Trishorton

I've started leaving mine out at night, and they seem to be thriving on it. I have now cut off the flower spikes in the hope that Rebecca Soper will start to produce more pitchers.

Brilliant. I was beginning to think that I was maybe doing everything wrong – no criticism intended, I am glad for all the advice and comments. Do you leave your ventricosa out all night as well? I haven’t left my plants out all night so far in case the winds get up! Trish

Brilliant. I was beginning to think that I was maybe doing everything wrong – no criticism intended, I am glad for all the advice and comments. Do you leave your ventricosa out all night as well? I haven’t left my plants out all night so far in case the winds get up! Trish

It now has a third flower spike so I suspect that has a bearing on the pitcher production. There are a number of pitchers forming at the ends of the new leaves. I spray the plants three or four times a day to keep up the humidity. I often also hang them outside in rain showers, as long as it is not a torrential downpour! I also hang them outside most days as it gets so hot in the conservatory, although not as hot as the greenhouse! Trish

It does have a couple of pitchers around the other side of the flower spike, but they are not very big. Last years shrivelled up and I cut them off. I should probably have left them on, I know. I guess it is putting more energy into producing flowers at the moment.

I have just noticed that there is a second flower spike on the same plant. As soon as it is more visible, I will post another photo.

Thank you all for your advice and comments. I am not going to do anything with them at the moment as I have a flower spike on Rebecca Soper. I’ll wait until that has finished. I may leave it until next spring now although the plant is getting quite leggy. I’ll have to keep lowering it so it doesn’t touch the roof! Trish

Just had a look a the page - it is very informative. Thank you.

Interesting. I will follow your advice in future and not be so hasty to cut them off. I thought it would be detrimental to the plant to leave them on, but of course it makes sense that they stay on in nature without harming the plants! The only other thing I have to worry about now is whether or not to pot up off shoots and take cuttings from leggy plants and how to do it! Thanks for your help. Trish

Hi All I have been looking at photos of some amazing nepenthes, but have noticed that some of the older pitchers have started to die back. How long to do you leave the pitchers on the plant before cutting them off? Trish

Hi there I am fairly to carnivorous plants, and last year purchased 2 nepenthes from our local garden centre. One of them has produced a flower spike this year. Some guy at a carnivorous plant talk told me I should cut off any flower spikes on carnivorous plants or the plant would die. First of all, is this true, and secondly is this a male flower spike? Also, the plant is growing rather fast and has a number of offsets around the base as well as growing points on the main stems. Can I cut these off to make new plants, and how do I rot cuttings? Thanks for any help. Trish

I have put them into the conservatory. Its a south-west facing window, so I hope that is enough. I will monitor the situation and if necessary I'll make room in the greenhouse. Thank you all for your suggestions and advice. Trish

I can eat tomatoes, but not carnivorous plants! Plus, I like to keep them close so I can look at them! Trish

Thanks for the responses. I will move them into the conservatory where there is much more light. I don't have much room in the greenhouse because of tomatoes and cucumbers, etc! Trish

o This is a photo of my sarracenia leucophylla x minor. The tall "pitcher" is flat and leaf-like although it does have a very narrow "pitcher" and opening at the top. I keep my plants in small troughs on a base of pea shingle. They stand in about 1" of rainwater. I keep them on a west facing window-ledge in my kitchen. Any thoughts about if I am doing anything wrong to cause the plant to produce this growth would be appreciated. Trish