Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 6/22/2011

Question
1) The species of carnivorous plant you're growing.
We've purchased a tropical butterwort (P. laueana) from your site.

2) A concise description of a single issue.
This plant looked good upon arrival but is now quite shriveled and brown. Did we overwater? Was this not enough sun?

3) The type of lighting, water and soil you're using, as well as how long you've grown the plant.
Initially we had this plant in a sunny window but then once it started to look worse, we moved it to full sun outside, eastern exposure. We have not repotted since receiving the plant on June 9. Water is from a reverse osmosis unit daily.

4) Your region to assess seasonal issues.
We are located in New Jersey.

Answer
Hi Niklas,

You have a couple things going on here.  The first is that Mexican butterworts don't like it quite as bright as sundews and other carnivorous plants.  It sounds like your window has pretty strong sun, which most sundews enjoy, but butterworts often benefit from just a little shading from other plants, or being brought back from the window some.  They can adapt to brighter conditions, but they have to be given time to do that.  What it sounds like happened is you were getting a little leaf burn, but then the plant got moved outside which finished it off. :(  If it had just stayed in the window, newer leaves probably would have grown which were shorter and darker.  It usually takes plants around a month to adapt to a new home after shipping.  Here's more information:  http://cobraplant.com/index.php?main_page=page&id=30  We also have a chapter in our volume #2 DVD on Mexican butterworts.

Good Growing!

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