FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I bought a Ventrata ( I think) this summer, repotted in sphagnum, perlite and sand. It had four pitchers; one died, the smallest finished forming, opening its lid. It’s in an east facing windowsill - I added an led balanced spectrum grow light in October for 10 hours a day. I water when the top of soil is dry, mist daily and have a humidifier pointed right at it (50-60%). Day temps are 70, night is 65. Since I got it, the new tendrils dry up and don’t produce pitchers. In the last two weeks, it’s getting some red lines and the growth points are turning black. Otherwise it seems to be growing. My Nep would appreciate your suggestions!

It might help to rinse the soil with Pure Water till it drains a lot I would say you’re plant is huge and it might be natural die off where it recycles the nutrients to the next leaf/pitcher. I’m not very experienced with them but mine do that when they’re producing the next leaf.

Thanks, unfortunately the black is only on the new growth/leaves.

I got a N. Lowii something from online and all of it died back and a month later now it’s nearly produced a new pitcher. I think there’s hope for it but I’d flush it with pure water with no additives.
post383139.html#p383139
that’s the best comparison I could locate but if that little plant will make it yours should be
fine.
Also I rarely mist mine and I couldn’t tell you my humidity level I just water them daily.

What are you watering it with?

I use distilled water.

Could it be lack of nutrients? It’s inside so I feed a pitcher a tiny amount of dried blood worms or fish food every 2-3 weeks.

Is it distilled with minerals added for flavor? they add calcium and sodium for “better tasting” water.
I use reverse osmosis water because everything else I’ve tried has somehow poisoned my VFTs.
Also I’ve been told bugs are fertilizer but the plants will grow without them very slowly.

Sherlock334 wrote: I water when the top of soil is dry

How dry? It's my understanding that the soil should always be moist but not soaking wet. Waiting till the top is dry may not be often enough. Also I noticed your pot is glazed ceramic. Is it glazed on the inside too? If it is not, the pot may be leaching bad chemicals into your soil. I have an RO system too, I tapped into the line to the pressure tank but before the mineral replacement cartridge. This way I do not get/waste the minerals but still get RO water. Tap is the T in the yellow line in center of photo with shutoff valve below it:Clear line in this photo is in the "Green Room" from the tap. The T in the clear line goes to a DIY ultrasonic humidifier and the shutoff valve line is for watering plants:

Nice set up