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Not all plants thrive upon arrival :(
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Over a year and still no improvement :(
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Constantly plagued by some kind of persistent viral or fungal pathogen?
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Despite all efforts, some plants will fail to thrive. I had very high hopes for this veitchii (m) - the photo of one of the pitchers in the original ad posted on FaceBook Marketplace were all I could hope for. They were extremely tubby, with a high neck, wildly flared peristome, and exhibiting beautiful striping, even at a young age. My visions of fat veitchii pitchers completely clouded the fact that this plant appeared to have some strange fungal issue on the leaves. I noticed the strange patches in more detail when it arrived, and the poor plant has struggled ever since. I have tried EVERYTHING - multiple rounds of various topical and systemic fungicides and pesticides, mycorrhizae application, adjustments in watering, different media... but to no avail. Occasionally the plant with throw a slightly larger leaf, and then contract again on the second. In over a year, I've only seen one nice pitcher. Sometimes, you just have to throw that expensive plant away :(
Buying any plant, even from a reputable grower, is a lottery. It is important to gradually acclimate your plants and to keep them isolated, if possible. The sheer length of time I spent battling whatever this plant has necessitated me taking a risk and exposing it to the other plants in my grow tent - however, the use of grids over my drip trays insured against cross-contamination via a shared water supply and I was careful that the leaves never touched my other plants. I am very careful to always touch this plant last before I leave the grow tent. I still haven't had the heart to throw it away, but at some point I am sure that I will finally give up. Nepenthes veitchii never do anything quickly, but after more than a year of struggling, it may be time to end it.
Buying any plant, even from a reputable grower, is a lottery. It is important to gradually acclimate your plants and to keep them isolated, if possible. The sheer length of time I spent battling whatever this plant has necessitated me taking a risk and exposing it to the other plants in my grow tent - however, the use of grids over my drip trays insured against cross-contamination via a shared water supply and I was careful that the leaves never touched my other plants. I am very careful to always touch this plant last before I leave the grow tent. I still haven't had the heart to throw it away, but at some point I am sure that I will finally give up. Nepenthes veitchii never do anything quickly, but after more than a year of struggling, it may be time to end it.
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Current Growing Conditions:
Intermediate/Highland Grow Tent Light: Mars Hydro TSL 2000 LED Grow Light Humidity: ~95-100% constant Temperature: ~60F night and 80F day Water: Moist but not wet Potting Mix: 50% long fibered sphagnum moss 50% perlite Fertilizer: MaxSea (1/4 tsp/gallon) every other week into pitchers and lightly spray leaves Additional Notes: BLIGHTED from the BEGINNING |
Example Day/Night Cycle (measured using SensorPush)
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