- These plants get their name from their pitcher-shaped leaves.
- They capture insects by producing nectar along the rim of their pitchers.
- When an insect starts to lick up the nectar, it tries to get more by reaching in the pitcher.
- When it loses its footing, it falls right in!
- The inside walls of the pitcher are very smooth, so insects are not able to crawl out.
- They also can’t fly out because there isn’t any airlift in a tube!
- Eventually, the insect dies, and as it decomposes, the plant absorbs its nutrients right through its leaves.
FEEDING/FERTILIZER REQUIREMENT
- Never add fertilizer.
- Feed them small insects if they appear unhealthy.
LIGHT REQUIREMENT
- During the growing season, grow your Sarracenia outside in the full sun with 6 or more hours of direct sunlight, for vigorous growth.
- If full sun is not possible, provide a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight with bright indirect light during the rest of the day.
- Such a plant won’t be as vibrantly colored as one grown in full sun, but they can still grow more/less healthily.
WATER REQUIREMENT
- Place the pots in a tray filled with 1-2cm of distilled water or rainwater, adding water to the tray rather than top watering.
- These are bog plants, and the growing media should be kept moist throughout the growing season.
SOIL REQUIREMENT
- Use a soil mixture of 1 part peat moss and 1 part perlite.
- Never use potting soil, compost or fertilizer; these ingredients will kill your plants.
