I posted a thread somewhere on "Forcing Basal Growth" on Nepenthes (either on this or another forum) a few months ago. You can elevate the pot, as I do, and even set the pot sideways, so that the apical growth is below the root ball. It only takes a week or two, and basals pop out like crazy, even on those plants that are normally difficult to produce basal growth under normal conditions. It also helps assure that your plant has some growth to push in the event that you want to remove and reroot that long woody stem. - Rich