Expert: Christopher Littrell - 2/15/2011

Question
Hi, I'm a college student in Minnesota, and I brought with me a Sarracenia (cultivar Dana's delight) potted plant.  It was doing well, putting up new pitchers throughout late summer and fall, then began to go into dormancy.  As winter wore on, however, the dormant pitchers began to die and finally became completely brown.  I continued watering it (from the bottom with distilled water), wetting the top occasionally to make sure it didn't dry out and providing it with adequate warmth.  While my terrarium is now starting to show signs of spring growth (sundew growing like a weed and venus flytrap close behind), the sarracenia remains dormant (or dead).  So my question is of course, is there a possibility of spring growth, or was it too optimistic of me to grow one in the harsh, dry winter of Minnesota?  I dug down to a root and pulled at it.  They are springy but dark, so does that mean dead for sure?  (I apologize if this is a stupid question; I'm not very knowledgeable about the belowground goings-on with these things.)

Answer
Hello Cameron,

That is the problem with terrariums, they create stagnant, moldy conditions that can infect and kill off dormant plants. Also, warmth in winter is not the answer to dormant plants. They would need to remain just above freezing most of the time, around 40-50 degrees would be fine, to keep them dormant. Sarracenias should be ready to spring back into growth in Spring, pun intended, so it seems as if yours succumbed to mold. The carnivorous plants you mentioned are generally capable of tolerating low humidity as long as they are adapted slowly over several weeks to slightly lower humdity every few days (use a clear plastic bag over the plant with a few 1/4 inch holes in it and gradually add a couple more holes every three days until it looks like Swiss cheese, then take the bag off after 2-3 weeks). Just keep them well watered and they do fine even open pot. Since the roots of the Sarracenia are brown, they have died off. Their roots should be creamy white inside and rather stiff, like a tiny, white carrot in consistency.

Christopher