Question
Hello guys i have a qustion about my nepenthes right now is under a 23 watts equvilant to 100 watts with a 1600 lumens daylight lightbulb. I have a nepenthes sanguinea and ventricosa but i am concern about the huminity levels,is is about 10 percent huminity here in my room and do you think is it ok to put them in a teranium or just leave it there under the lights. I know pitcher production is weak during the winter times but let me ask you another qustion, why is the end nepenthes tendrills pitcher are black and soggy looking on my nepenthes sanguinea  it can't produce any pitchers so i cut all the producing pitcher including the new growth ( note is also soggy looking blackest too), whats happening can you answer me back THANKS!!!!

Answer
Hi Aaron,

What you're witnessing with the blackening tendrils is typical from low light situations.  Your 23-watt fluorescent light is far too low to keep these plants happy.  We recommend 40-watts or more (actual output).  Until you start using a stronger light source, no amount of humidity will change the situation.  In fact, increasing the humidity while keeping the light level at 23 watts will only worsen the problem (fungus).  So increase the output.  Use a stronger compact fluorescent light.  At 40 watts, start at a distance of about 10 inches.  After a month or so, you can increase or decrease the distance, depending on whether the plants are showing signs of too much light or not enough.

For more information about Nepenthes, read our care sheets on our main website:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets

Also look for our upcoming DVD, Grow Carnivorous Plants Volume 3.  It'll focus on Nepenthes and other tropical pitcher plants.  Hopefully it'll be released in February.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin