It almost looks like some form of pest... Do you have any pesticides?

"It almost looks like some form of pest... Do you have any pesticides?"

Thanx For Your Reply

No, I don't use any pesticides on my Neps
Due to them being kind of sensitive & the fact that they like bugs
But honestly I've never found the need to

Any idea what kind of "Pest" could/would cause this
So I could try to look it up & see what info. I can find

I've never seen this on any of my plants before

Also could have been something that was on some new plants
But I don't see anything on them

Thanx Again
Eric

What neps are these? You mentioned they are lowland, but which ones? Some are more sensitive to sudden drops in temp and humidity than others.

For example, I have read bical leaves will burn with sudden drops in humidity.

Thank You...

It's mainly present on my Ventricosa(s)
Which seem to do the best out here (also Alata does great)

I know I usually get the bronze spots when it cools down during the winter
But I never seen it that bad

All of my bigger plant have been kept outdoors for years & have adapted nicely
Most of them Thrive

It my be a result of neglect
With work being so crazy the last few weeks & all of the holiday running around
They weren't getting their normal misting & care
+ Them being moved around a lot / Change in light ect.

Stress or Frost/Cold Burn I can deal with & they should bounce back

But since I've never seen that much damage before
I want to make sure it's not something nasty that's attacking them or something that was introduced for one of my new plants
Because if it is I have a lot of plants at steak & want to move as quickly as possible in remedying the cause / problem

Thanx Again & Pleeeeeeease Keep The Input Coming In
It's Greatly Appreciated & Ever Little Bit Helps
At Lease It Gives Me A Direction To Look In & Something To Rule Out If Nothing Else

Eric

I think it is probably lack of water or temps. I am leaning towards temps, just because you said they were ventricosa and they are the sherman tanks of nepenthes. The brown spots look to originate from the veins which seems to tell me that the issue is from within and not an external attack.

Ventricosa is technically a highland nepenthes. Although it will grow like a weed in most any condition. That tells me that humidity is probably not the issue since I grow mine if lower humidity. The next possibility is tempurature.

You are in zone 9, how cold does it get there during the winter? Most neps, with the exception of a very few (2 that I know of khasiana and lamii [i think]) can withstand temps below 45. I had a ventrata burn at the growth points this fall when temps got below 50. It is doing fine now and started to branch and vine as a result, but I was nervous for a few weeks. (I haven't lost a nep yet.)

Ventricosa if a very forgiving plant when it comes to water and light, but you should never let a nep dry out. Which judging by your experience, I am guessing is not the issue. That is what keeps leading me to tempurature.

If that is the case, I think as long as you give them attention and get back to optimal conditions, they should bounce back. Leaves may die, but as long as new growth appears, then you should be ok. In it's weakened state try not to overwater. If leaves are dying, this is food for fungus now all it needs is a nice drink.

If it is lack of water, then you should be fine too. Just make sure not to water log it for the same reasons as just mentioned.

A little more light may help during the healing phase if the pitchers weren't already a reddish color before this problem. Otherwise, light is just right.

Hope this helps...

Here is a pic of my ventricosa

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:546223}}

Thanx for the info. "dashman", it did help...

Guess I just need some reassurance that my babies weren't dying...
Never seen them get that bad before & kind of feared the worst...
I've been growing some of them for 5+ years now & would hate to loose any of them...

Normally where I live it drops down to the mid 40s (F) at the coldest at night in the winter...
Most of my Neps have been growing outdoors for years & they never look their best this time of year, but I have never lost any to the cold...
But we did have some nasty weather for about week just before X-Mas were it did drop into the low 40s high 30s...
I live in Long Beach, but I was visiting my parents in Apple Valley the week before X-Mas & got snowed in for 3 days... LOL

I don't have an indoor spot to keep them that gets enough light...
Although on cold nights I would normally move them indoors & put them back outside during the day so they could get sun...
But with work being so crazy the last few weeks & all of the holiday running around & craziness and all...
"Even though they didn't get their normal level of care & attention for a few weeks they were never allowed to dry out>

I know I should have moved them inside & didn't / My Bad

I was afraid if it was something else other then cold weather it might have affected/infected my other plants...
Better safe then sorry...

Thanx Again To Everyone For Their Input / I'll be sleeping better tonight because of it...

Eric

No problem. Yes 30's is too low for neps in my opionion.

I take mine indoors for the winter under a flourescent light when temps drop below 50. Next year I am raising that to 55 because my ventrata got frost bite.

Good luck!