Question

nepenthes hybrid   I bought a Nepenthes hybrid from you guys last year (Poi Dog 128, if that helps). I have it under a shop light with 2 40W tubes for 14 hours a day. It has many leaves with good tendrils on it (i counted 12) but it only has 1 pitcher on it. This pitcher has lasted pretty long too. I'm not sure what else to do to make it pitcher. I use water from a ZeroWater filter or rainwater only. I did repot it about a month ago and soaked it in superthrive for 15 minutes. I repotted it in a 1:1 mix of dried sphagnum moss (Mosser Lee)and small bark (purchased from your site). But no change so far. I'm not sure what kind of nepenthes it is either. What kind of nepenthes might i have and what can i do to make it pitcher again?

Answer
Hi Angie,

Because it was sold as a "Poi Dog" it means we don't know what the parentage of the plant is.  I can tell you from the appearance of the pitcher, and the truncated leaves that this plant probably has Nepenthes truncata as one of the parents which explains why you're only seeing one pitcher at a time.  It's very common for the species to do that until the plant is much larger.  I have to say, however, that your plant is stunning.  You're doing a good job caring for it.

What you can do to boost it's growth some is to feed it.  Give it some insects.  That should make it increase it size and give you a better chance of seeing more than one pitcher at a time.

Good Growing!

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