Question
QUESTION: hi,

I wanted to know how I can make my nepenthes alata grow larger pitchers. I've had this one plant for almost 3 years now and although it's bigger than when I got it, it's not as big as I'd like it to be. I keep it in a terrarium with florescent lighting. It's planted in shagnum peat moss. I keep the compost moist at all times. I fertilize every few months with superthrive. However, I don't feed it bugs. Is this the culprit? I read that you can put a diluted fertilizer directly into the pitchers--is this true? I also read that you can put fish food pellets in the pitchers--is true as well?

Please let me know what you suggest.
Marissa :)

ANSWER: Hi Marissa,

Yes.  You need to feed your plant more.  You can either feed it insects (a few bugs a month will be fine), fish food will work also.  Just keep the amount small.  Don't overload pitchers.  You can also give your plant an orchid fertilizer every two weeks mixed at 1/4 strength.  (Superthrive isn't a fertilizer, it's a root growth enhancer.)  If you use fertilizer, spray the leaves and put some in the soil.  You can also put a little in the pitchers.  Again the big concept here is, don't over do it!, especially in a terrrarium.  Keep amounts small.  You'll begin to get an idea of what seems appropriate.

Good Growing!

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

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

QUESTION: Hi Jeff,

I've been feeding the pitchers carnivorous fish food pellets for the last couple months (once a month to be exact). It has definitely made a difference in the size and growth of my plants. The smallest one is noticeably bigger. However, I just put pellets(and in some only half a pellet) in the pitchers last week and this morning I noticed the pitchers had mold all over them. I but them off immediately and left the surviving ones alone cuz they seem fine. Obviously it's the fish food. I just don't understand why it didn't happen the last time I fed them, but now it is. Perhaps I'm feeding too much? Should I not put food in every pitcher?

Let me know what you suggest.
Best,
Marissa

Answer
The biggest issue is the terrarium.  Constant high humidity tends to foster mold and fungus.  Nearly all Nepenthes grow well as a regular houseplant, depending on the species and your climate.  So if possible, transitioning the plant to a windowsill instead would drastically decrease the risk of mold and fungus.  This might eventually be a necessity should your plant outgrow the terrarium.

It's possible that the fish pellets are too much for the plant given the environment it's in.  What the plant doesn't utilize will simply rot away in the pitchers.  This might even happen with insects. So you might want to switch to an orchid fertilizer instead.  Follow the directions that Jeff indicated in his previous response.

In volume 3 of our Grow Carnivorous Plants DVD series, we show how easy it is to grow Nepenthes as regular houseplants.  We'll release this DVD in February.

For now, cut off the affected pitchers and spray your plant with a sulfur fungicide.  You can find prepared solutions of it at your local garden center.  Follow the directions indicated by the manufacturer.  You can use the fungicide as a preventative measure as well, but you'll need to do that at lease monthly, if not weekly.

For more information about growing Nepenthes as houseplants, read our care sheet on our main website:
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheet

Good growing!
Jacob Farin