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Discuss Nepenthes plant care here

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By newgrower11
Posts:  2
Joined:  Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:24 pm
#324199
I've always been interested in carnivorous plants and after doing a lot of research, I finally went ahead and bought a nepenthes alata from my local Home Depot. However, I've started noticing that some of the leaves are turning black and I'm not sure why. I live in Miami (zone 11) and have my alata outside where it receives about four or five hours of direct sunlight in the morning and the rest of the day it receives indirect light from under a shade. I only water it once a day around noon, as when I check on it at night the soil is still slightly damp. I can't seem to find a lot of information about alatas online and I'm thinking that perhaps they require some sort of care that I'm not aware about.

It does have a lot of pitchers that look healthy, although some are starting to die. I know this is normal and there are few that look like they're about to open. I should also note that I've been using bottled water as I'm not sure about the quality of my tap water and I haven't yet bought distilled water. I also never mist it, as it never gets below 50% humidity in Miami.
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By Nepenthes0260
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Posts:  1774
Joined:  Mon Apr 30, 2018 1:59 am
#324213
I can assure you that is not a N. alata. It's most likely a EXTREMELY common hybrid called N. X Ventrata involing N. alata and N. ventricosa. On the leaves that looks like cold damage to me, although I'm no Nep expert. I would move it to a warmer place. Also, Nepenthes alata is actually quite rare in cultivation, but requires the same care as any normal Nep, nothing special.
Hope this helps!
Nepenthes0260
By SundewWolf
Posts:  2219
Joined:  Fri Mar 08, 2013 2:38 pm
#324217
As mentioned this is likely N. ventrata, the more common hybrid, and to me this looks like sunburn, so I would keep it in a more shady area. Bottled water usually is not much better than tap water so I would get the distilled water (or start collecting rain water) asap.
By Fieldofscreams
Posts:  1315
Joined:  Wed Sep 06, 2017 11:14 am
#324228
That is definitely a Ventrata and I honestly don't see anything wrong with it.

Pitchers turn red from the top down after they open. Sometimes stopping midway and sometimes it goes down the entire pitchers.

The leaf damage is normal, it happens with plants being outside, try not to worry about it, its just the cycle of life.

I keep mine outside in full sun, gets at least 6 hours of direct sun and I also water with tap water that is roughly 130 ppm. Ventrata's are bullet proof.
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By newgrower11
Posts:  2
Joined:  Mon Oct 22, 2018 5:24 pm
#324234
Thanks for the feedback. I included the picture of one of the pitchers and healthy leaves to show that apart from the few leaves that are turning black, it seems healthy. I've read that sometimes the leaves turn black when they're moved to a new location, so I'm hoping that that's the only issue.
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By javaliz59
Posts:  132
Joined:  Tue Oct 02, 2018 6:23 am
#324384
Agree with all advice given...especially concerning changing to distilled or rainwater asap. Bottled water too high in minerals. Otherwise your Ventrata looks healthy.

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