Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 4/17/2010

Question
I just received my 2 plants and they LOOK GREAT!!!!! I am new at growing these kind of plants, so I am a little confused. The instructions say to water 1-2 times a week and not leave it in standing water. I am growing them outside under a tree for filtered sun light. I live in Florida and during the summer it rains almost every afternoon.
1)Should I put the plants in full sun light?
2)Would the rain everyday hurt my plants?
3)Should I put the plants under a shelthered area where it   doesn't get the afternoon rain?
4)Would they do better indoors on a windowsill?
I have gotten plants in the mail before from other companies but these are by far superior then anyone else. I would highly recomend your company to anyone who is interested in carnivorious plants. Keep up the good work!!!!! I will be a return customer.
Thank you.
Tony

Answer
Hi Tony,

Thank-you for the compliments.  We always try to ask ourselves when we select plants, "Would I buy that plant?" If not, we find a different one to send out.

What your currently doing is fine for your N. ventricosa.  Let it get rained on.  Considering these plants come from tropical rainforests, they probably get rained on there.  Just try to make sure the soil doesn't get washed out.  One of the reasons we use the chunky mix we do is so it can handle lots of top watering.  Having it under a tree is great.  This gives them the dappled, intermittent sun they are used to.  In Florida it will do well inside or out.  That is more of a personal choice.  In northern states we don't really have a choice since these plants can't freeze.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com