Question

picture 44  

picture 47   Hey guys!

I have an Nepenthes alata x luzon and it seams to have 'shrinking' new leaves. I have grown it for about an year. I grow it outside my balcony getting around 3-5 hours of sunlight. I water it with hard water and occasionally rain water. I have it growing in 1 part peat moss, 2 part perlite and 1 part sphagmun moss.I live in Sydney,Australia (it is not very hot these days around 12-21 degrees Celsius).

Answer
Thank you for submitting the photos.  This helps me out a lot.  Based on what I see in the photos, I suspect that you recently repotted the plant.  Is this true?  If so, the recent repotting can contribute to shorter leaves as a result of microdamage to the roots.  This is normal and often unavoidable.  

The second issue is malnutrition.  I noticed that your plant doesn't have any pitchers, which means it has no method of obtaining insects for nutrients.  If your plant has been without pitchers for several months, you will need to supplement it with fertilizer.  Use an orchid fertilizer, and start with 1/4 strength solution.  You can spritz the solution on the leaves and pour it into the soil.  Do this weekly.  Over the course of time, the new growth will get larger.

Another issue still is your change in season.  Being in Sydney, you're currently approaching winter, so your temperatures will go down slightly.  This too will affect the growth of your plant.  

Since your plant doesn't have pitchers, reconsider the lighting.  The plant should get a few hours of direct sun and very bright indirect sunlight during the rest of the day.  Insufficient lighting is the primary cause for poor pitcher development.  If you think this is applicable, move your plant to a position where it can get stronger lighting.

After making these changes, give your plant at least a couple months.  Since you're approaching winter, you may need to wait until late winter before you see significant changes and new pitchers on your plant.

By the way, the plant is actually Nepenthes alata "Luzon".  It's not a hybrid.  Rather, it's an alata species from the Luzon district of the Philippines.  It has very lovely pitchers with a slightly bulbous bottom.

For more information about growing Nepenthes, watch Grow Carnivorous Plants, Volume 3.
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

Good growing!
Jacob Farin