Question
QUESTION: Hey guys,
I am currently growing 6 Nepenthes in a 20 gallon long tank under 3 compact florescent lights (26 watt, 100 watt equivelent), the plants are all small at the moment and are about 6-8 inches away from the lights.  I keep the top partially covered (probably 80% or so) with 2 large pieces of glass.  The temp hovers around 85 during the day and 72 at night.  The humidity seems to be about 70-80% most of the time, though I have yet to find a hygrometer that I really trust its at least 60 and under 90 for sure.  I am unsure of my tap water and have been using distilled water.  Three sides are covered with reflectors adn it isn't near a window. Almost all these plants are doing great; pitchering, staying green, growing fast, etc.

But, I have a N. bellii that I picked up about 2 weeks ago.  When I received it, it was bare root and not to many roots total, in fact it looked to me similar to a cutting.  I planted it in dead moist long fiber sphagnum with a bit of perlite and have kept it fairly moist.  In 2 weeks time, though most happened in the first couple days, all the pitchers have dried and turned brown.  Of the 12-15 leaves, 2 or 3 of the lower ones have brown spots (each about 20% of the leaf is brown but its not the tips).  In addition to this the leaves appear slightly wilted.  The sides of the leaves seem to be curling under just a bit.  However, they did look a bit like this way when I first received it.  The brown leaf spots and dead pitchers happened soon after I received it and haven't seemed to worsen at all in the last week, though with all the pitchers dead they really can't sink much lower.  Two of the 8 or so pitchers did look healthy for a couple days before browning.  The wilting is more difficult to judge as it isn't extreme and hasn't worsened a great deal.  I am torn as to what the real issue is here, if there really is one.  The other lowland plants doing well doesn't help. I know N. bellii is notorious for being a bad transplant patient.  If I had to guess, I would think that is likely related and therefore maybe I just need to let it bounce back.  However, I may be way off.

One other specific area I would like more information on is trimming/pruning the dead pitchers and damaged leaves.  If any trimming is needed/beneficial, where and how much exactly should I cut?  

Thank you in advance for any assistance you can provide.

ANSWER: Hi Flynn,

Everything you're describing sounds like the root system wasn't developed enough for the plant to be out of propagation.  I recommend cutting all the leaves in half to cut down on the transpiration.  Try to keep the humidity as high as possible.  Also, see if you can get some Superthrive and water the plant with some of this.  It has a rooting hormone in it, and may help the plant to develop a better root system.  Be sure to dilute it to recommened levels.  After that, you can only wait and see if it recovers.

On a side note, unless this was just a gift, it is a little irresponsible for a seller to sell you a cutting like this, particularly bare-root of a difficult species.  I hope you didn't pay a lot for it.

Good Growing!

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

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

QUESTION: That is excllent advice, and is much appreciated.  One followup, is cutting the leaves in half a good practice anytime a pitcher is completely dead and dry, should it be left alone, or should just the tendril be cut?  Again, thanks for the great advice.

Answer
Hi Flynn,

Generally when a pitcher dies I just cut off the tendril at the end of the leaf.  If the plant is otherwise healthy, the leaf will live for quite awhile still.  Cutting in half is a practice to cut down transipiration, yet some leaf for photosynthesis.

Good Growing!

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