Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 5/10/2010

Question
Good afternoon -

Let me start by saying I appreciate what you guys do.  I have purchased many plants from you and they are always excellent specimens.

On to my question... is it possible for Sarracenia to receive too much sun, or for there to be a comination of too much sun and too high of temperatures?  There have been odd things going on in my mini bogs.  My Sarracenia leucophylla 'Burgundy' plant has a shriveled up top that looks like it burned at the edges, almost as if it was 'nuked' by the sun.  I live in San Antonio, TX by the way.  Another odd happening seems to be with my Sarracenia alata clones.  With new growth in mid day when the sun is hot the new growth will simply tip over and wilt.  Then it seems once temperatures go down again the new growth will partially recover, only to wilt again the next day.

What am I doing wrong?  Other plants like my Sarracenia 'Leah Wilkerson' and Sarracena flava are doing just fine and their tops are not burning and they are not wilting.

Phil

Answer
Hi Phil,

For the vast majority of growers, humidity and temperature are not issues.  But in desert regions, you will need to take these factors into account when growing plants in full sun.  The issue has to do with transpiration.  When temperature rises and humidity drops, plants lose moisture through their leaves very rapidly.  If the plant isn't able to pull water from the soil and transport it to their leaves quick enough, wilting occurs.  If the wilting is severe, the leaf dries or burns.  This is why you see your plants recover in the evening.  As the temperature drops, humidity naturally rises and transpiration slows down.

Tall Sarracenia are usually susceptible to this.  Shorter plants are less susceptible.  Age and healthy roots will also be a factor.

We cover how to grow plants in desert regions in our DVD, Grow Carnivorous Plants Volume 1.  We have many growers in the southwest that have benefited a lot from the information.  
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

For now, shelter the plants from the intense sunlight during the hottest parts of the day.  Direct morning sun is better for the plants.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin