Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Plant Species >> Carnivorous Plants

Positive Signs: Red Leaves and Nectar on Nepenthes Under Increased Light

A grower's N. 'Poi Dog' and N. ventricosa × (ramispina × sanguinea) (2 months old) were under 25W CFL, switched to 125W CFL. Within 4 days: leaves turned very red, sticky sap droplets appeared. Light 9 inches above, 12-hour timer, distilled water. Asks what's happening.

These Are Good Signs

Red leaves: Indicate adequate light. N. sanguinea hybrids should show red tinge. N. maxima also reddens in strong light.
Nectar droplets: Produced to attract insects. Requires photosynthetic energy from strong light. Low light = no nectar.

Conclusion

Plants are responding positively to increased light. Nepenthes prefer more light than most realize. See colorful examples in our gallery: CobraPlant.com/gallery

Carnivorous Plants: Japanese Maple Spring Leaf Damage: Herbicide Injury vs. Winter Kill; Multiple Tree Decline: Red Maple, Rhododendron, Magnolia, Japanese Maples; White/Gray Leaves on Japanese Red Maple: Need Photo; Diagnosing Red Maple Decline: White Spots, Shriveling Leaves, and Fungus; Red Edges on Phalaenopsis Leaves: Too Much Light, Not Disease; Cattleya Alliance Red Leaf Edges: Sun, Stress, or Natural Color?; Red Maple Seasonal Color Shift: Sugar Dynamics; Identifying a Tree with Bright Red, Seven-Lobed Leaves in Missouri; Red Leaves on Nepenthes Miranda and Burkei: Normal or Problem?; Sun Damage on Nepenthes 'Ventrata' After Moving Outdoors

Garden Articles

Phyllosticta Leaf Spot on Red Sunset Maple: Spring Fungicide and Fertilizer

Red Leaf Maple Dieback: Winter Desiccation and Canopy Restructuring

Glory Red Maple Leaf Browning in Florida: Transplant Shock vs. Drought

Drummond Red Maple Leaf Scorch and Tip Dieback in Texas

Japanese Maple Leaf Wither: Overwatering in Clay Soil Corrected by Deep Weekly Watering

Why Rose Blooms Wilt Fast and What Red Leaves Mean

Japanese Maple Leaves Turning Green in Summer

Plants

Red Dragon Flytrap Slow Growth: Flower Stalks Don't "Rob" Energy

Red-Brown Leaves on Nepenthes: Light Response, Not Disease

Nepenthes Red/Black Leaves in Terrarium: Soil Breakdown and Overwatering

Red Dots on Nepenthes Leaves: Rust Spots Explained

Getting a Seedling Plumeria to Flower

Why Geranium Leaves Turn Red and How to Fix It

Japanese Maple Leaf Scorch: Recovery and Prevention