Depending upon the species, individual pitchers may last anywhere from 1-8 months. Senescing pitchers will usually brown in their top half first, and they can remain in this half-withered state for several months. These are still beneficial for the plant and should not be trimmed until they have completely browned.

Pests & Diseases
Nepenthes are generally pest-free, though a few insects will sometimes present problems in collections. Wherever possible it is best to remove pests by hand rather than treating with insecticides, as frequent use of some chemicals can result in severe damage to the plants.

Thrips are a common pest in many cool greenhouses and will occasionally attack Nepenthes, though they seldom occur in sufficient numbers to present a serious threat. They can be found most often on the undersides of the leaves near the midrib, and can easily be removed by regularly wiping the leaves clean. Scale, which are often introduced to the plants by ants, can present a much more severe problem. Though scale can sometimes be kept in check by diligent hand-picking, infested plants may need to be treated with an insecticide.

For severe pest problems the use of a proprietry spray may be necessary.