Question

N. distillatoria   I received the little guy from your nursery a short while ago - ten days or so, along with a couple of other plants.  They're doing well, but distillatoria is looking a little on the sad side.  Leaves that were just sort of wilty are now browning, no new growth, and overall, the plant itself seems to have a dejected air about it.  The photo was taken earlier today.

The soil stays moist, but not too wet, and the plant is sitting under a 40w.  The hybrid nepenthes it shipped with is recovering just fine; that one is beginning to develop a second pitcher.  Both are in the pot and soil they shipped in, and were listed as lowland plants with identical requirements.  If distillatoria had a pitcher, I'd give it a "welcome to Houston" bug to perk it up.  Should I get some weak fertilizer to mist it with?  Less light?  More?  What's the prognosis, doc?

Answer
Hi Stefani,

Nepenthes distillatoria is a true lowlander which means warm temperatures and high humidity.  This plant is from Sri Lanka and is used to very warm weather.  This is one of those Nepenthes that does live up to the stereotypes of humidity needs for Nepenthes even though most of the common hybrids/intermediate plants do not.  Keep your temperatures up for this plant; never any lower than 70 degrees.  It would benefit from from a humid area such as a greenhouse or other enclosure.  Since you live in Houston, this plant might actually benefit from a partly shady location outside, especially if you air condition your house.  A hot, humid Houston summer would be exactly what this plant would enjoy.

Giving the plant a light fertilizer would be beneficial too, but warmth is going to be the important thing for this little plant.

Good Growing!

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