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Cultivation

Contrary to popular belief Sarracenia's are not difficult plants to grow and propagate, providing the basic requirements of water, light and compost are met, they can be kept for many years.  A greenhouse or conservatory is undoubtedly the best place to keep them, however a sunny window sill will more than suffice. 

During the growing season, the compost should be kept wet at all times, this is most easily achieved by standing the pot in a tray of water.  Throughout the winter though only enough water should be given to ensure the compost does not completely dry out, as soon as new growth begins to show in spring the amount of water should be gradually increased. 

The plants will obtain all the nutrients they require from the insects they catch during the summer months.  If desired however the plants can be fed with a diluted liquid feed (such as liquid seaweed) this being put directly into the pitcher using a syringe or similar.  Care should not be taken to overfill the pitcher. 

During autumn the pitchers will start to die back from the top, starting around the edges of the hood.  These dead areas can be cut away as required, or left until a significant part of the pitcher is dead and then the whole pitcher can be removed. 

It is not unusual for the plants to catch that many insects that the build up of dead bodies within the pitcher takes them above the area of the plant used for digestion.  When this occurs, as the insects decay, they appear to kill off the surrounding plant tissue, however as the remaining area of plant above this part remains healthy, it would appear nature has overcome this to allow the plant to continue to function as a trap. 

During the autumn some species will produce flat leaves instead of pitchers, (typically about 1/2 the height of the pitchers) these will remain healthy throughout the winter and at least the following growing season.  As with the pitchers, as the leaf dies back the dead areas should be cut away. 

Full length plastic plant pots are perfectly acceptable for the upright species, whilst for the prostrate species (Purpurea - and its hybrids) a half size pot will suffice.  When repotting a Sarracenia as a general rule of thumb always use a plant pot with a diameter at least twice the length of the rhizome.  If the growing end of the rhizome is then placed in the middle of the pot two seasons growth should be possible before further repotting is required.