Pitcher plant
Description
Sarracenias, otherwise known as Pitcher plants or Trumpet plants, are cool and unique looking carnivorous plants. We are stocking two varieties of pitcher plants: Photos 1&2 feature a pitcher plant which produces tall, thin, wavy, lime green pitchers with contrasting purple veins. Photos 3&4 feature a pitcher plant with shorter pitchers and darker tones. Outdoors, the pitchers fill with rain water and passively capture insect prey. Insects are attracted by nectar or scent and fall and drown in the pitcher.
Size: 9 cm pot
Origin: Bogs throughout Canada east of the Rocky Mountains and along the Atlantic coast of the United States from Maine south to Florida and the southeast of Mississippi.
Care
Light: Direct sun
Humidity: High
Temperature: 15-27ºC
Watering: Use distilled or rain water (especially avoid hard tap water or mineral water) and water the plant from the bottom. You can add a few drops of water in the pitchers. Keep compost damp at all times, but not soaking wet or waterlogged. If you can keep them in a terrarium all the better as this will keep humidity levels high. Pitcher plants go dormant from late autumn and all through winter, so reduce watering frequency (keep it just damp) from late november to early March. Place it out of the terrarium during the dormancy period as they enjoy slightly colder temperatures then.
Feeding: Do not fertilize this plant. You can occasionally "feed" the plant with a small bug or ants.
Soil: Pitcher plants need poor soil, a mix of sphagnum moss and perlite should be enough.
Tip: This plant is safe for pets and children. Keep away from radiators and drafts.
Troubleshooting: Pitcher plants like humid enivonments, but are very susceptible to root rot. Use appropriate soil mix and provide a humid environment. Carnivorous plants need acidic water and using neutral, mineral or alkaline water for long periods could damage your plant. The most commonly accessible source of acidic water is rainwater. You may also be able to use soft tap water or boiled tap water.