FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

I am trying to understand optimal water depth and fluctuation especially for Sarracenia, Pinguicula, and Drosera.

I have heard that S. minor likes it drier, S. rosea likes it wetter, but I didn't know what that means. I saw S. flava growing in Apalachicola National Forest last week drier than I would have expected (although I didn't dig a hole to check).

I'd like to compile a list of depth ranges for each species or hybrid that seems to work well. I'm interested in depth from the top of substrate to the water. Also how dry do you let it get before watering? Thanks.

Too many factors to give you definitive numbers, no smoking gun.
Age of plant, makeup of media, species, temperate, water table, region, specific local conditions, rainfall, elevation, how windy it is, .... we could go on and on, all factor into their own optimal conditions.
Dryer means don't let it sit in as much water. Wetter means OK to sit in water 24/7. Temperate Pings like it wetter, Mexi-Pings evolved to survive a hot, dry summer. Sundews, meh, keep them wet. Unless they're tuberous, then they need a dry spell.
General rule of thumb? Don't let the media of any of them dry out, unless they have evolved to need a dry period, then let them dry out.
See how easy it all is?
You think that's complicated? Have kids and you'll see how easy these finicky plants actually are.

I've got three kids who think I'm crazy because of these plants so I understand. How about the Sarrs, do you leave the water constantly 1-4" below the substrate?

the lower the water level the better. outside in my big pools i have drain holes at 3inches of water but its large 3gal pots. I try to let the level run low unless i am going out of town. My 5in pots i sale sarr's in i run a inch or under.

So that is about 4-6" below the substrate level? That's helpful. All of mine are too deep I think. 1-3" is about where I am at.

Do you vary by species? Psittacina or rosea deeper?