FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

Hi guys,

I’m completely new to this site n forum. I got a new Nepepthis (monkey jars in England)....

It seemed ok for a couple of weeks.... I read that the lids close upon rain, but obviously I keep it inside....

I’ve kept the ‘jars’ 1/3 full of water.... but now, some of the best n biggest jars - their lids have kinda withered and turned black?

The plant still looks real healthy - I’m just concerned about the lids ‘withering’....?

I hope this makes sense.... please if you have any advice, please get in touch, I’d be very much obliged....

Regards,

Mark Luxton

Is the water you're using purified? Distilled or reverse osmosis? If the water has excess tap water minerals it can disturb the plant.

Lids do not close when it rains, Nepenthes lids do not move even aside from when the trap if forming. The oldest pitchers will naturally die off over time.

Thanks for your response. Apologies for my previous spelling

Sine Nomine, I cant work out how to reply personally on here - I signed up just a few hours ago......

I give my plant tap water, try and keep it wet. The label that came with it (from some place in Holland), said keep the ‘jugs’ I Third full of water. I’ve done all that and keep it wet. I live in a warm dry flat, it’s hung from my ceiling.

My main concern is the lids are withering into nothing! The jars themselves look ok. It’s the lids that are concerning me.

And, I live in a 3rd floor flat - spiders and bugs are few and far between..... can you advise on what I could feed it, other than just water?

Any, ANY input or feedback, I’d be very much obliged....

Many Thanks,
Mark Luxton

The pitchers will stay partly filled themselves. No need to add water.

When acclimating to new conditions or after being shipped the old pitchers usually drop. Just wait for new ones to grow

You can also feed the plant fish food such as freeze dried bloodworms.

Just sounds like normal acclimatization for the plant, not a big deal.

What kind did you get? Post a picture and ppl here may be able to give you an idea of how difficult it is to care for.

You shouldn't use tap water long-term unless you test it for purity and confirm it's ok. Collecting rainwater may be a good idea.

mluxton wrote: ↑Tue Nov 24, 2020 3:58 amI give my plant tap water, try and keep it wet.

Carnivorous plants in general are sensitive to minerals in their water. For most of them, the water needs to be 50 PPM or less. That's rainwater, distilled water, and RO (reverse osmosis) water for most of us. A lucky few live someplace where the tap water is low in minerals.

Nepenthes are more tolerant of minerals than other carnivorous plants and can handle water up to 200 PPM. Having said that, I would still give the plant low-mineral water occasionally to flush out any mineral accumulation in the soil/moss.

Up to 400 ppm is accepted if flushed the next day

You could feed it bloodworms or if you have a knack for fertilizing, a quarter-to-half strength urea free fertilier like Maxsea balanced 16. Or you could go the lazy route and drop an osmocote pellet in there. The bloodworms are by far the safest though. The liquid fertilizer is more of an experience thing