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Carnivorous Plants/Sarracenia Flava
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Question
Hello
)
I recieved a Sarracenia Flava from you over the winter.
It is coming out of dormancy and some of the pitchers are twisting. It also appears that the pitchers that aren't twisting are not swelling up even though they are 16 inches long. Is my plant okay?
Here is a picture of the twisted pitcher.
Thank you very much
-Jamie
Hi Jamie,
The twisting pitcher is likely from aphid damage. You won't always see the aphids because they only attack young leaves when they first emerge. As the leaves mature, the aphids move on. However, once they attack, the damage is already done, so you end up with a deformed leaf.
You can prevent this from happening by spraying your plant with a systemic insecticide. You can find and appropriate spray application at your local garden center. Make sure to follow the directions on the bottle.
You can also use a topical spray made with pyrethrin. With topicals, you may need to spray more frequently, such as 1-2 times weekly. There are many prepared solutions for garden use. Make sure to follow the directions on the bottle.
I also suspect you're not giving your plant enough sunlight. This plant prefers full sun, which means six or more hours of direct sunlight. With out it, the plant will only produce thin leaves that never open up into pitchers. So move your plant to a much sunnier location.
For more information about growing Sarracenia, definitely watch our DVD, Grow Carnivorous Plants Volume 1. We illustrate fully what we mean by full sun and how to properly care for North American carnivorous plants. It also has a section on common plant problems.
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD
Good growing!
Jacob Farin
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Sarracenia Northwest
Expertise
If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!
Experience
With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again.
Education/Credentials
Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.
No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.
Just the straight facts from guys who grow and propagate
thousands of carnivorous plants each year.
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PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR QUESTION: We no longer answer how-to questions (i.e. How do I propagate...?; How do I grow...?). Instead, we help growers by diagnosing a specific plant problem and offering solutions (i.e. Why is my sundew not producing dew?; Is now a good time to divide my Sarracenia?; Why are the traps turning black?; What's a good substitute for perlite?; Why didn't my seeds germinate?; Can you identify this carnivorous plant for me?) For general plant care, please read our care sheets on our main website: http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets For business questions: http://www.cobraplant.com/contact |
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