How Do You Care For A Sarracenia Plant?

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:44 pm

Sarracenia plants belong to the carnivores (carnivorous plants). They are also known under the name trumpet plant. The eight species differ in shape and color. Some species of this perennial plant are hardy, others only partially or not at all. Tube plants score points for their brightly colored tubes that serve as traps. Some species have a lid-like bulge and others are open at the top. They can grow up to 75 inches tall and 30 inches wide.

Care of Sarracenia plants

Sarracenia are easy plants to cultivate if basic things are followed. They need plenty of sun, water and a rest in the winter months. In addition, this unusual plant does not need to be fertilized or fed.

Site conditions

• Plenty of light and sun, that’s how Sarracenia feels comfortable. Then also the cardinal points do not play a big role.
• Temperatures between 20 and 25 °C are ideal
• outdoor specimens can also tolerate higher temperatures
• at exceptionally high temperatures light shading

It would be optimal if the plant is cultivated in a bog bed. Pure peat or a mixture of peat and sand is suitable as substrate. The first choice here should be white peat and quartz sand (ratio 2:1). Quartz sand is needed to loosen the peat.

Tip: Do not use sea sand. This is too rich in lime and salt and would destroy the plant.

Watering

Carnivorous plants love it moist. If wet feet are to be avoided with other plants, waterlogging is a decisive criterion for growth with trumpet plants.

• high water demand
• watering according to the accumulation method
• saucer should always be filled with water one to two centimeters
• waterlogging is necessary

Tip: If the plant is in danger of drying out, it can be placed in a water container until no more air bubbles are visible. Then it is placed in the horizontal position for an hour.

Unknowingly, this is where many amateur gardeners make the most mistakes. They water with tap water. But this, due to the lime content, can be fatal for the exotic fellows. Water from the dryer is also not necessarily recommended. It may contain residues of fabric softener or detergent, as well as lint.

• soft, lime-free water
• it is best to use rainwater
• Alternatively, use distilled water (mix with ten percent tap water).
• mix)

Propagation

• Propagation by division
• plant has strong rhizome with several vegetation points
• carefully cut them off with a knife if roots are present
• treat fracture and cut with charcoal powder to avoid mildew
• plant as usual

Propagation from seed

• cold treatment is necessary before sowing
• put the seeds in the refrigerator for about four to six weeks
• then put them on appropriate substrate, do not cover them
• keep substrate moist

Sowing indoors is possible all year round
The first years the young plantlets do not need winter rest.

Wintering

Among the tubular plants there are species that are quite frost-resistant and those that do not tolerate frost at all. Winter-hardy species should be covered with foliage during the cold season. Sarracenia in tubs and pots are basically frost-prone and should be placed in winter quarters.

• overwinter in a bright and cool place
• optimal temperature between five and ten degrees Celsius
• water little

Do not let the substrate dry out, but keep it evenly moist.

Tip: If the winter place is too dark and too humid, gray mold can easily nest, which can lead to the loss of the plant.

Diseases and pests

Anyone who places their protégé too warm or too cold in winter, exposes it to too much humidity or does not ventilate it well, must reckon with gray mold.

expect. Gray mold often occurs when the winter place is too dark, too wet and not ventilated. This hairy fur coats the rhizome and literally eats it. For treatment, the affected area can be cut off and treated with a fungicidal agent. Among the pests, it is mainly aphids and scale insects.

Here, commercial pesticides can be used. Sometimes snails also attack the plant. In this case, slug pellets can provide a remedy.

Frequently asked questions

The Sarracenia turn brown at the top. Should I cut them off or wait?

With Sarracenia, it is perfectly normal for the old tubes to die back. If new leaves grow back, this is not a cause for concern. To avoid mold, rotten leaves on houseplants should be removed immediately.

Can a Sarracenia plant become clogged if there are too many insects in the tube?

No need to worry. In fact, in the summer it is common for Sarracenia to be full to the top with insects. After digestion, the prey remains in the tube until it dies.

• Tips for quick readers
• Sarracenia plant belongs to the carnivorous plants
• can be cultivated outdoors and indoors
• location: bright, full sun
• ideal temperature is 20 to 25 °C
• can be shaded at extreme temperatures
• prefers acid soil
• substrate: pure peat or mixture of white peat and quartz sand
• high water requirement
• water according to accumulation method
• saucer should always be filled with water
• no tap water
• better rainwater or distilled water
• propagation by division or seed possible
• overwinter in a bright and cool place at five to ten degrees Celsius
• keep substrate evenly moist and not too wet
• to prevent diseases and pests always pay attention to proper care

Interesting facts about the tubular plant in brief

The decorative, very exotic Sarracenia plants belong to the animal-catching plants. Their long leaves form towering tubes with trumpet- to funnel-shaped ends. They are covered by a lid-like structure. These and the upper tube area are conspicuously colored and marked, and they also produce nectar. This attracts insects into the tube. Here they slowly slide down into a digesting liquid. Large drooping flowers, each with five green to red calyx and yellow to red petals, appear singly at the top of tall stems. A total of eight species of the pitcher plant are known to be slightly bastardized among themselves and are native to Florida to Canada. They require the cool, moist environment of a conservatory, but can be brought indoors for short periods.

Popular species of the tubular plant

Sarracenia flava grows to a height of 30 – 60cm. Erect, slender, yellow-green leaves form a trumpet-shaped calyx with a red-marked throat. The 7.5 – 10cm wide flowers are yellow and in some varieties yellow and brown.

Sarracenia leucophylla, 30 – 75cm tall, sprouts green leaves that open to white trumpets with striking deep purple marbling. The 5 – 7.5cm wide flowers are yellow to purple.

Sarracenia psittacina displays semi-erect leaves 10 – 20cm tall in green to purple. The upper calyx is inflated and ends in a pointed beak with white spots and purple veining. The deep red flowers are 5cm wide and stand on 20cm tall erect stems.

Sarracenia purpurea sprouts semi-erect, green leaves about 15cm long that form a calyx and show purple, wavy margins and purple veining in the throat. The 6cm wide, deep purple flowers crown the 30cm tall stems.

Sarracenia rubra forms a 15 to 30cm high rosette of cup-shaped leaves. Initially they are olive green, but later take on a copper hue and show unmistakable brown veining as they age. The flowers are up to 4.5cm wide and bronze-red.