Help! I've got fungus

[rayg]

My wife bought me this beautiful plant for Christmas, a Nepenthes sp.I believe, and it had taken some cold damage from transporting it in December in WI, but it was beginning to wake up and bounce back nicely. Then a few days ago I noticed a bit of mildew and now I can tell it is definitely spreading. Is there any way to stop this? I am keeping the soil moist and I actually had placed the planter in a bowl of water as I had seen while browsing through other threads in this forum but I have now pulled the water. Is there any hope? do I need to quarantine this plant? Help! I love my plant.

Ray

 

[hibiscusmile]

I hear the baking soda with a bit on soap in a gallon of water will help, google plant fungus and baking soda and see what comes up!

 

[rayg]

Thanks for the tip. I found some good info. I'll try it out.

 

[hibiscusmile]

goody!

 

[Kaddock]

rayg,

May I recommend that for humidity (I assume that's why you put the plant in a bowl of water?) you instead take a dish that is a couple inches deep, fill it with pea gravel, and then half fill it with water, setting the pot on top of the gravel... This will increase the humidity of the plant without over soaking the substrate. Forgive me if you already knew that, I just thought I'd jump in!

 

[rayg]

That is a good suggestion. I do have some of my other plants set up that way, but I had seen on some of the other threads in this section the suggestion of placing them in a bowl of water. Maybe as a precaution against allowing the soil to dry out without over watering the top. I'm kindof assuming that these plants don't need or like well drained soil, but I definately have alot to learn.

The baking soda solution definately halted the progress of the mildew. I will wash her good again today a spray again. It was recomended once a week.

 

[Phantom]

Yes, nepenthes plants do generally like well-drained soil; but not to dry out. There may have been excess water on the leaves to cause that mildew. There is a more dangerous fungus to these plants that starts red and turns black; but that is not it. Good air movement should help eliminate the mildew.

Has your plant sent out a pitcher for you yet?

Good luck.

 

[rayg]

Thanks for that information Phantom. The baking soda is doing a good job on the mildew, and I am taking care to water the soil and not so much the leaves. I've pruned some of the more spotty leaves back and as more fill in I am thinking I should take the older leaves off to lessen the amount of spores that may be hanging around. When I got the plant she had three pitchers but I trimmed them when they were about halfway brown, but there are a few new ones growing in the understory now. I'm really looking forward to the summer when I can move her outside and she can put some real growth on.

What is the best way to reproduce them? Can nepenthes be reproduced by root division? Sexually?

Thanks all

Ray

 

[Dwaink]

Thanks for that information Phantom. The baking soda is doing a good job on the mildew, and I am taking care to water the soil and not so much the leaves. I've pruned some of the more spotty leaves back and as more fill in I am thinking I should take the older leaves off to lessen the amount of spores that may be hanging around. When I got the plant she had three pitchers but I trimmed them when they were about halfway brown, but there are a few new ones growing in the understory now. I'm really looking forward to the summer when I can move her outside and she can put some real growth on.What is the best way to reproduce them? Can nepenthes be reproduced by root division? Sexually?

Thanks all

Ray

There are many ways to reproduce Nepenthes. That plant looks like it might be picking up moisture from the window at night and contributing to the mildew problem. It will black spot because of the cold. misting to much in a cool room will do it also. If baking soda being a base gets into the acidic substarteit will definently harm the plant. Is this plant a highand or lowland plant? this is not a house plant don't use baking soda. In 40 years of growing carnivorous plants i have never heard of this.

Regards

 

[Nepfreak]

I would be more worried about the baking soda if it were a flytrap or a sarracenia, but still don't get it in the soil!

Do you know this plant's scientific name? I would guess at N. ventricosa, but it's hard to tell without a picture of a trap.

It's probably a pretty easy plant to grow. I would say that the best way to get rid of the mildew is with increased air circulation and maybe less humidity. Usually mold results from high humidity without sufficient circulation. But if it's not killing the plant or inhibiting its growth, I wouldn't worry too much about it. Can you scrape it off?

If you want to make more, probably a cutting would be the best way. Wait until the vine grows up a bit more, then chop it up and try to root the pieces. There are many guides on how to do this online. I would recommend a book called the savage garden, by Peter D'amato. It will tell you pretty much everything you need to know.

Good luck!