Protein supplements for Nepenthes

John Hollister (bb05246@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu)
Tue, 5 Mar 1996 00:29:59 -0500 (EST)

About a month ago, my N. Ventricosa looked sick - its pitchers were
miniscule and deformed; the leaves were short and bunched-up. I
thought maybe it was malnourished. Since it is winter here, I could
not find any bugs, but given the very sad state of the plant,I had to
do something.

I spooned a little protein powder - the kind that is marketed for
bodybuilders ("Designer Protein", specifically) into its last intact
pitcher. While I was at it, I put a little into the pitchers of
N. Mirabilis and N. Rafflesiana, and sprinkled some on my sundews.

The sundew leaves seemed to die down faster, and there was no
noticeable accleration in their growth. But the N. Ventricosa
recovered and put out a round of healthy pitchers, and the other
nepenthes increased greatly in size. The Rafflesiana is threatening to
outgrow the fishtank I keep it in.

So I guess it was a successful, though not very well controlled, experiment.

-- 
John Hollister bb05246@bingsuns.cc.binghamton.edu