Re: Red Marks on Nepenthes leaves

From: Richard Brown (esoft@ix.netcom.com)
Date: Thu Apr 01 1999 - 20:08:20 PST


Date: Thu, 01 Apr 1999 23:08:20 -0500
From: "Richard Brown" <esoft@ix.netcom.com>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg1186$foo@default>
Subject: Re: Red Marks on Nepenthes leaves


 
> I have recently obtained a few Nepenthes with red blotches on alot of
> the leaves. I was told this was due to cold damage. Until this time I have
> thought these red spots to be the result of a fungus (rust) which other than
> being unslightly wasn't a threat to the plant. I had never heard of the
> markings due to cold temps. I sometimes get these dark red spots on plant
> leaves that have not been exposed to cool conditions.
> While at a bromeliad nursery the orchid grower had some N. x Coccinea,
> some had the red spots which he tried to tell me was a varigated leaf! But
> these plants did have damage due to cold.
> Could anyone offer comments on these spots?
> Thankyou,
> ~Mike

Cold damage will show as red discoloration, but not as blotches. Water drops
on leaves will cause burns if conditions are very bright and hot. However,
red blotches are a trait of N. rafflesiana when they are grown in bright
"hard" conditions, and this trait is passed on in hybrids. N. coccinea has N
rafflesiana in its background, and thus shows the same red leaf blotching.
The Pring hybrids from 1950 show this same characteristic; my N. Lt. R. B.
Pring always has red blotches. It is not a varigated leaf, just a
characteristic of certain Nepenthes. My advice- Don't worry about it.

Until later,

Trent Meeks
Pompano Beach, Florida



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