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Plant MD's - what ails my nep?

nightsky

Lover of Mountains
This is a small singalana that had been growing quite well until about two months ago. At that time, the leaves started getting dark patches on them, and it hasn't pitchered all that well since. The new leaves are fine, but after a couple of weeks they show this symptom - as you can see in the picture. I thought it might be mites of some sort, but I honestly cannot see any at all - and tapping the leaaves over paper yields nothing.

I'm thinking it's 'sunburn'. It sits about 6 inches or so below 40 watt daylight flouros (there's a total of 4 of them - only 2 are directly above the plant) for about 15 hours a day. Well drained media (here recently watered - it's not kept wet), temps of 60F - 78F, 75%-90% humidity.

So - any idea what this may be? Is it light levels, or some type of fungus/parasite?

08-03-08002.jpg


08-03-08001.jpg
 
Same thing happens to my ventricosa, shows no signs of pests. Grows right next to my sanguinea some of the leaves are even touching and the sanguinea is just fine.
 
Looks like leaf burn. But splotches of strange pigmentation can also be just a natural occurence. I have no experience with singalana, but my N. madagascariensis gets small red-purple spots on old leaves, before they yellow and develop further strange pigmentation, and then the leaves die sooner or later.

Also, as you can see, the new, light green leaves are smaller than the old, burned ones, which I'm assuming were greener. That's a good thing. It means that it can get the same photosynthesis accomplished with a smaller leaf area, and less chlorophyll.

Leaf burn on my N. sanguinea looks very similar. But Neps seem to adapt to light levels, so as long as enough of the new growth isn't affected, I wouldn't worry. :) You're plant seems to just be adapting.

Jimmy
 
This is a small singalana that had been growing quite well until about two months ago. At that time, the leaves started getting dark patches on them, and it hasn't pitchered all that well since. The new leaves are fine, but after a couple of weeks they show this symptom - as you can see in the picture. I thought it might be mites of some sort, but I honestly cannot see any at all - and tapping the leaaves over paper yields nothing.

I'm thinking it's 'sunburn'. It sits about 6 inches or so below 40 watt daylight flouros (there's a total of 4 of them - only 2 are directly above the plant) for about 15 hours a day. Well drained media (here recently watered - it's not kept wet), temps of 60F - 78F, 75%-90% humidity.


Since the problem seems to affect only the older leaves and none of the new growth, I would have to agree with some of the others in that it is simply a bit of leaf burn and perhaps aging of the leaves. Some of my more exposed Nepenthes get will that coloration from time to time -- also, only on older leaves . . .
 
This is happening to the newer leaves on my ventricosa even the pitchers some and the new growth point.
 
Watch them closely, it might be a sign of mite damage or some other insect. One of my neps started doing that, quickly spreading to others. Eventually even new growth had the same pattern. The mites were not visible, but the effects were. I applied a mixture of bayer advanced complete insect dust with water. After doing that, all the neps began to grow normally without the red splotches.
 
Ok - bayer advanced - I'll have to try that just in case, as I do see this on my bongos also. Any other suggestions for mites - just in case?
 
No other backup needed, this should solve your problem. (if it's a bug) And if you can't find it, PM your address and I'll send you out some to use. Main ingredient is Permethrin that you're looking for.
 
Watch them closely, it might be a sign of mite damage or some other insect. One of my neps started doing that, quickly spreading to others. Eventually even new growth had the same pattern. The mites were not visible, but the effects were. I applied a mixture of bayer advanced complete insect dust with water. After doing that, all the neps began to grow normally without the red splotches.

Oh, I must have misread something. I didn't realize that new growth had also been affected. I would then have to agree with Mr. Flytrap2 that pests are involved. Some time ago, I had a serious aphid infestation right out of ther blue, affecting Sarracenia, Dionaea, and, I am sure, a couple of my Nepenthes (even though aphids are supposedly rarely associated with those tropicals).

I nuked everything with Ortho Orthenex, a systemic pesticide, and that did the trick . . .
 
  • #10
As i just posted in another thread, id use Ortho Orthenex, it is a systemic disease and pest control spray, i use it on my outside neps with no ill effect, same with my sarrs and dionaea
 
  • #11
Just did some additional checking with a bright light and magnifying lens. Not one sign of mites. Also, once again I tapped each leaf with paper underneath, and not one speck landed on the paper - so I'm actually thinking in my case it's not mites.

