Question
QUESTION: Hi

I have a cephalotus that has been dying, and then seemingly recovers. It starts with leaves and or traps turning yellow and then brown, almost all the foliage dies back, and then just when I think it is done for, I see a little bit of green, then it will grow and look healthy for a couple of weeks and the cycle starts again.

It is in a terrarium, under four CFC bulbs, potted in a peat/sand mixture. I am careful not to over water.

Any help you could give me would be appreciated

Thanks
Nicole

ANSWER: Hi Nicole,

Are you seeing any powdery mildew on the leaves?  Do you have a photo?

Good Growing!

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

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


Cephalotus   QUESTION: Hi Jeff

Thanks for the quick response. I don't see anything that might be a fungus. I took a couple of pictures .. this is the best of them.

You can see that there is quite a few new pitchers forming, but they get as big as the one that is yellow and ... turn yellow.

I am beginning to think there may be something funky with the soil and I should repot it.

Thanks for your help

Nicole

Answer
Hi Nicole,

Thanks for the photo.  What's the temperature in the terrarium?  How far are the bulbs from the plants?  This looks a bit like sun bleaching from bright conditions combined with high temperatures like you sometimes see in greenhouses.

Good Growing!

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