Question

N. ventricosa 'red' (?   Hi there:

I have a couple nepenthes that are forming pitchers with deformed lids (e.g. N. ventricosa 'red'[I think]from Lowes, N. ramispina), and now the whole pitcher on the ventricosa(?) are deformed (newly forming pitchers). The plants are getting plenty of light just several inches under two flourescent light fixtures in my home for 13 hours a day, good water, one in pure LFS and the other in a sphagnum/orchid bark/perlite mix, watered with a wick system (all working well for all my other neps). They are getting a little large for their pots and I plan to repot them soon. I have also experimented puting osmocote pelets into the pitchers to fertilize them. I've been growing both plants for about two years. Could the deformation be becuase the small pot size, or could it be induced by the fertilizer? Or could it be a nutrient deficiency? Just trying to figure it out so I can better avoid the issue in the future. My first course of action will be to repot them in larger pots,as that is my first suspicion,  but would like to hear other wisdon you might have on the subject.
thanks!
Richard

Answer
Hi Richard,

Larger pots are probably due, but I doubt that alone would cause the pitcher deformation.  I've seen some pretty pot-bound Nepenthes that looked great.  I can tell from the plant color that your light is fine, so the Osmocote would be my first suspect, especially if you are seeing this in different species.

If you're getting good pitcher development, try giving the plants insects (I know, what a novel idea) instead.  Osomocote is just NPK and doesn't have any trace minerals, and the pellets may release fertilizer too fast when in the pitcher water.  The plants get lots of other minerals from the insects they capture, so if it is a deficiency, that may help out.

Good Growing!

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