Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 10/19/2011

Question
QUESTION: I just purchased pinguicula primuliflora. Its now in wet peat moss. I want to repot it in the mix you recommend, but I recently read that transplanting pinguicula is almost always fatal. What is your experience about this?

ANSWER: Repotting butterworts, whether it's this species or another, is a very straight forward process.  We do it frequently here at our nursery.  All plants that we sell were started in a different pot before they were planted in the pots that we ship out.

I'm not sure why other growers would say this species would die after repotting.  It's just not our experience.  If a plant dies after repotting, it's likely that the plant was unhealthy from the time you acquired the plant.  The repotting process is coincidental to the plant's demise and had no real effect on the plant.

If you're concerned about damaging the roots, you can keep some of the soil intact around the soil.  For more information about the repotting process, watch Volume 2 of the Grow Carnivorous Plants DVD series.
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

Good growing!
Jacob Farin



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

QUESTION: Butterworts seem to be doing fine, I top-water them every other day, south window.
 As a follow up on my nepenthes ventricosa letter of 8/8, I got the fertilizer you recommended,and use it every two weeks. I had to bring the plant indoors about a month ago due to the hurricane and flooding we had here, now its unseasonably cool as well. It doesn't seem to have done much of anything, no pitchers, not much noticeable growth.Its back in a south window, as it was last winter. Do you have any suggestions?

ANSWER: My only suggestion is time.  When it's cooler and darker, Nepenthes will naturally slow down in growth and stop producing pitchers.  This is a normal seasonal change for growers throughout North America.  Unless you're willing to invest in a metal halide light, a greenhouse, or move to Hawaii, you may need to accept the slower growth for the time being.  The plant will pick up when the light levels and temperature increase.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin

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

QUESTION: Is it too late in the year to repot Sarracenia Purpurea. I live in zone 6. Daytime temps. in the 50's and low 60's, nighttime temps now in mid 40's and up. Will it have enough time to root before a possible freeze late this month or early next?

Answer
It's best to wait until late winter or early spring to repot your plant.  You want to do this while the plant is still dormant and has time to recover from the root disturbance.  However, if you need to repot because the soil is unhealthy or if the pot is too small, then you should definitely do so.  These factors will do more harm to your plant in winter than the actual act of repotting.

If you still choose to repot in fall, make sure to keep the roots undisturbed as much as possible.  For a demonstration on how to do this, watch Volume 1 of the Grow Carnivorous Plants DVD series.
http://www.cobraplant.com/DVD

Good growing!
Jacob Farin