Nepenthes Hybrid problem

[carolyn]

Hi I'm new here and was just looking for some help with my Nepethes hybrid. 

I'm worried about the leaf discolouration, I understand that some species leaves turn a slight burgundy/red colour. But my one has been producing red blotches that slowly turn brown and then black and the leaves have been turning a yellow/brown colour. I originally thought it might be peony blotch like what had been appearing on my other plants, so I sprayed it immediately with Neem oil (which got rid of it on the other plants) but it didn't work. 

I've had for about a month now and it has been growing outdoors like it was suggested to me by the seller. It gets sun for most of the day and a fair bit of midday sun. It appears to be in a mix of peat/perlite, and when I got it it was perfectly healthy until about a week after when the discolouration and blotches started appearing. They are all over the plant and lots of the leaves are slowly turning a yellow/orange/brown colour with the blotches. 
Just wondering if anyone knew what was wrong and what could possibly help the plant. 

Thanks Carolyn

Attachments:

[hcarlton]

Are these new leaves? If so, then it would be best to treat it with a systemic or sulfur-based fungicide. If these are leaves relatively far down the stem, and you've only had it for a month, they may simply be old leaves that are dying. Also, the plant may have not been used to direct sun, so this may be sunburn of a sort, and the plant needed acclimation to higher light levels first.

[carolyn]

The leaves are the ones that came with the plant, so they are old leaves I guess. And the red blotches have started appearing on the new leaves coming up. Also I noticed yesterday the leaves where the red blotches have gotten really bad the developing pitchers have shrivelled up and turned black.
I had thought it was sunburn so yesterday I moved it inside in front of a window.

[jdallas]

Hi Carolyn,

Since you're still in winter in Australia, how cold was the plant getting at night?

Jeff

[carolyn]

The plant was getting, at the coldest I think about 15 degrees Celcius.
I didn't know that could be a problem because the grower I got the plant off was getting colder temperatures at his house.

Carolyn

[hcarlton]

I'd guess at this point it could possibly be three things: sunburn (likely if it was not acclimated to sun), cold temperatures (depending on the hybrid 15 C could be too cold, but not likely as many hybrids can take temperatures to that low just fine, save for true lowlanders), or possibly a fungus of some sort. If it was sunburn, you should notice new leaves soon that have no problems at all if it has been moved inside to lower intensity, and temps should be warmer in the house as well. If the problem persists, try a sulfur-based fungicide for a little while.

[carolyn]

I'm going to try a fungicide like you suggested, however is there anything I should look out for in a fungicide that could harm a Nepenthes plant?
I've heard that carnivorous plants don't like copper, I think? Is there anything else?

Carolyn

[hcarlton]

Stay away from soaps and be mindful of heavy minerals, other than that I'd say just try to go with something sulfur-based, even as pure as dusting sulfur.

[carolyn]

Is lime sulphur a problem to use on the plant?

[hcarlton]

Lime is an alkaline substance, sulphur is not the same as the element sulfur. I doubt it to be safe, but check up on reputable CP sites to find out for sure.

[Not a Number]

Lime sulfur will burn leaves, not a good thing for Nepenthes. Pure sulfur powder (or suspended in water) should be safe to use as a fungicide. Sulfur based fungicides work best on powdery mildew and fungi.