Expert: Christopher Littrell - 7/28/2007

Question
On some of my Sarracenia's the pitchers seem flat why don't they open so bugs can get in?  Thanks much C

Answer
Hello Carol,

This is a difficult problem to diagnose without further information. Deformed pitchers might be from any number of circumstances.

1.  New pitchers might occasionally grow in slightly deformed or not open properly without apparent reason. I have a S. rubra that made a couple of slightly deformed leaves that opened, but only artially. The next group of leaves came in perfectly and look great now. If this is the case, just keep an eye out for new growth and the new pitchers should keep growing in better looking each time.

2.  Pests sucking the fluid out of young leaves can cause them to grow in deformed. Check for aphids and other pests on the leaves, particularly in the growth crown near the soil surface. If you see any tiny green, yellow, or white insects slowly crawling around, you will need to take measures to combat them. You can use water based insecticides like pyrethrines, malathion, and products by ortho. Never use soap based or natural fat based insecticides on carnivorous plants. You can also use neem oil based products as they are often good against fungus and insects. Another more natural method of control that Sarracenias wont mind would be to submerge the entire plant in a large container of soft water for 24 hours, take them out for a day, then resubmerge them for 24 hours again. After that, the pests are usually drowned out for a while, just keep an eye out for any reappearance.

3.  Inadequate light might cause deformed leaf growth in plants. If you have the Sarracenias outside where they can get good sunlight, this should not be a problem. If you have them in a window or under florescent light, you might want to slowly adapt the plants to higher intensity light by placing them in brighter windows each week and finally placing them outside where they get stronger sun.

Send me a followup if you can describe the conditions your plants are living in so we can diagnose them more accurately if nothing here seems to be of help.

Christopher Littrell