You are here:

Carnivorous Plants/My Judith Hindle (Again)

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/29/2007


Question
Hey Chris, it's Corey again! My hybrid is still doing exellent, but there's been a mishap. Last night, my dog apparently knocked it off of the platform of rocks it had been sitting on in our pond. I discovered this this morning at about 12:00PM, and I don't know how long it was submerged. I've currently taken it completely out of the water to let the pitchers dry and the soil become less saturated. Is there anything else I need to do? Has any major damage been done? Thanks again!

Answer
Hello Corey,

Some carnivorous plants actually become flooded for brief periods in the bogs, so your Sarracenia should be just fine. Sarracenias tend to enjoy rather more water than most other carnivorous plants, however, just let the soil get back to a moist state for a day or so and then get it back in it's regular position. So long as the root crown at the soil surface is not constantly waterlogged for weeks on end, the plant will be fine.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.