Question

Feb 2014  

Sept 2014   Hello. I am in foothills of NC. Nepenthes owner since last fall. Plant suffered over winter w/possible spider mites. In May I asked a lady selling these at a garden show about hers. She advised Ortho Orchid food, 1/2 strength, 1 x wkly. I have done that. The pix show when I asked before about the possible spider mites. The Sept 2014 just taken show the plant after using the orchid food around 3 months. Leaves nice, large, green. Pitchers: small or small then drying up. My guess: too much food, no need for eating bugs? Time to repot to larger pot? Any advice helpful.

Answer
Hi Holly,

You're spot on with your assessment.  Your plant has made a roaring comeback, but it probably needs a bit less fertilizer now.  I would stop fertilizing and give it some time.  As long as it is getting adequate sun, it should start producing larger pitchers.  Unless the plant seems severely root-bound, I would wait until late winter to transplant.  Transplanting inhibits pitcher production, and we are going into Fall, so the disturbance might keep you from getting a nice pitcher crop.  Since they tend to drop pitchers in winter anyway, February is a good time to transplant since it gives the plant plenty of time to recover as it goes into longer days.

Mid-winter start fertilizing again, but at 1/4 strength about once every two weeks.

Good Growing!

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