So - I'm leaning towards leaf burn (which has me stumped - they've been under those lights for 6+ months, not sure why it would show up now). Are there fungus afflictions which look like this? Could it be heat related? It get to about 78F at the plants height, which seems fine to me. Those of you who have seen this on your plants - did they recover?

PS - if you look in the background on the first pic, you'll see algae in the pot. I do fertilize twice a month at 1/4 strength and flush between. So, is algae detrimental enough for me to try to eliminate?
 
  • #12
Yes - leaf burn is related to heat, so it would make sense that your plant is showing symptoms only now, when it's hot in the summertime. 78 seems fine to me too, but it is a highlander, so that could explain it. I'm currently unaware of any fungus attacks that look like what your plant is experiencing, either. And no, algae should not be detrimental, and you shouldn't worry about it.

Your plant should recover, whether it gets completely used to the light+heat, or it may wait until the temperatures go down.
 
  • #13
Well, I found the culprit, finally tonight. I saw just a few, maybe 5, small white dots on the underside of one of the leaves. They literally were the size of the period at the end of this sentence. I wasn't sure if they were just specks of dust or a parasite. I tried looking at them with a magnifying glass - no good, to small. So I took a macro photo, and zoomed in on that shot. Still not clear. I gave everyone of my other neps a good inspection. On my mul x lowii, I found similar specks. Barely visible white spots, but more of them, and they tended to congregate on the newest unfurling leaf, which is quite deformed. I'd upload a photo, but they were so darn small even with macro I couldn't tell what they were.

I'm suspecting a few things. Mealybugs, white flies, or some kind of aphid. Didn't look like spider mites as they are white. I didn't see any of the classic mealy bug fuzz, but I didn't see many critters to begin with, so maybe the colony is just starting. I'm kind of stumped to be honest, these critters are small! But they are doing quite a bit of damage. Oh well, I drenched all my neps in Neem oil for now, I'm going to try and track down a systemic tomorrow and try to get this under control.
 
  • #14
The only thing is you need to make sure you get the bayer advances for mites. There is one with Merit in it and Merit is NOT for mites! It is not a mitacide and can make the problem worse. I have heard merit called viagra for mites. Read the label of the stuff you get and make sure it says for mites too.

Honestly to me the plant looks fine. It is growing the smaller leaves because your growing it in stronger light than it once was in. It doesn't need to make the long green leaves to get all the energy it needs now. The older leaves are getting sunburned from the intense light.

How long have you had it? Has the conditions changed?

meally bugs are a good size and can been seen. And someone else was right. Leaf burn is caused by heat and not by the light itself. If you could keep the leaves cool the plant can take as much light as you can give it. The bulbs cause heat and it just got too much for the older leaves who were not used to it. The newer leaves are more adapted to the heat and therefor look better.
 
  • #15
Sure looks like pest damage to me. It has nothing to do with the lights or burn or anything of the sort. I am betting the underside of the lower leaves are all brown from the critters sucking the leaves dry.. to the point you see the damage coming through on the upper surface with the colapsed cells. You will probably see some brown discoloration on the higher up leaves on the underside as well.
 
  • #16
Sure looks like pest damage to me. It has nothing to do with the lights or burn or anything of the sort. I am betting the underside of the lower leaves are all brown from the critters sucking the leaves dry.. to the point you see the damage coming through on the upper surface with the colapsed cells. You will probably see some brown discoloration on the higher up leaves on the underside as well.

Exactly what's happening. The new leaves are in fact just starting show the discolouration on the undersides.

On the bright side, since 'neeming' them lasts night, I haven't seen the white dots. But to be safe I'm going to track down a systemic.
 
  • #17
As i just posted in another thread, id use Ortho Orthenex, it is a systemic disease and pest control spray, i use it on my outside neps with no ill effect, same with my sarrs and dionaea

Once again: Viva Orthenex, the scourage of the invertebrates, control de insectos y enfermedades!

I certainly hope it is sooner rather than later when insects become resistant to Ortho . . .
 
  • #18
It is a mite that causes it. Typical mite damage.. older leaves first. They are not the typical 2spot/red spider mite you find on most houseplants though. They are very very tiny and don't make any webbing that I have ever noticed. They almost look like dust on the underside to a naked eye. Probably need a 10x lens to see them better.

Not sure if orthenex will work. Just check the label. Mites are also susceptible to pyrethrins, oils and miticides
 
  • #19
Got the Neem oil, which I hit them with last night.

And by some miracle, I found orthonex. I have been looking for this stuff for ages and was never able to find it. Well lo' and behold there was one bottle left at a home depot, that I had checked several times previously.

Now it's war.
 
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