Question
Hello!
    I have a Nepenthes rafflasiana that I purchased from you guys about a month ago. Maybe a bit longer. I don't exactly know. When the plant came to me, it had an open pitcher on a nice tendril, a pitcher ready to open, and a pitcher that was still in tendril form on a leaf. The big pitcher died after a while, just like it should, and then the other pitcher took a few weeks to open. Is this usual? Also, when it did open and I gave it a few insects, it started to brown from the top. Is this a common occurrence? What are the basic care details for N. rafflesiana? I have the plant in a fishbowl with tiny glass pebbles on the bottom and I'm misting it a lot. Nothing is covering the top of the fishbowl. If you can, please answer these questions.

Dave


Answer
Hi Dave,

What you're seeing is very normal.  Pitcher production will probably cease soon since we into the short days of winter.

N. rafflesiana is a lowlander, so it likes temperatures in the 80's with constant high humidity.  For a lowlander it is more tolerant of low humidity than plants such as N. ampullaria or N. bicalcurata, but will still benefit from being higher than normal house humidity.  If you don't have a greenhouse or live in a warmer climate, a sunny window can work for it.  The way your watering is fine.  A large terrarium with fluorescent lights will work also for a time.  Nepenthes rafflesiana is quite capable of growing several feet long and can have 12" pitcher, so it will outgrow a terrarium quickly.

For more information on growing Nepenthes visit our caresheet pages at http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets  Our e-book also has a large section on Nepenthes, and our third volume of "Grow Carnivorous Plants" on tropical pitcher plants will be out in January.

Good Growing!

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