Question

Nepenthes Rafflesiana   QUESTION: Hey guys, just wanting to know the best lighting intensity requirements for this species. I've had this plant for under a month but its leaves and pitchers are are starting to turn brown.  It's potted with sphagnum peat moss and kept moist(with reverse osmosis water), but never sitting in water. I have it in full sun from 10 am to sunset and bring it inside whenever the temperature drops below 55 degrees.
I'm from Orland Park, Illinois, United States.

Thanks for your time,

Bobby

ANSWER: Full sun is a bit too strong for this species.  While it can be acclimated for full sun, in the wild they mostly grow in partial sunlight.  A fellow grower in Hawaii grows his Nepenthes outdoors, but his plants are under a shade cloth that provides 40% shade.  So back off on the sunlight.  Grow your plant under a tree where it can get direct morning sun, and then dappled sun during the rest of the day.  Give your plant time to produce a new set of leaves to cover up the damaged ones.  When growing your plant outside, water it daily during the hottest parts of summer.  For a video example of growing Nepenthes outdoors, watch Grow Carnivorous Plants, Volume 3.
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------


Brunei Giant   QUESTION: I followed your advice on cutting down on the light by giving it direct morning sun and after 10 I place it under a 40% shade cloth the rest of the day. I also have been watering every day because it's been hot over here the last few days. The plant is still withering and turning brown, just want to make sure the temperature is not a factor here. I know it's a lowland species so the our heat over here should be okay. Is their anything else I could do or continue with what I'm doing thanks again.

Here is an updated image of my Brunei Giant Plant.

Bobby

Answer
This isn't at all unusual.  Keep in mind that you had the plant in full sun for a while.  The leaves have already been damaged, and what you're seeing is the after effects of that damage.  It sometimes doesn't show up right away.  Think of it like a sunburn.  Sometimes you might feel the burn until the next day.

Unfortunately, I have some bad news.  The damage on the existing leaves looks very severe.  The plant may have trouble producing energy via photosynthesis because of the damage.  No amount of sheltering can reverse this damage.  It's hard to say if the plant will make it.  Only time will tell.  The most you can do is make sure the plant is well sheltered from any excessively strong sunlight.  You could also grow the plant in a clear plastic bag to reduce moisture loss through the leaves.  This will help the plant conserve its moisture for the developing new growth.  If you do this, you need to grow the plant indoors, away from direct sunlight.  Filtered sun is best in this particular case.  If the damage isn't severe enough, the new growth will continue to grow and develop into a mature leaf.  Again only time will tell if the plant will make it.  

I encourage you to still continue growing Nepenthes.  However, read on their care and invest in some reference material.  I know you can find lots of information online, but it's hard to determine which information is reliable.  We produced a DVD that shows you how to grow Nepenthes, both indoors and outdoors.  We even show you how to propagate them via stem cuttings.  It's a worthwhile investment if you're new to growing Nepenthes.
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

Good growing!
Jacob Farin