Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 8/24/2011

Question
QUESTION: Hi,
Do you know whats wrong with my sarracenias?

the pitchers they grow have extreamly small openings. these pitchers grow to about one inch tall and then die. (especially true for the white tops)

 I live in a very hot dry desert. The forcast for today is 100 degrees, sunny, and less than 10% humidity. I put this shade screen up which helps. without it the soil gets outrageously hot. These plants have been growing in this bog since late may.

On plant for example (directly behind the venus fly traps), leuthecopia varr. tarnok which i bought from you this spring, grows pictures with tiny openings that turn brown at the top and stop growing once they reach 1-2 inches height. I also purchased at judith hindle from you (that little stub in the very front and center). The sarracenia puerpea looks good... but he doesnt count since i just planted him about 2 weeks ago.

The sarracenia exornata critron variety (which i also purchased this spring) has sent of 4 pitchers. two died at about an inch height. the other too did okay. the only thing truly happy are the flytraps!

do you know what im doing wrong? will they look better next year?

thank you for your time,
lance

ANSWER: Hi Lance,

Sorry for taking a bit to get back to you.  This has been a busy week.  Thanks for sending the photo.  It always helps.

Your problem is a simple one.  Not enough sun, too much shade.  Remove the shade cloth.    This is such a common mistake that I put in the category of a mindset people tend to have with carnivorous plants:  "These plants couldn't possibly handle my weather...fill in the blank".  Here's some examples of temperatures today for cities where Sarracenia are native:  Hattiesburg, MS, 98, Fort Walton Beach, FL 91, Savannah, GA, 89, Mobile, AL 94.  In July these areas were having week-long stretches 100 degree weather.  Your plants can handle the lower humidity if you have adequate water to them.  I just recently talked to a nursery owner in Tucson, AZ that echoed this same issue where he said lots to plants can handle the high heat as long as they have plenty of water.  A few days of 100 degree weather in your area is no big deal, especially in a bog garden where the lower areas of the soil are cool.  Also, you get cool nights where the humidity comes back up.  As I write this you're at 47%.  

Your shade cloth would be of more benefit if you put it against the house to block the reflected heat.  Most plants (any kind of plant) has a hard time right next to a house like this where they get the reflected heat as opposed to just being out in the open.

The only other issue that could be at play here is your water.  You didn't mention what your water source was.  If it is tap or well water, it's probably too hard.  Hard water will cause mineral build-up and gradual decline of your plants.  If this is the case, you may need to consider getting a reverse osmosis filter.

I've included a photo of a Sarracenia flava grown this summer in Apache Junction, Arizona.  The browning you see is common in the late summer with flava anywere, and the growing season is much longer in AZ.

Good Growing!

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

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you very much. i'll move the shade cloth. but i also do have a follow up question... do you have any recommendations to keep the soil cooler? i made this bog deep (3ft) so that it is cool down below. But some of the seedlings don't have deep roots quite yet. would some sort of top dressing help keep the soil cooler?

thanks again,
lance

Answer
Hi Lance,

Keeping the soil cooler just requires more frequent watering during high temperatures.  Also, with your low humidity you are getting evaporative cooling from the wet surface.  Sarracenia seedlings are pretty tough, so they will probably fare better than you might expect.  A smaller area of shade cloth just for the seedlings can be very effective also.  The adult plants need full sun, however.

Good Growing!

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