Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 4/16/2010

Question
I am growing several different types of sarracenia outside.  I have them sitting in trays of distilled water on top of some blocks. I am in Riverside, CA, so the temperature has been great lately but my concern is that when it gets warmer the water in the trays will warm up dramatically also.  Will this harm the roots?  The trays are clear plastic so should I change to a different type of tray? Thanks!

Answer
Hi Jonathan,

I find it's better to go with a dark tray of some kind only because algae grows like wildfire in clear trays.  Sarracenia can handle it being pretty warm.  It is of benefit, however, to give the sides of the pot some shading (not the plants).  This is easily done simply by putting other plants such as cacti, or some kind of barrier around the pots to prevent sun from hitting them on the sides during the hottest parts of the summer.  We do it in the nursery with kiddie pools that have high sides.  Be sure to only keep the water 1/4 of the way up the pots.  Top watering during really hot weather also helps to keep the soil well aerated.

Good Growing!

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