Troubleshooting Nepenthes and Drosera in Portugal: Heat, Humidity, and Soil

A grower in Portugal (hot dry summers, cool wet winters) struggles with two plants: a Nepenthes ventricosa that stopped pitchering after winter, and a Drosera aliciae losing dew and showing leaf burn.

Nepenthes ventricosa – Pitcher Failure

Possible causes:

• Low humidity (below 20%) inhibits pitcher formation. Frequent watering helps, but may not be enough.
• Water quality: If you're using a different source for the Nepenthes than for your thriving outdoor flytraps, high minerals could be the issue.
• Soil mix: Many nurseries repot Nepenthes in fertilized potting soil. Repot into 1:1 dried sphagnum moss and pumice (or perlite), or 1:2 peat:pumice.

Give the plant a month after repotting to resume pitchering.

Drosera aliciae – Dew Loss & Burn

This is a cool-growing mountain species. Your summer highs of 35°C (95°F) are far too hot. The combination of heat and intense sun (even through a window) causes dew loss and leaf scorch.

Fix: Move it indoors to a bright but cool spot (≤30°C/86°F). Damaged leaves will die; new growth from the center indicates recovery. Keep light bright but temperatures moderate.

General Water Advice

Since your flytraps thrive outdoors, your water is likely low-mineral. Use the same source for all carnivores. Collect rainwater if possible—it's ideal and free.