Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 4/15/2010

Question
i bought a tiny Green Pitcher from you guys 4 years ago and have been too apprehensive to divide the rhizome until this spring (considering its an endangered species, and CITES says i cant get another one from u guys cuz i dont live in OR).  Anyway, i divided it up and got 8 golfball sized bulbs that are now emerging from their winter sleep.  3 are sprouting flowers, i believe i read somewhere this winter that newly divided rhizomes' flowers should be cut off so they can devote all available enegery to healing and growing healthy pitchers their first growing season. Any thoughts on this topic? i AM tempted to let the flowers sprout and germinate so i can sew the seeds next spring and do my part to ensure the survival of this beauty!  but i dont want to sacrifice my existing greens. please advise.

Answer
Hi Darren,

Personally, I'd cut the flowers off so that your rhizomes can focus on healing and producing more pitchers.  We do this after divisions.  We only allow plants to flower during the second year.  But if you really want flowers, you can do so.  Just realize that you may have fewer and smaller pitchers this season.  So in the end, it's a judgment call.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin