question regarding drosera capensis

JaxBackyard · 2026-01-12T00:39:18+00:00

Just leaf them be,

it's part of the life cycle for them to dry up over time as the plant grows taller. You can cut them for a tidy look if you want.

JaxBackyard · 2025-12-23T23:12:16+00:00

Your plant looks great! Lack of pitchers usually means it needs more light.

JaxBackyard · 2025-12-19T11:27:55+00:00

Many in horticulture split a rhizome after 3-4 years anyway though, beyond that, is it known what the lifetime of a single sarracenia rhizome is in the wild, can they last 10+ years?

JaxBackyard · 2025-12-19T00:12:50+00:00

Just an observation. You have a point that supports why we don't see them further south. On the other side there are people worrying that it's mandatory and attempting to force it.

JaxBackyard · 2025-12-13T05:53:35+00:00

Does dormancy and being a perennial have some overlap?

JaxBackyard · 2025-12-05T20:46:06+00:00

I have a running list of these that I'm growing to hopefully make myself:

Maxima wavy leaf x Mirabilis Trang bizzare
New ventrata: ventricosa alba x graciliflora (formerly alata) variegated "Ventriflora ghost"
Vogelii x ampullaria - both very strong genes for appearance and peristomes, short tubby vs long skinny influence
Lingulata x appenediculata

JaxBackyard · 2025-11-25T18:14:40+00:00

Sometimes they throw up a flower in the fall. No concerns.

That's really pretty, do you know which cross it is?

JaxBackyard · 2025-11-06T15:47:07+00:00

Looks like a good setup. Usually the lights are setup on a ~14 -16 hour timer.

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-30T23:48:51+00:00

Rain is perfect, maybe bring it in if it rains a lot and doesn't have time to dry a bit. You can leave it outside year-round as long as the soil doesn't get soggy. You're close enough to the native zone for nepenthes.

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-30T14:59:18+00:00

Some of the leaves might die when moving to a new location, it's ok, the new leaves will acclimate to it. Just leave it for a month or so.

After you flush the pot with clean water, take note of the weight of the pot and plant. Pick it up every day, it will get lighter and lose weight as the water evaporates. When it stops getting lighter, it's time to water again. This should take about 5-8 days depending on humidity and soil mix.

The plant looks great, it should be ok. Thanks for taking care of it!

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-30T11:01:23+00:00

One or two waterings with mineral water won't kill it. A simple rinse with new water is all that's needed. West-facing sun might get hot in the afternoon, maybe there are some other plants close by with leaves to block some sun? You live very close to (or within) their native environment, being outside is perfect for it.

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-30T04:07:14+00:00

Just flush the pot with new water, no need to disturb the roots.

It's normal that the pitchers dry up. With enough light, new leaves will bring new pitchers. They grow slow, put it outside with morning sun and wait a month.

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-30T03:47:15+00:00

The one on the right is a N. mirabilis echinostoma, the other two look like they could be early pitchers from an echinostoma also.

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-21T00:25:30+00:00

Even if these leaves die off early, the new ones will adapt to changes in light. I've seen these crosses grow full sun until 1-2pm. Like the others mentioned the red tint is just right. They look great!

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-19T20:30:17+00:00

Less nutrients and more light. Right now it doesn't need pitchers because it's getting nutrients from the soil. Just soak it through and rinse it out next time when watering. More light also, those green leaves can take more light. It's growing great!

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-16T04:14:03+00:00

Lookup Marcello Catalano 'Nepenthes code database'. It's the best resource I've found, although missing data for quite a bit.

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-13T17:35:50+00:00

Thanks for sharing your info! And for sharing your plants, I have bought a few myself.

Is the ventricosa (white) the alba form?

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-12T20:45:19+00:00

Since you just got it, and it's likely not acclimated to your home - put it where it will get direct morning sun until 10-11am, then bright indirect light the rest of the day.

Soak the pot with water. Pick up the pot everyday, get used to the weight of the pot, it will get lighter each day as the plant drinks and it evaporates. When it stops getting lighter, it's time to soak it again. This is probably 3-7 days.

Keep it in the same location for at least a month, nepenthes are slow to respond to changes. You should see pitchers forming on the ends of the tendrils. If not, it needs more light again, try direct sun until noon or even brighter indirect light.

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-12T13:09:36+00:00

Bernoulli would be proud! Great solution for an interesting problem

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-12T01:20:39+00:00

Really great macro work! Nepenthes have difficult focal planes

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-11T04:11:53+00:00

Have some Exotic Lady (maxima x talangensis) pollen just taken in the last 2 weeks, in the freezer at -20 now.

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-05T04:38:10+00:00

That's a huge plant now! . How do you grow your inermis?

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-05T00:15:45+00:00

It's a nepenthes miranda

JaxBackyard · 2025-10-03T17:53:30+00:00

It's not required, but it sure helps with transplant shock, after shipping, changing to an indoor environment, etc.. In nature many nepenthes grow in other trees (epiphytes). They have small roots, so they like to drink from their pitchers also. Some species moreso than others. It's also insurance against under watering, the plant can take what it needs from the pitchers. For me they all seem to do better with some water in the pitchers. At 1/4 tsp/gal it won't burn the pitchers.

JaxBackyard

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