FlyTrapCare Forums

Hi Everyone,

I got my very first cephalotus and read some online care guide which seems the same like the care for regular VFTs or other carnivorous plants, except for the "it doesn't like sitting in water" part. It was growing new baby pitchers, but then I had to leave for vacation and was gone for 1.5 week and when I came back it looked okay but the soil was totally dry(i grow it under artificial light).

However I noticed that all of the pitchers look dry like.. 80 year old man's skin kind of.. and they are becoming yellow and then die out. Also, the stems of some of the baby pitchers seem the same, still green, but a little dehydrated.

Please see the before and after photos below and let me know if and how can I save the plant I love it, it was gorgeous and defintely don't want to lose it, so please HELP ME

All soil/water/pot tips are followed just as it is for VFTs: Rain water, peat+perlite+kwarz sand mix and plastic pots.

CURRENT STATE:
BIG SIZE:
https://i.imgur.com/Xdf09am.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/DK8ILWR.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/CR0TnPY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/U1oZ7WT.jpg






BEFORE:
BIG SIZE:
https://i.imgur.com/bvpWkZ4.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/mFsJdnY.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/sAKxh9n.jpg

That’s probably just permanent tissue damage due to drying out. With any luck the jew growth will look alright.

Yup, this is what they'll look like if the dry out severely. It has a chance to recover but I would water it a bit less now since due to the tissue damage it will be using less water. Just keep the soil moist, but not standing in water.... at least not often. While away you can give it a good soak and leave it in a tray of water so this doesn't happen again, but long term it's better to give it decent drainage. I grow mine in a mix with a lot of lava rock so that I can soak it, have it all drain and dry a bit before I water it again in about 2 days.

SundewWolf wrote:Yup, this is what they'll look like if the dry out severely. It has a chance to recover but I would water it a bit less now since due to the tissue damage it will be using less water. Just keep the soil moist, but not standing in water.... at least not often. While away you can give it a good soak and leave it in a tray of water so this doesn't happen again, but long term it's better to give it decent drainage. I grow mine in a mix with a lot of lava rock so that I can soak it, have it all drain and dry a bit before I water it again in about 2 days.

Thanks for the advice! I actually just noticed you do videos and opened the link and I've actually watched many of your videos! Great stuff! I'm a fan lol

Hopefully, my little cephy survives But I think I may have watered a bit more now before I read your comment. Is there a way to make the soil dry out a bit faster?