|
Post by shelilla on Nov 27, 2016 22:22:52 GMT -5
My Nepenthes has been growing great lately! It took a few months, but recently it's just been growing and growing new Upper Pitchers Only thing is, at least for the two that have developed enough so far, is that the tops of them or the 'lids' as I call them, die early and don't grow, which leaves the pitchers looking weirdly deformed. Here is what they look like: Also, something more concerning has been happening to it: the side of the plant has been having a lot of leaves dying. I strongly suspect that it is because of the coldness of Canada's winter seeping through the windows. Are Neps sensitive to cold? Oh and also this is a N. Ventrata It's in a big pot which makes it hard to put in certain places, so would it help if I moved it away from the window? I think it'd still be able to get sun, but....?
|
|
|
Post by sokkos on Nov 28, 2016 20:14:22 GMT -5
I'm curious to hear what input the experts have. I never had this happen to my Neps until I moved to the prairies. I see this happening to my Neps that are not under a humidity dome. All the Neps under the dome produce pitchers with normal lids. My apartment is set to 15*C in the winters (probably a degree or two higher under the lights during the day). I'm inclined to think the shrunken lids might have something to do with low humidity and not so much the temperature.
|
|
|
Post by keeper on Nov 28, 2016 21:19:11 GMT -5
I'm no expert but drastic change in humidity has caused my plants pitchers or leaves to develop deformities in the past. The draft from the window could cause your leaves to brown if it's cold enough. What is the plant potted in ? How wet is it generally ? Does the newer growth look healthy? Is it the bottom portion that is browning?
|
|
|
Post by meateater on Nov 29, 2016 18:12:15 GMT -5
I used to get deformed pitchers often, but after I squirt water on the plant everyday, I get less deformed pitchers. Mine sits right by the window too. Over the past summer I tried covering young pitchers in clear plastic when AC is too intensive, but that doesn't seem to guarantee well-formed pitchers.... Would love to hear more ideas about this.
|
|
|
Post by Apoplast on Nov 29, 2016 21:32:26 GMT -5
Hi shelilla - I've not been growing neps for long, so I am sure there are others here whose expertise will be far greater than mine. That said, I would echo what sokkos and keeper have suggested - humidity. I ran into this issue on my N. veitchii. It was remedied by increasing the humidity. If this is indeed the main culprit, from a vascular standpoint it is not a surprise. Nep leaves are highly complex (perhaps the most complex in the plant kingdom - rivaled only by utric bladders). As they extend, the vascular system needs to supply the entire leaf to the tip to maintain the tissue. I believe the entire leaf, from blade to trap lid are covered in stomata, so there is water loss along the entire way to the final bit - the lid. If the humidity (really vapor pressure deficit, but that's a who other nerdy diatribe) is too low, it's likely the vasculature simply can't supply enough water to expand the lid, and so it senesces through dehydration. Again, that's assuming that my limited experience is accurate with humidity being the main culprit. Though it would also explain why meateater had better luck with misting the whole plant, than by simply covering the developing pitchers. Anyhow, that's my hypothesis.
|
|
|
Post by RuBisCO on Nov 29, 2016 22:26:35 GMT -5
I would think that humidity is also a factor. I noticed that when I took my nep out to have a little photo shoot for plant of the month that the lid on the pitcher actually became somewhat stressed and dessicated even over just a short time. Might be that the lid tissue is more sensitive to losses? My nep experience is quite limited though.
|
|
|
Post by shelilla on Nov 30, 2016 10:48:56 GMT -5
I didn't realize so many people had replied to this thread wow, thanks a lot for your advice! Yes I could definitely say humidity it a factor, often here it is 36% or lower. It only recently started producing pitchers (which I'm glad it has, seeing as I've heard some don't in low humidity) and other wise it seemed fine apart from the few lower pitchers it tried to make drying up. Argh, the dryness here has caused so many problems before...my sundew losing dew with just a few days, my Leopard Geckos having problems shedding, my corn snake actually having shedding problems to the point where I had to put a moist hide in.... I have a humidifier, and I've used one in that room before, would that help? It's a cold air one. Or would misting the plant frequently be enough?
|
|
|
Post by shelilla on Dec 5, 2016 19:02:09 GMT -5
Update: I've begun misting it with a spray bottle every day and so far it seems to be working really well! Thanks so much for the suggestions guys!
|
|