Follow these basics for growing healthy amazing looking Sarracenia
Starting seeds
Sarracenia seeds need to be cold stratified to properly germinate see HERE for cold stratification. Seedlings should be grown on a 50% peat 50% sand or perlite mix, preferably sand. Too loose or unstable of a potting mixture and seedlings can tip over or be washed away in rains. Seedlings should be repotted once a year or when they become crowded for fastest growth. Seedlings may also be fertilized by misting with a spray bottle diluted watered down fertilizer once a month.
Planting
Almost all sarracenia should be planted in such a way so that the rhizome is 8 inches or more above any standing water. The reason for this is sarracenia roots can grow down to a length of around 8 inches and won’t grow well in over saturated soil below the water line.
Pots
Sarracenia can still be grown in shorter pots where the rhizome is less than 8 inches above a water tray but you will need to adjust the way you water. In shorter pots the soil should still be kept moist but standing water in a tray or base should be avoided for any length of time. I prefer a ten inch tall pot standing in a two inch water tray.
Soil
Soil can be manny different mixed for Sarracenia but it must be fertilizer free, match watering habits, kept moist but not wet, you should not be able to squeeze water out of the soil. Here I get a lot of rain, at times it doesn’t stop for a week, because I use the tray watering method I find the ten inch tall pots help prevent over saturation. This allows the excess rain water to drain through relatively quickly to the tray 8 inches below keeping the soil from becoming swampy. (My soil of choice is bark chunks and perlite)
Sunlight
Most trumpet Sarracenia grow in open bogy grasslands that receive full sun all day. You should use your sunniest location for growing. I have not seen Sarracenia get too much sun, in fact the more light they get the better they will look.
Temperature
Sarracenia need seasonal change, a growing season and a winter dormancy season. The growing season timing varies for different types of Sarracenia and is largely temperature dependent, some flava’s grow a higher elevation and will grow earlier in the season than say alata that grows at lower elevations. Winter dormancy should be three months at a temperature below ten degrees and above zero degrees, yes some Sarracenia can survive a freeze but they don’t need too and it will set them back.
Feeding
Outdoors Sarracenia don’t need to be fed they are very very capable of feeding themselves. You won’t need to feed adult Sarracenia unless you are growing indoors. They can be fed dropping a bit of fish food, cricket parts or meal worms down an open tube once a month.
Exceptions
There are two Sarracenia that some of these basics don’t apply to, Sarracenia purpurea and Sarracenia psittacina. Both of these can be grown almost floating in water, the 8 inch rule isn’t necessary. Sarracenia purpurea can handle a colder dormancy than 0 degrees but again it’s not necessary and your plant will thank you with more vigorous growth if it doesn’t freeze.
Starting seeds
Sarracenia seeds need to be cold stratified to properly germinate see HERE for cold stratification. Seedlings should be grown on a 50% peat 50% sand or perlite mix, preferably sand. Too loose or unstable of a potting mixture and seedlings can tip over or be washed away in rains. Seedlings should be repotted once a year or when they become crowded for fastest growth. Seedlings may also be fertilized by misting with a spray bottle diluted watered down fertilizer once a month.
Planting
Almost all sarracenia should be planted in such a way so that the rhizome is 8 inches or more above any standing water. The reason for this is sarracenia roots can grow down to a length of around 8 inches and won’t grow well in over saturated soil below the water line.
Pots
Sarracenia can still be grown in shorter pots where the rhizome is less than 8 inches above a water tray but you will need to adjust the way you water. In shorter pots the soil should still be kept moist but standing water in a tray or base should be avoided for any length of time. I prefer a ten inch tall pot standing in a two inch water tray.
Soil
Soil can be manny different mixed for Sarracenia but it must be fertilizer free, match watering habits, kept moist but not wet, you should not be able to squeeze water out of the soil. Here I get a lot of rain, at times it doesn’t stop for a week, because I use the tray watering method I find the ten inch tall pots help prevent over saturation. This allows the excess rain water to drain through relatively quickly to the tray 8 inches below keeping the soil from becoming swampy. (My soil of choice is bark chunks and perlite)
Sunlight
Most trumpet Sarracenia grow in open bogy grasslands that receive full sun all day. You should use your sunniest location for growing. I have not seen Sarracenia get too much sun, in fact the more light they get the better they will look.
Temperature
Sarracenia need seasonal change, a growing season and a winter dormancy season. The growing season timing varies for different types of Sarracenia and is largely temperature dependent, some flava’s grow a higher elevation and will grow earlier in the season than say alata that grows at lower elevations. Winter dormancy should be three months at a temperature below ten degrees and above zero degrees, yes some Sarracenia can survive a freeze but they don’t need too and it will set them back.
Feeding
Outdoors Sarracenia don’t need to be fed they are very very capable of feeding themselves. You won’t need to feed adult Sarracenia unless you are growing indoors. They can be fed dropping a bit of fish food, cricket parts or meal worms down an open tube once a month.
Exceptions
There are two Sarracenia that some of these basics don’t apply to, Sarracenia purpurea and Sarracenia psittacina. Both of these can be grown almost floating in water, the 8 inch rule isn’t necessary. Sarracenia purpurea can handle a colder dormancy than 0 degrees but again it’s not necessary and your plant will thank you with more vigorous growth if it doesn’t freeze.
