Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 12/30/2011

Question
Hi Jacob & Jeff

My indoor plants are on my south facing window. (3 highland Neps, D. aliciae, D. multifida, cephalotus & a Heliamphora hybrid).

I live in Southern Ireland and  we have central heating (not much) this time of year.

Earlier in the year I seriously upgraded my outdoor collection and fancied my hand at trying a Heliamphora. I bought a great large plant.  At present I'm only keeping these plants damp, their trays are kept dry most of the time.

I've been keeping the pitchers (up until this problem happened) filled up with water.

About 6 weeks ago about half the plant rotted and died. No fungus or botrytis.  

Half the plant has survived and seems to be hanging in there ok.

Any idea what I did wrong?

Answer
Hi Richard,

Even though it may have not be obvious, some kind of fungus is most likely what took out part of your plant.  This happens commonly on tight, rhizome forming plants such as Heliamphora and tightly growing Sarracenia.  The conditions in your home this time of year, winter low-light, cool temperatures, dry but slightly damp conditions; these are all a perfect recipe for botrytis.  We have one cold frame greenhouse that has conditions like this, and we have to do a preventative spray with fungicides during the winter.  

You should probably spray your plants with a fungicide.  I'm not sure what is available in Ireland, but sulfur or Neem based fungicides are organic and are good bets.  I've also had good luck with fungicides based on Chlorothonil and Tebuconazole.  These are safe on carnivorous plants.  With the Heliamphora, be sure to saturate the rhizome crown.  The sundews are probably fine without the spray unless you see some mold growing on the soil.  Your Cephalotus would definitely benefit from a preventative fungicide spray.

Good Growing!

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