Question
Hi there,

I bought a N. truncata highland sometime last year.  It had 2 little pitchers when it first arrived.  After a while the pitchers disappeared, and now no pitchers are growing.  We misted it during the summer, and the leaves continue to grow, but no pitchers are growing.  We've never watered or misted with anything except distilled water.  It sits in a south-facing window year-round.  Now it seems to be dying because no new leaves are growing, although it's taller than when I first bought it.  Still no pitchers.  I don't know what I'm doing wrong, especially since the pygmy sundew, spoonleaf sundew and S. purpurea that I also bought from you are thriving pretty well. All of them are sitting in my south-facing window during these winter months.  (The purpurea has turned green, but all its pitchers used to be very dark red in the summer.  I know they will be back to dark red again this year.)

Answer
Hi Prissy,

Tell me a bit more about the watering. Is it sitting in water the way you have the other plants?  If it is, that's the problem.  Nepenthes like their soil evenly moist, but if they sit in water, their roots rot out.  At the other end of the scale, if it's getting super dry between waterings, that could cause your symptoms also.

Here's some recommendations.  Don't mist it.  I know that sounds counter intuitive, but it actually can cause more harm than good since the plant is always having to respond to the constant up and down in humidity.  Water the plant like an orchid.  Once a week, water the pot heavily, then just place it back in the tray.  If the plant is still in a 3" pot, transplant it to a larger pot.  Since Truncata's get so large, go up to at least a 5" pot.  Be sure to follow a recommended soil mix for Nepenthes, or order some from us.  Spray the plant with a very weak (1 teaspoon per gallon of water) orchid fertilizer once every two weeks.  Don't do any more than that, or it can retard pitcher development.  Make sure it's getting plenty of bright light.

Let us know how it does.

Good Growing!

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