What's new
TerraForums Venus Flytrap, Nepenthes, Drosera and more talk

Register a free account today to become a member! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Leaves getting smaller

DavyJones

Is ready to take this hobby to a whole new level
Hi all! This is more of a curious question rather then 'oh no! I'm worried!" As my N. x Velvet grows, each new leaf that opens is smaller then the last, with the top leaf right now being rather small, but looking healthy. I am assuming this is natural as the plant grows, as is with most other plants, i.e. pine trees, etc. Or is it not for nepenthes? Once the leaves get small enough, will the plant begin growing basals or off-shoots? I'd put up pictures, but my camera battery has died. Maybe once I charge it I will, but you can easily imagine.
 
Did you get it recently? How tall is it?

xvart.
 
It could be also the winter season...all of mine are producing smaller and smaller leaves too... Is it still pitchering?
 
I've had it for a few months now, I got it back in early September. It came with 1 pitcher, and made another one right after I got it. Since then it has only grown some small tendrils with baby pitchers on the ends. They haven't turned brown, just haven't developed into a pitcher yet. It's been kind of disappointing.

I had to repot it about a week ago due to some bugs and the perhaps compacting nature of 'northwest' mix. The plant is a rooted cutting. Over the past few weeks, the stem has been getting darker and woodier, and just over the past 3 days, the lower-most leaf turned brown and died. The bugs are gone (they were probably harmless anyways), and although small, the root structure did not appear to have any mold, etc.

I water the plant about every 3-4 days. I grow the plant totally indoors, under some 75 watt equiv. CFLs that it shares with my other plants. Humidity fluctuates between 45%-70%, depending on how high I have my humidifier set. The baby pitcher on the most recent tendril starting getting a bit bigger, but then stopped, (the same thing happened on my N. Spectabilis, which has yet to pitcher, but its hardly a month old.) I can't seem to stop my N. Ventricosa to stop growing though.

Like I said, once I get my battery charged, (which should be in like, 30 mins) i'll get some photos up!

Also, to answer your question xvart, from where the roots start to the top of the plant is maybe a foot. After my last re-potting, I planted it a bit deeper as to cover up some of the woodier part of the stem.


EDIT: PHOTOS

Notice how to uppermost leaf is nowhere near as long as the bottom. I am assuming this is natural
<a href="http://img23.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74108_IMG_2093_122_827lo.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://img23.imagevenue.com/loc827/th_74108_IMG_2093_122_827lo.jpg" border="0"></a>


BABY PITCHERS: The two largest ones are visible in this picture. I wish they would grow already
<a href="http://img139.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=74115_IMG_2094_122_1101lo.jpg" target=_blank><img src="http://img139.imagevenue.com/loc1101/th_74115_IMG_2094_122_1101lo.jpg" border="0"></a>
 
Last edited:
Is that a rooted cutting?
The smaller leaves are caused by the short daylight hours and lower humidity in the north where you live.
I have the same thing happening here in Maine. Most of my neps aren't pitchuring, but my leaves are still large due to my fertilizing schedule.
I wouldn't worry much as long as it looks healthy and is growing.
I would put the humidifier on high, I have mine on high because it's so dry in the winter.
peace,
Zero
 
Looks good to me!

xvart.
 
I agree with xvart, the plant does look great!
If it doesn't produce bigger leaves and start pitchering again by spring, then i would say you have something to worry about, but i wouldn't worry for now :)
 
Back
Top