FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Do Neps change their pitcher size in winter? Or are these "upper pitchers"?
This pitcher just opened and I can't remember if the pitchers continue to grow after opening or if they stay the same size.
The Miranda still is developing slight red pigmentation on the new leaves so I'm thinking it's getting enough light, but I'm not sure.

First, i think that the peristome (the ,,rim,, or the ,,lip,, of the nepenthes) will develop further downwards, than after that you will see if the pitcher grows more bigger. In the winter, indoors too, the pitchers will grow slower and not that big like in the rest of the year.

Yes they are uppers. Is that medium coconut coir?

@SnapTraps ; No, I grow my Neps in about 70% LF spagnum 30% perlite.

@roarke. I will wait a bit longer to see if it continues to grow to a normal size. I wasn't entirely sure if it was the wintertime causing this, because it seems to be getting enough light, insects, and I even fertilized with diluted orchid fertilizer it a few weeks ago.

As for the upper pitchers theory: I didn't post a pic of the whole plant...but the stem is slightly larger than 2 feet tall now. Idk if that info has any impact on the upper pitchers theory. I'm not sure when upper pitchers develop or if this new pitcher is one.

If this is an upper pitcher, then I assume the basal growth will produce big "lower pitchers"... correct? If so, thank god I didn't separate the basal.

SundewWolf wrote: thank god I didn't separate the basal.

You can't separate them if you tried. They are kind of like runners, which you have to cut off and root if it haven't got a root system (which is usually the case). What is this deal about the pitchers anyway? Are they getting bigger or smaller?

SundewWolf wrote:@SnapTraps ; No, I grow my Neps in about 70% LF spagnum 30% perlite.

The colour of the medium look too light. Is the plant getting enough water?

It looks like a healthy plant overall so I shouldn't be worried if I were you .

Snap Traps wrote:
You can't separate them if you tried. They are kind of like runners, which you have to cut off and root if it haven't got a root system (which is usually the case). What is this deal about the pitchers anyway? Are they getting bigger or smaller?


The colour of the medium look too light. Is the plant getting enough water?

Cutting off and rooting it was what I was planning on doing, but not anymore. I don't know if the new pitcher is getting bigger or not, right now it's still smaller than the older ones. I will wait a few more days and post a pic when it looks fully developed (Lip folded over, full coloration, etc.)

I have also let it dry out frequently and maybe bit too much, but the thing is the top sometimes is dry, but further down the medium is moist. I thought it must be getting enough water since the bottom 3/4 of the medium are always moist. It's just the top that dries out fast. Although..maybe it is getting dryer than i realize sometimes..idk... would this be a possible cause of smaller pitchers?

SundewWolf wrote: I have also let it dry out frequently and maybe bit too much, but the thing is the top sometimes is dry, but further down the medium is moist. I thought it must be getting enough water since the bottom 3/4 of the medium are always moist. It's just the top that dries out fast. Although..maybe it is getting dryer than i realize sometimes..idk... would this be a possible cause of smaller pitchers?

It could be one of the contributing factors. The pitchers may also get smaller if it have too much food or fertilisers given to it.

Snap Traps wrote:
It could be one of the contributing factors. The pitchers may also get smaller if it have too much food or fertilisers given to it.

Really? I've fed the old pitcher really well (3 palmetto bugs, about 5 big spiders, crickets, etc.). I assumed they would get bigger not smaller because of nutrients...but I guess the opposite could be true too...it's getting enough food so it doesn't have the need for such large traps?

SundewWolf wrote:it's getting enough food so it doesn't have the need for such large traps?

Low humidity is another cause. Move it away from any radiators.

So here is the final pitcher size. It turns out its almost as big as the old one, and a little wider too. Maybe I thought something was wrong because it took way longer for this pitcher to develop than they do in the summertime.

I also included a picture of how tall the plant is now. The leaf with the new pitcher is the one on my fingertips.