Brocchinia reducta Care: Light, Temperature, and Fertilizer

Akira in zone 9 (SoCal) grows Brocchinia reducta outdoors in full sun (8-9 hrs), 60-70°F days, 45-55°F nights (occasionally low 40s), in nursery's Nepenthes mix, 8x12" pot, top-watered daily with distilled water. Plant is a small pup with browning older leaves, little new growth.

Expert Analysis & Recommendations

Jeff Dallas suggests:

• May be a recently removed pup with underdeveloped roots.
• Needs fertilizer—treat more like a bromeliad than pitcher plant.
• Could be transitioning from humid greenhouse.

Action Plan

• Give more shade for a month (dappled light via surrounding plants).
• If nights below 50°F, bring indoors until nights stay above 50°F. (Nursery keeps in Nepenthes greenhouse winter, moves out in June.)
• Fertilize with orchid/bromeliad fertilizer at ¼ strength in leaf well weekly, or ⅛ strength every watering. Don't overdo.
• Continue top-watering.
• Be patient—Brocchinia are slow.

Follow-up: Either orchid or bromeliad liquid fertilizer works; both formulated for epiphytes.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
www.cobraplant.com