Hey everyone,
I acquired my first Nepenthes plants (fusca and ventrata) about a year ago and consider myself an amateur when it comes to CPs. I'm growing them in houseplant conditions so of course I don't expect them to flourish, but I'm finally getting my first pitchers (other than what came on the plants) and I'm stoked!
The largest/most promising pitcher is on the ventrata and I noticed the very beginnings of the pitcher six weeks ago. The pitcher is now about 2" long (its leaf, excluding tendril and pitcher, is probably 5-6" long), which is bigger than the pitchers it came with, and it's filling with liquid, probably about 1/3 full now. Is there any way to tell when it's about to pop open? Are there any telltale signs?
I've noticed a few fruit flies buzzing around the plant in anticipation. I figure this is a good sign but they appear to have laid eggs on the underside of the ventrata's leaves and on the tendril near the pitcher. Is this anything to be concerned about? Could the larvae harm the plant?
Thanks in advance for any insight!
Kim
I acquired my first Nepenthes plants (fusca and ventrata) about a year ago and consider myself an amateur when it comes to CPs. I'm growing them in houseplant conditions so of course I don't expect them to flourish, but I'm finally getting my first pitchers (other than what came on the plants) and I'm stoked!
The largest/most promising pitcher is on the ventrata and I noticed the very beginnings of the pitcher six weeks ago. The pitcher is now about 2" long (its leaf, excluding tendril and pitcher, is probably 5-6" long), which is bigger than the pitchers it came with, and it's filling with liquid, probably about 1/3 full now. Is there any way to tell when it's about to pop open? Are there any telltale signs?
I've noticed a few fruit flies buzzing around the plant in anticipation. I figure this is a good sign but they appear to have laid eggs on the underside of the ventrata's leaves and on the tendril near the pitcher. Is this anything to be concerned about? Could the larvae harm the plant?
Thanks in advance for any insight!
Kim