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By Fuggle
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#369953
Hi, I have a Nepenthes X Ventrata (Monkey Cup) which I fed Osmocote Pro Slow Release Fertiliser granules. They seem to be doing fine with it but unfortunately the biggest pitcher has gone black. My question is, do I cut off the dying pitcher or leave it to dry out and fall off on its own accord?

Many thanks. :D
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By Nepenthes0260
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#369963
I usually only chop off my nep pitchers when they're fully black. The part below the nep "waist" is where all the digestion occurs, so if only the peristome, lid and upper half of the pitcher have browned the plant is still digesting. Some theorize that Nepenthes effectively "turn of" their pitchers when they've had enough by browning the upper half but still leaving the bottom half alive to digest. Since the upper half is dead it doesn't produce sugars and isn't slippery, so can still digest its current meal but doesn't trap any more.
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By Fuggle
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#369964
Thanks for this advice mate. Mine is now completely black but still moist (not dried out). Does it harm the rest of the plant if I leave it do dry out and fall off? And, if I decide to cut it off, do I cut it where the stem joins the pitcher or where the stem joins the leaf? :?:
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By Apollyon
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#369965
Nepenthes0260 wrote:I usually only chop off my nep pitchers when they're fully black. The part below the nep "waist" is where all the digestion occurs, so if only the peristome, lid and upper half of the pitcher have browned the plant is still digesting. Some theorize that Nepenthes effectively "turn of" their pitchers when they've had enough by browning the upper half but still leaving the bottom half alive to digest. Since the upper half is dead it doesn't produce sugars and isn't slippery, so can still digest its current meal but doesn't trap any more.
Nice, I learned something new today. Wonder if there is some kind of threshold mechanism like a flytrap. Seems like indoor pitchers tend to last longer for me but there are definitely other variables. Never knew it still digested while it was dying back though like that. Cool stuff.

@Fuggle, Rule of thumb with CPs is you can remove the black from the plant. Cut the pitcher off and leave the leaf for photosynthesis. Remove the leaf when it is dead. Out of curiosity though, how many pellets are you putting into the pitchers?
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By Nepenthes0260
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#369976
Fuggle wrote: Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:49 pm Thanks for this advice mate. Mine is now completely black but still moist (not dried out). Does it harm the rest of the plant if I leave it do dry out and fall off? And, if I decide to cut it off, do I cut it where the stem joins the pitcher or where the stem joins the leaf? :?:
I cut them right where the tendril attaches to the “leaf” (in actuality it’s a flattened sort of petiole for photosynthesizing). No, old dead pitchers don’t harm the plant in the slightest. Neps are just pruned to make them look more appealing in cultivation lol.
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By Fuggle
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#370023
Apollyon wrote: Fri Dec 04, 2020 4:24 pm@Fuggle, Rule of thumb with CPs is you can remove the black from the plant. Cut the pitcher off and leave the leaf for photosynthesis. Remove the leaf when it is dead. Out of curiosity though, how many pellets are you putting into the pitchers?
Hi Apollyon. I put one in each of the pitchers but 2 in the biggest one. The biggest one is the one that turned black, so I guess I'll be using 1 in each from now on. I have one other that is browning too but the others seem to be fine.
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By Fuggle
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#370024
Nepenthes0260 wrote: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:11 pm
Fuggle wrote: Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:49 pmI cut them right where the tendril attaches to the “leaf” (in actuality it’s a flattened sort of petiole for photosynthesizing). No, old dead pitchers don’t harm the plant in the slightest. Neps are just pruned to make them look more appealing in cultivation lol.
This is all great advice and greatly appreciated, thank you Nepenthes. Another question if I may (sorry to bombard you like this!). Is there any benefit to the plant by leaving the dying pitcher to dry out and fall off on its own?
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By Nepenthes0260
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#370029
Some older specimens so you can see what they grow up to be
Fuggle wrote:
Nepenthes0260 wrote: Fri Dec 04, 2020 7:11 pm
Fuggle wrote: Fri Dec 04, 2020 3:49 pmI cut them right where the tendril attaches to the “leaf” (in actuality it’s a flattened sort of petiole for photosynthesizing). No, old dead pitchers don’t harm the plant in the slightest. Neps are just pruned to make them look more appealing in cultivation lol.
This is all great advice and greatly appreciated, thank you Nepenthes. Another question if I may (sorry to bombard you like this!). Is there any benefit to the plant by leaving the dying pitcher to dry out and fall off on its own?
No problem! I don't think there's any benefit to it. When the pitcher is fully blackened it's not taking in nutrients any more so wouldn't hurt just to chop it. Also, nep tendrils are pretty strong, so even if it's dead the pitcher probably won't fall off lol.
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