Question
1
I've included some images of my Sanguinea. My soil is 1 part LFS, 1 part orchid bark. My water is collected rain water that I use for all my other carnivorous plants as well. Lighting was maybe 4-5 hours direct sun. However the weather around here is getting cold so I have moved them in a bright south-west window.
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Hello Jeff and Jacob,
My nepenthes sanguinea is starting to worry me. I repotted it earlier this year and was a bit worried about that but everything seemed to be going fine after that. Then around maybe august, it started growing poorly. The leaf size halved, and then halved again, and when it halved again the leaves edges started looking burnt and jagged. Also after the leafs halved in size the second time they stopped forming tendrils, instead the tip of the leave is just whitish.
The bigger leaves had burning on them because I moved them outside, however it was mostly just some spots, nothing that concerned me. Also I have it in a hanging pot, with a bottom to catch water. I was watering it when that bottom dried up, but I noticed even after that dried up the media stayed pretty wet for maybe another week, so I cut back on watering. If you would like some pictures let me know.
Thanks.
Following is the reason:
Yes, a photo would be extremely helpful. I also need to know the soil medium you're using, your lighting and your water source. I have some ideas of potential causes, but I need more information. As of now, the lack of tendrils is the least of the concerns. From your description, you plant doesn't seem very healthy. Write back with the requested information and a photo. We'll go from there.
Jacob Farin
AnswerThank goodness you were able to supply a photo. I would have sent you down the wrong path because I originally thought something different.
Overall, your plant looks healthy. Yes, the lower leaves are spotted and discolored, but that's normal as the leaves age. The new growth is green, shiny and firm. As you mentioned, the smaller leaves occurred in August. Nepenthes will produce smaller leaves when the humidity is low and/or lighting intensifies. We see this happen to our Nepenthes during the summer months.
The truncata on the left has an older leaf that looks like was sunburned, so that sort of supports the possibility of intense summer lighting as the culprit. (While many Nepenthes can tolerate lots of sunlight, if they were grown in the shade and were suddenly exposed to sunlight, this will cause sunburn.)
As for the lack of pitchers or tendrils, sometimes this happens when the growing conditions change rapidly. It takes time for the plant to readjust to the new growing conditions. Other than that, you're doing everything OK. Judging from the sundews, you could provide a bit more lighting (longer daylight hours). A south window is helpful, and some Nepenthes will pitcher quite nicely during the fall months because of the direct sunlight in the south window. However, you may need to increase the daylight hours to 12-14 using artificial lights.
See the care sheet for information about using artificial lights:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets
Good growing!
Jacob Farin
