Trumpet Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia) care instructions

Trumpet Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia) care instructions:

The Sarracenias, are excellent at catching flies, bluebottles and wasps and are one of the easiest carnivorous plants to grow.

POSITION- Sarracenias are ideal for a cold greenhouse or conservatory. They like it hot and sunny in the summer, withstanding a hot conservatory as long as they are in plenty of water. The tall plants in particular need full sun for sturdy growth. Shorter plants will tolerate less sun. They can be grown outside in a pond over the summer. The pot should have no more than the bottom third in the water – they are bog plants, not pond plants. Hardy plants can be grown outside all year with no extra protection and a belfast sink or large pot is ideal.

WATERING- Stand pot in 2-3cm of rainwater or soft water over the summer, (see the Care Guides section of our web site for a complete guide to suitable water). The water level can be raised considerably if going away but do not allow to dry out completely in the sun.

SUMMER CARE – The traps will fill up with flies over the season, and start to go brown – almost like having indigestion! You must not use fertiliser and there is no need to feed flies although if there are no flies in the house, just put them outside on a nice sunny day for a while.

AUTUMN/WINTER CARE The old traps will die off over the autumn. Cut off the dead parts regularly in stages so they absorb as much nutrition from the flies as possible. This will go towards the growth in the following year. Some varieties will keep their traps over winter. From around November, keep in a cool position. They don’t mind frost. An unheated greehouse or porch is a good place. Do try to avoid central heating. You can keep them outside in a sheltered spot in the garden – put a saucer under the pot. If kept inside, keep as cold as possible and just damp. Remove dead growth regularly to avoid botrytis.

PEST AND DISEASE Sarracenias can occasionally suffer from greenfly on young growth. They are easy to wipe off with a wet finger, or spray with Provado (‘The Ultimate Bug Killer’). In the height of summer, the nectar may go black with harmless sooty mould. It can just be wiped off with a damp cloth. Botrytis or grey mould can get in to the rhizome in winter and early spring. Prevent by regularly removing dead growth and keep well ventilated.

POTTING ON Repot every 2-3 years using carnivorous plant compost. It may be possible to divide the plant or keep as a large specimen.

*Note: I share my growing experience of these plants Under my climatic conditions. So we are not legible for any damage if u follow these instructions and ur plants got damaged.