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Carnivorous Plants/sarracenia flava fungus

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Expert: Sarracenia Northwest - 6/18/2005


Question
Hi,

my flava have recently developed what looks like a white fungus.  It looks like a very fine white soot or baking flour that rubs off easily and appears mottled-fashion across the whole tuber. One one of the plants there's a very small patch of the tuber where the green chlorophyll seems to have been "burned away" like a scald and I can see the grey cellular layer beneath and a red vein.

The plants are growing in full sun and are watered with some rain water every evening.

Do you know what might be causing this and should I cut off the affected tubers?

Answer
Hi Steve,

Definitely cut away affected areas of the rhizome, and any dead leaves.  This sounds like botrytis.  I would also spray the plant and rhizome with a systemic fungicide such as chorothanil.  Check a garden center for fungicides.  Just avoid any that are based on copper, or copper sulfate.  Also I would transplant the plant into fresh media.  That will help get rid of fungal spores.  Lastly, if the plant has any dead sphagnum as a top dressing on the pot, remove it.  It tends to harbor spores.

I would act quickly on this.  Once the fungus invades the rhizome it can kill the plant rather quickly.  It's odd that this is happening on a Sarracenia flava.  We usually have this problem on S. purpurea or S. rubra because of their dense pitchers.

Good  Growing!

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

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If your plant is showing poor growth, discoloration, abnormal leaves or possible infestation, the growers at Sarracenia Northwest can help! Carnivorous plant experts Jeff Dallas and Jacob Farin will help you diagnose the problem and get your plants on the right track. Their no nonsense approach has helped thousands of growers all over the world. They can help you too!

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With over 40 years of combined experience, Jeff and Jacob has definitely taken a straight forward approach to growing carnivorous plants. They have encountered many types of diseases, abnormal growth and infestations related to carnivorous plants, and they know what it takes to get plants looking beautiful and healthy again. Get the straight facts from the guys who grow and propagate thousands of these plants every year.

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Authors of Secrets to Growing Beautiful Carnivorous Plants for Your Home and Garden and producers of the Grow Carnivorous Plants! DVD Series. They also produce a monthly video podcast to illustrate how plants cycle through the seasons.

No terrariums. No myths. No nonsense.


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