N. spectabilis x ventricosa

[Raven01000]

N. spectabilis x ventricosa UPDATED

I bought this rooted cutting off of ebay, and it arrived today. It's really quite large, and the pitchers are beautiful. However, the leaves seem to be abnormally dark and sort of spotted. It almost looks sunburned. The plant also seems to smell weird (an almost musty aroma). Is there something wrong with my plant?

Some pictures:

<a href="http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Raven01000/Plants/?action=view&current=February82010010b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Raven01000/Plants/February82010010b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Raven01000/Plants/?action=view&current=February82010027b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Raven01000/Plants/February82010027b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Raven01000/Plants/?action=view&current=February82010029b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Raven01000/Plants/February82010029b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The top growth point is even discolored :
<a href="http://s203.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Raven01000/Plants/?action=view&current=February82010021b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa51/Raven01000/Plants/February82010021b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Devon]

wow! That's a great looking plant! to me, the leaves just look liek they were getting a good amount of sun.. and the weird smell might be from the pitcher or something?? I don't really grow very many neps, but that's just my thoughts.

 

[Raven01000]

Thanks! I hope you're right! I always get paranoid when I buy new plants

 

[SirKristoff]

i cant really tell too well from the photos, the growth point photo is blurry. but spectabilis itself has very dark leaves.

 

[Zero]

It looks like it got too cold. Maybe frozen.
Mine is bright green with red highlights.
Please post an update in a day or two.

 

[dashman]

I agree with zero. If the coloration of the posted pictures are accurate, it looks like cold damage. If this is the case, the affected areas will probably turn black and die in a day or two. Otherwise, it may just be sunburn.

 

[Raven01000]

That stinks. I guess it happened during shipping.

Most of the plant is already discolored...Will it be able to survive?

 

[Zero]

Yeah, that cooked green bean color isn't good
I would contact the seller if it is cold damage and it is there fault.
If it sat on your porch in cold conditions then it's your fault.
I may have some rooted cuttings of this in the summer.

 

[Raven01000]

My mom got it straight from the mail-woman this morning, so it didn't sit around at all on my end. I sent the seller a message. We'll see what happens, I guess.
I'd be interested in some of those cuttings when the time comes.

It's just sort of depressing. This will be the first plant that has died on me.

 

[Clue]

My mom got it straight from the mail-woman this morning, so it didn't sit around at all on my end. I sent the seller a message. We'll see what happens, I guess.
I'd be interested in some of those cuttings when the time comes.

It's just sort of depressing. This will be the first plant that has died on me.

Well, it may not be the first to die, either. Try just growing it like you would regularly with water, sun, and the correct temps... Nepenthes can sent out new shoots from what appears to be dead growth in a few months or so. Considering that this is a ventricosa hybrid, I'd say chances are pretty good it's not totally dead as ventricosa is a hardy Nep. I have accidentally frozen Neps before (last year, freak storm) and what I thought was dead re-sprouted in the summer.


Unless of course the stem is totally mushy... then there's not too much to do but head towards the compost pile.

 

[Zero]

Clue is right. Don't give up on this yet.
I have had cold damaged neps that threw out basel or kept growing.

 

[Raven01000]

I will continue to care for it as I do all my other neps, and hopefully it will recover. And even if it doesn't, at least now I know the cause.

I'll update in a few days as to it's condition. Until then, thanks so much for all the helpful replies and words of encouragement! I really appreciate it!

 

[Hermopolis]

I will continue to care for it as I do all my other neps, and hopefully it will recover. And even if it doesn't, at least now I know the cause.

I'll update in a few days as to it's condition. Until then, thanks so much for all the helpful replies and words of encouragement! I really appreciate it!

I agree with everything that has been said so far. It does look like cold damage. I've seen a good example of sun damage--I accidentally left a nep too close to a MH lamp--and what your plant is going through does not look like sun burn. However, I also agree that neps can be tremendously resilient plants. Hang in there until all hope is lost!

-Hermes.

 

[Hermopolis]

This is what a sunburn on a nepenthes looks like...

 

[sss]

That looks exactly like mine did. I ordered a N. Miranda from back2eight(loveishere on ebay) during the winter and it arrived like yours. I am assuming it was cold damage. Does your plant have a bit of orangish color to it? My plant was doing pretty poorly the top started dying off but then a couple of weeks ago a little bright green bump appeared on the base of the stem and it is starting to come out a bit. Nothing big right now maybe like 3-4 mm long but it's definately growing.

 

[Indigo]

Looks cooked

 

[DavyJones]

And here's one that froze. It's a N. Mikeii that I got in the mail a few years ago. Woops! I like to call it Mummy plant. If D_M is still around (don't see him much anymore,) he'll certainly remember!

 

[D_muscipula]

And here's one that froze. It's a N. Mikeii that I got in the mail a few years ago. Woops! I like to call it Mummy plant. If D_M is still around (don't see him much anymore,) he'll certainly remember!

Be careful, my usernames D_muscipula.
I would sure hate to see that picture of mikei associated with me because of a misunderstanding.

 

[Raven01000]

That looks exactly like mine did. I ordered a N. Miranda from back2eight(loveishere on ebay) during the winter and it arrived like yours. I am assuming it was cold damage. Does your plant have a bit of orangish color to it? My plant was doing pretty poorly the top started dying off but then a couple of weeks ago a little bright green bump appeared on the base of the stem and it is starting to come out a bit. Nothing big right now maybe like 3-4 mm long but it's definately growing.

Yeah, I've gotten several things from loveishere on ebay, but they always arrived healthy for me. This plant was from a different seller, but I think it was USPS's fault more than anything...that and the lack of a heat pack. I did get a partial refund though, so it's ok.

Mine does look a little orange, but it's turning brown more than anything. There's still some green though, so hopefully it'll bounce back like yours has.

 

[back2eight]

That is definitely cold damage. I've had it happen. As mentioned, SSS got a miranda from me that had this happen during shipping, and we are waiting for warmer weather so I can reship a new one to him. I have accidently left some outside and they froze and that is what they look like. You will lose most of the plant, but don't toss it, it will regrow from the base. It's damaged but not dead. I shipped that Miranda out knowing it was a good chance it might freeze, but it was a chance I took and I am replacing it. Right now it is cold again and snowing, and I am holding off on any shipments at the moment. Shipping in winter is always risky! Depending on your seller, they may be a butt and not replace it, but then again, even though it is damaged and that is disappointing, it probably isn't all the way dead either, so don't give up on it.