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?
Today I will do what others won't so tomorrow I can do what other's can't.
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