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N. Judith Finn - red...or too red

I recently moved my N. 'Judith Finn' into a seed tray with a lid and grow light in the hopes of making it into a pitcher plant instead of just a bush, and it's turning very red - see pics below. Is this too much, or is it fine as long as it pitchers? One of the tendrils is finally starting to swell. also, will this plant always need higher humidity, or just when it's young? Thanks.

<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_n1f-Ms7lEw8/Sd-QkPxX_eI/AAAAAAAABJY/5Pz3tkgB2nQ/DSC02569.JPG" />
<img src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_n1f-Ms7lEw8/Sd-QmMRjQRI/AAAAAAAABJw/NW3kjQE424I/DSC02572.JPG" />
 
Judith Finn is pretty tolerant of humidity levels down to around 50-60% at least, especially when it has some size to it -- possibly lower but then I don't grow it. While nepenthes do like humidity, it's also important to have some air circulation to prevent rotting, so maybe a closed, airtight lid isn't such a good idea. Make sure the growing area isn't overly humid and stagnant. Very few Nepenthes will tolerate sitting in a tray with water -- just water from above instead. Good drainage and circulation is important. Try to make it so we can see your pictures!
 
:redx:
 
i can see it.. o.o
 
I want some of the plant your on 'cause I don't see it.
 
looks like a cold rash from the temps, but it can just be the variety of the plant. i don't know :/
 
:redx:
I can't see it either.
 
Red but still succulent is not a problem if your humidity is high. My goal is to make plants color up, it let's me know the lights are bright enough. The plant is just reacting to a change in light intensity. Brown and crispy means the light may be bright but the humidity is too low or lamp is too bright. My only plants to say "enough with the light" was when I used a 400watt metal halide for my big lowlanders, the lamp had to be about 2 feet up away and behind glass or the plants just got cripsy even with a humidifier running.

I grew a 3" Judith Finn up to a nice large size someone here eventually bought it off me - I don't remember who. I would say to treat it just like any other standard highland Nep. At first I had it in a warm terrarium not knowing even what the plant was coming unlabeled as it did. After about 6 months it was definitely weakening instead of getting bigger. I moved it to normal highland conditions Days 70 - 80*F / Nights 50*- 60*F under 250 W of light and high humidity 80-90%. My highland chamber design has humidity and fresh air supplied at the same time with an intake fan which avoids the stagnant wet air that leads to fungus. After attaining a foot or so in diameter my Finn plant began to hug the pot like an N. veitchii does when they climb trees in the wild (or at Jerry's orchid shop). Overall a nice well-behaved highlander. I wonder what my old plant looks like now...
 
  • #10
It looks perfectly fine to me. Some times in higher light intensity the plants tend to "tan."
 
  • #11
Does anyone else have problems getting this plant to pitcher in lower humidity?
 
  • #12
my judith finn is even darker than that! its in a been in a very bright window all winter. its not very humid in my house and its making pitchers fine
 
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