like this.  They are still very much in formation.  Nepenthes truncata and it's hybrids are not real fast growers.  Since the plant underwent shipping, and transition to a new home you're going to see some changes before the plant settles in and adapts to it's new place.  Your general conditions are good except for light.

Your light levels are too low.  Nepenthes are not shade plants.  In nature they grow in bright, diffuse areas.  Most are on the edges of forests, or growing in the open in high elevations.  In a home you want them in a sunny window.  The glass blocks most of the UV light, so indoors in a window they are very unlikely to burn.  My experience has been that in order to give them enough sun energy to produce pitchers they need around 3 hours of direct sun when the sun is out.  Bright shade such as a North window won't get the job done.

Overall your plant looks fine, just give it more sun.  I've included a photo from the Leilani Hapu'u Nepenthes nursery in Hawaii to give you an idea of how much sun they give their Nepenthes.

Good Growing!

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