QuestionHi Jacob and Jeff,
> I have recently visited your site. It looks great, and I am looking
> forward to ordering some of your upcoming batch of plants. I was just
> wondering about the winter care of highland nepenthes, such as N.
> Rajah, and N. Sibuyanensis.
> Everyone talks about their night temperature requirements, but is
> it OK if the day temperatures only get to 65 F-70 F for prolonged
> periods? Peter D. never really commented much on the day temperature
> requirements of highlanders.
> I have had my highlanders outside in a greenhouse tent for the last
> several weeks, to take advantage of the cool Fall nights (45 F-55 F).
> Many of the days have been cool here lately as well, though.
> The plants look fine, but seem to be growing much more slowly than
> in the spring and summer. One bit of good news is that the problem I
> mentioned before with newly grown leaves being smaller than the others
> on my Rajah has resolved itself in the cooler temperatures.
> The last two Rajah leaves have been the largest it has produced. The N.
> Sibuyanesis is not doing much lately, however. It is growing even more
> slowly than the N. Rajah, and does not seem to be in any hurry to
> pitcher, in spite of re-potting into sphagnum, in a larger pot. It
> seemed to like the somewhat warmer temperatures of Spring better, or
> perhaps there is some other problem. I think it had thrips before I
> re-potted it, but Orthene treatment appears to have gotten rid of them.
> Thanks and Best Regards,
> Steve Colbern
AnswerHi Steve,
Those temperatures are just fine. As you're seeing growth will be a bit slower, however. That's just the way it is with the ultra-highlanders. Sam Estes who owns Lelani-Hapu'u Nepenthes Nursery on Hawaii's big island has many of his highlanders at about 3,000' near the town of Mountainview. He says even there in near ideal conditions they are slow growers.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
