Question
QUESTION: Hey!  I have an incredible pitcher plant (not sure what
type exactly) that is about to flower.  The leaves are
coming at a rapid pace but they are not creating pitchers.  
Last summer when I purchased the plant florist said
northern light when I bought it, but the plant was not
happy and the pitchers were dying.  It is in direct
southern sun on the top floor of an NYC apartment and still
getting distilled water.  What do you make of this?  What
am I not doing or doing incorrectly?  I bought some seaweed
based fertilizer, but have not used it yet.  Thanks for
your help.  Pictures are on the web at http://picasaweb.google.com/riordan.patrick/PitcherPlant#

ANSWER: Hi Patrick,

First let me say, that you have a beautiful specimen of Nepenthes truncata.  Thank-you for sending the pictures.  This always helps.  This is one of the Nepenthes species capable of getting to giant sizes.  They are quite capable of capturing rodents.

Your lack of pitchering is probably for two reasons.  The first is winter.  Short days often lead to no pitchers and just leaf growth.  The other is that your plant is blooming.   Once it's done blooming, more energy goes into leaves.  Don't cut the flower off, however.  We're very curious to see what the gender of the plant is.  Female Nepenthes truncata are very rare in cultivation.  If yours turns out to be a female, you have a very special plant.

The bottom line for pitchering is just give it time.  You have it in great conditions.  Come spring and summer you should see some very impressive pitchers as the days get longer.

Good Growing!

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Jeff:

Thank you for your speedy reply and especially for the
identification of the specimen.

I will follow-up with more photos with you as the plant
blossoms to help you determine the gender.  Sadly, I will
be away for the first week of February, but my neighbor
will be taking care of it during that time.

My remaining questions are:

1. Should I fertilize the plant with a Seaweed 0-0-1
fertilizer or just let the plant keep doing what it is
doing?

2. What is/are the indicator/s of the gender of the plant?

3. You mention not cutting the flower off.  Should I just
leave it on indefinitely?

4. Can I get seeds from the blossom, and, if so, what is
the best way to get them to grow?

Thank you again for your exceptional help.

Peace,
Patrick

Answer
Hi Patrick,

Go ahead and fertilize.  Seaweed fertilizers tend to be very good for them.  Do it just once a month.

When the flowers begin to open, if you see powdery pollen (yellow) you have a male plant. These are stamens.  If the tip of the flower is slightly wet looking and sticky, it's female.  These are pistils.

If you like the flower, you can leave it for awhile.  Otherwise you can cut it off.  Unless you have another Nepenthes of a different gender, you wouldn't be able to get any seeds from it.  Here's a bit more info on growing Nepenthes from seed:  http://www.carnivorousplants.org/seedbank/species/Nepenthes.htm

Good Growing!

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