Question

Spindly nepenthes leav   Hi,

I currently grow two nepenthes DeRoose alatas. Both plants have produced some lovely pitchers over the last two summers.
The plants are currently growing indoors in a west facing window - I live in England so I wouldn't be able to keep them outdoors over winter. I keep the soil just moist, not waterlogged, and daytime temps currently are reaching around 20c (68f) in the room they are in. Humidity usually stays around 60%. Both plants have continued to grow over winter, but they look incredibly spindly. The leaves at the top of both plants are very thin, about the length of an adult index finger and a little twisted. I can't see how on earth either plant is going to pitcher nicely throughout the summer. In addition most of the lower leaves have previously held pitchers which have been cut off - so these leaves will obviously not re-pitcher. What is causing this strange growth? Do the plants just need a good prune and repot into fresh media and into a larger pot? Both plants are easily approaching 1.5 - 2 feet tall and I have often thought the pots look too small (diameter of nearly 6 inches). They have been in the same pot and media for about 2 years. Is the plant likely to pitcher at all this summer? No leaves have even started growing pitchers - none look suitable to.

Many thanks in advance, Chris.

Answer
Hi Chris,

Your plants are just fine.  Re-potting and pruning is a great idea, and you can root those cuttings.  You should have no trouble getting them to pitcher again this summer.  You mentioned in your care of your plants just about every care factor except the most important one, light.  Since you live in England, your weather is a Maritime climate just like our here in the Pacific Northwest of the U.S.  Like us I'm guessing you scarcely see the sun for the winter.  The cloudy weather along with the short days is why they stop pitchering and producing the long spindly growth.  Now that we are past the Equinox, things will start to turn around.

Place your plant in the sunniest window in the house; a West window like you mentioned tends to be that because of our morning clouds.  Keep up your regular care.  You should start to see pitcher production start in late April to early May.  Also, once you have them in a window, don't move them, and don't mist them.  Both of these things tend to inhibit pitchering.  Just keep the soil moist.  A weak orchid fertilizer once every two weeks is also good.

Good Growing!

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