Question
I have a N diatas that I ordered from you in November.  I immediately put it at the window and let it do what it needed to adjust.  I've been patient, but it is still not happy.  No pitchers have formed yet, and it has just finally started growing normal leaves and sending out the tendril but the tiny pitcher-to-be blackened and then the tendril followed shortly after.  

Since it has SLOWLY been improving, I didn't mess with it but now I'm wondering if there is something with the conditions?  Temps are ranging from upper 60s to mid 70s and the humidity is usually in the 50-70% range.  It only gets sunlight through my southern window, but the light is broken up by tree branches and eaves overhanging the side of the house.  Is it time to move it under the lights or shall I stick it out for a bit more?

Thanks!

Answer
Hi Brian,

This species is definitely an ultra highlander, right up there with N. rajah, N. talangensis and N. villosa.  Oddly enough, I find growing N. hamata a lot easier than N. diatas.

As with any ultra highlander, they like cool nights (about 50-55癋), moderately high humidity and bright sunlight during the day.  These are all key to keeping this species happy.  We managed to eke out a really nice pitcher on one of our specimen plants last fall, but it was the only pitcher it produced.  We grew the plant in the  west side of our greenhouse and under a bank of misters, misting for 5 minutes every two hours.  We've since moved that plant away from the misters since we needed the space.  Since then, it stopped producing pitchers.  

So my guess is that you'll need to increase the humidity, at least to the level that's comparable to daily evening rain showers.  (In the mountainous jungles of Sumatra, it's not at all uncommon for it to rain every evening.)

As for lighting, it's hard to say if you should increase it.  When Nepenthes don't produce any pitchers, it's usually because of lack of sunlight, lack of humidity, lack of warmth or lack of cool nights.  Of course, these factors have varying affects depending on the species.  Because the pitchers on N. diatas are intensely red, you could increase the lighting without any adverse affect.  

All in all, this is one species in which you'll just have to chalk it up to experience.  Some species, such as N. sanguinea, are easy and adapts well to a variety of growing conditions, and some species, such as N. diatas, are extremely enigmatic.  

Good growing!
Jacob Farin