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Carnivorous Plants/Repotted Pitcher Plant in potting soil
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Question
Hi,
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3 days ago I found a plant at my local nursery simply marked Carniveous Pitcher Plant. I took it home and re-potted it as I would any other plant using potting soil in a coconut lined basket. Looking for more plants on the internet I found your site that stated potting soil would kill the plant. What should I do to save the plant or have I already doomed it? Thanks!
Hi Rachael,
Even though this is very true for American pitcher plants such as Sarracenia, it's not always the case with Nepenthes. Nepenthes and Sarracenia are very, very different plants. Nepenthes don't mind a little fertilizer in their soil, and since you have this in a hanging basket, it will make it easy to water it. If you just make sure that you flood irrigate the plant when you water it to wash out some excess fertilizer, it should be fine.
What you may see initially is a big spike in vegetative growth with few pitchers. When the plant uses up the available fertilizer, they will begin making big pitchers again. If you had cheap potting soil, it may be low in nutrients anyway.
On a side note, the plant you have here is called Nepenthes x "Miranda". They are stunning, and grow to be very big. They are also tropical, so be sure to bring it in during the winter. For complete information on growing Tropical Pitcher Plants, see our DVD, "Grow Carnivorous Plants" volume 3. http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=38&products_id=257
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
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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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