Question
I have a N. Talangensis that I got from you guys about four months ago.  While it looked healthy when it arrived it has slowly become sickly. I have it growing in a large fish tank under T-5 grow lights with N. Senquinea and N. Truncata (highlander) that I got around the same time. While the latter two are growing happily and producing many pitchers the Talangensis has brown and black speckles all over the older leaves.  It has produced only one deformed pitcher and the few newly developed pitchers kind of brown up or turn black.  The deformed pitcher that did develop was very small and the lids did not fully form as the pitcher developed and each new leaf is getting smaller. The daytime temps are mid to low 80抯 with humidity levels around 50%-55% and night time temps average in the low to mid 60抯 with humidity levels around 80% ?85%. Also, I have it growing in the same 4?container and medium that it was shipped in and it sits in about a quarter to a half inch of water that is allowed to dry for a few days between watering.  It does not appear to have any pests that I can see.

Can you help?

Thanks, Mike  

Answer
Hi Mike,

This species is a true highlander.  Humidity isn't much of a factor as is temperature.  This plant likes if fairly mild.  The warmer the days, the cooler the nights need to be.  An ideal growing condition would be temps in the low 70s during the day and low 60s to upper 50s at night.  

In our greenhouse, we don't see this species pitcher during the summer months at all.  This is despite being under automated misters (10 minutes every 2 hours, mostly to cool down the highland species).  Right now, with the cooler fall temperatures, the plant is producing lots of pitchers.  I also turned off the misters a while back since the temperature was already cool enough.

Also keep in mind that it's perfectly normal for older leaves to develop brown spots.  This effect is species and condition dependent.  Some species hold their leaves for a long time in a variety of growing conditions.  Other species have a narrow range of growing conditions and may not hold their leaves as long.  As long as the new growth appears healthy, your plant is doing fine.

As a general rule, cut of the leaves when you can't stand looking at them anymore.  

In our upcoming DVD, Grow Carnivorous Plants Volume 3, we'll focus on Nepenthes and some of the common problems growers might see.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin