Hanging Pitcher Plant Care Types Of Pitcher Plants For Hanging Baskets

Hanging pitcher plants thrive in light, well-draining soil that's poor in nutrients but high in organic matter. This can be sphagnum moss, coconut fiber, or a store-bought orchid mix. Pitcher plants need high humidity – water frequently from above, and mist daily. Hang your basket somewhere it can receive full sun.

What are the different types of pitcher plants?

Pitcher plant, any carnivorous plant with pitcher-shaped leaves that form a passive pitfall trap. Old World pitcher plants are members of the family Nepenthaceae (order Caryophyllales), while those of the New World belong to the family Sarraceniaceae (order Ericales).

Should I cut the dead pitchers off my pitcher plant?

If the plant is old and uncared for, it will accept severe pruning. Pruning a pitcher plant encourages new growth to form. ... As pitchers and leaves die back naturally, trim them off to keep the plant vigorous. Prune back the green vine stems to encourage side shoots to grow.

Why are the pitchers on my pitcher plant turning brown?

When your Pitcher Plant has dry or brown pitchers, it is likely not getting enough water, in an area of low humidity, or a combination of both. Pitcher Plants require consistent moisture and high humidity in order to thrive.

How do you repot a hanging pitcher plant?

Pitcher plants, like other plants, do best when you repot them early in the spring before they have a chance to produce new growth. When your plant is still dormant, right before the spring arrives, remove it from its pot and gently remove as much planting medium as you can using a chopstick or other small object.

Should I let my pitcher plant flower?

Unlike the pitchers, which are deadly to visiting insects, pitcher plant flowers are perfectly harmless. ... In fact, the flowers function like regular flowers by providing insects (mostly bees) with nectar and pollen.

Should I fill my pitcher plant with water?

Most of the experienced growers have so many plants, they don't have the time for this kind of shenanigans. ... Since these plants do much of their digestion via bacteria, you should probably keep the pitchers filled with a bit of water at all times so the bacterial populations are healthy.

Why does my pitcher plant have no pitchers?

Failure to produce pitchers is an indication that the plant isn't receiving adequate light. ... Water and potting mix – Pitcher plants don't appreciate the minerals and additives in tap water. If possible, give them only filtered or distilled water. Better yet, collect rainwater and use it to water your pitcher plant.

How long do pitcher plants live?

Tropical Pitcher plants live for many years, often ranging from 10-20 years. The plant can take 5-10 years to flower and it will have new shoots growing each year that turn into rosettes.

How do you revive a dying pitcher plant?

Re: Dying/dried out pitcher plant

Pitchers drying up is a normal process but all of them drying up at the same time is generally a sign that it was not being kept in good conditions at the store which is pretty common. Just keep it watered with mineral free water and by a window with part sun.

How often should I feed my pitcher plant?

Pitcher Plants are probably the easiest carnivorous plants to feed. During their active growing season, drop bugs, fish food, or fertilizer pellets in a few of the pitchers every 2-3 weeks.

Do pitcher plants need direct sunlight?

Pitcher plants must be kept wet and can even grow in water gardens. The plants need boggy, moist soil and will perform well at the margins of a pond or bog garden. Pitcher plants thrive in full sun to light shade.

Do pitcher plants go dormant?

Pitcher plant dormancy requires the chilling period and then warm temperatures that signal it to break dormancy. The chilling requirement is important for all species of Sarracenia to signal when it is time to begin growing again. ... Potted species of S. purpurea can stay outdoors in a sheltered location.

How big do pitcher plants get?

Pitcher plants are herbaceous perennials; they blossom in spring, then wither and go dormant in winter. They grow in clumps and can spread to several feet in diameter. Depending on the variety, pitchers can be 6 inches to more than 36 inches tall.

Do pitcher plants like to be root bound?

Nepenthes usually have relatively small/shallow root systems, so they only tend to get root bound in smaller pots. That said, soil does compact, get old, and start to decompose. ... A fresh batch of soil is like a new pair of running shoes – comfortable, odorless, and encouraging of healthy behaviors.

Can you propagate a pitcher plant?

Propagating pitcher plants can be done by tissue culture, seed, or stem cuttings. Rooting cuttings is the more common method for a home gardener. Pitcher plant cuttings must be taken at the right time of the year and from a mature plant.

Can I feed my pitcher plant dead bugs?

Feeding Carnivorous Plants. ... You can use live or dead bugs to feed these plants. However, some carnivorous plants like Venus flytraps will only eat live bugs unless otherwise motivated.

Do pitcher plants eat mosquitoes?

The pitcher plant, also known as trumpet leaf, doesn't repel mosquitoes; it attracts and eats them and uses them as nutrients to grow. It's often grown as a curiosity plant because of its insectivorous nature. ... Venus flytraps, which eat many types of insects, including mosquitoes.

Are pitcher plants Hardy?

They and their less hardy relations are plants with fleshy rosettes of light green leaves, covered with dew-producing glands. Leaves are produced in spring and most species die back or die down completely in autumn. Large, showy flowers are produced. Some species are hardy; others need greenhouse conditions.

What is the liquid inside a pitcher plant?

The small bodies of liquid contained within the pitcher traps are called phytotelmata. They drown the insect, whose body is gradually dissolved. This may occur by bacterial action (the bacteria being washed into the pitcher by rainfall), or by enzymes secreted by the plant itself.

Will a pitcher plant eat fruit flies?

2. Pitcher plant. Don't let its tall elegance fool you, this plant is a living, breathing, fly-eating machine. Fruit flies aren't the only thing on a pitcher plants menu; it's also efficient at catching wasps and bees.