Question
About three weeks ago, my nepenthes fell on the floor while it was airing out from a spraying. I thought it was fine, but a week later I saw that a vine had broken (I'm not really in a position to see the plant every day). I immediately put it in a 'splint', basically hanging the broken vine from another part of the pot's hook with rope. All leaves on the vine are still green, it still has a few green pitchers on it (a lot of pitchers are blackening all over the plant, but the leaves are green... this is just winter behavior/flowering & breaking stress, right?), but I've noticed some blackening on the outside of the vine itself around the break area. The inside of the vine, or what I can see of it inside the break, looks fine though.
I would REALLY rather keep this part of the vine on the plant. Since it's been about 3 weeks and the part after the break is still green, is it safe to say it'll make it? And is there anything I could do, like something I could put on the break to make it heal?
But assuming it gets worse... At what point should I consider biting the bullet and making it into a cutting? I know the basic method, rooting hormone and water/perlite until it's got a root system. Any special tips? If size matters, it would be about a two foot cutting.
Thanks, you guys are great!

Answer
Hi Sean,

I've actually had Nepenthes get breaks like this many times.  You would think that it would kill the stem, but usually it doesn't.  The splint you're using is a good idea, and often the wound area does repair itself.  I would cut off any pitchers on this stem just to minimize the stress.

Something fun you can do since you have a damaged spot, is to try an air layer.  Dust the wound with rooting hormone powder.  Wrap wet sphagnum moss around the area and cover it with plastic wrap.  Seal it off using plastic quick-ties, or twist and ties.  Check every so often to see that the moss is staying wet.  Roots should develop in the area in about 6 weeks.  At that time you can cut the stem off and plant it.  Wha-la!  New plant.


Good Growing!

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