FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

My daughter’s sarracenia It’s looking very unhappy… We’ve been watering it from the water butt and putting some of the water down its flutes… But it seems to have other issues and some small bugs that look like greenfly. Are we feeding it enough do you think? It’s going dead at the end and we wondered if we’ve put too much water in it or whether it needs it soil refreshing.. The only instructions are to keep it in a sunny spot and keep it wet!

Do you have any recommendations on how to help it please? Thankyou so much x [/attachment][attachment=0]7C91FDF0-8544-4E01-8F07-00FBA974CFE6.jpeg

Han Spud wrote:Do you have any recommendations on how to help it please

At least in the summer time put it outside in full sun. They really like deep pots with low water levels.

Those pitcher plants do not grow well on a windowsill. They need several hours of unobstructed sunlight every day. Trying to grow it inside without very strong grow lights will be unsuccessfull.

For long term health, it needs to be outside. Sarracenia need direct, unfiltered sunlight, and the sunniest of windowsills cannot provide enough light due to how modern glass filters sunlight. Your plant needs more light.
What water are you using? You said water butt, did you mean water bottle? Sarracenia need low mineral water. They can withstand a higher mineral content than many other carnivorous plants, but many bottled waters have added sodium, calcium, and potassium, all of which are bad. Tap water may be OK, but testing the TDS and getting the water quality report from you water company can tell you if it's OK to use. Plus, you may be keeping it too wet. That rhizome looks like it's almost submerged, and most Sarracenia don't care for that. Moist is OK, but try to avoid long term swimming. You also don't need to put water down the pitchers. A deeper pot will be a real benefit. Not only for it to stretch its legs, but to avoid sitting in water for long periods.
Last, you didn't say how long you've had it, but it needs a winter dormancy. So you'll want to make changes now to build up it's strength in order for it to survive while it sleeps the winter away.

ChefDean wrote: ↑Mon Aug 29, 2022 3:31 pm What water are you using? You said water butt, did you mean water bottle?

Water butt = rain barrel