Repotting Pitcher Plants How To Repot Pitcher Plants

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.

What kind of soil does a pitcher plant need?

Potted pitcher plants need to be in well-drained soils. Use any type of pot for indoor plants and provide a low fertility mixture in which the plants will grow. For instance, the potted pitcher plant thrives in a mixture of peat moss, bark and vermiculite. The pot can be small and they can even do well in a terrarium.

Can you divide pitcher plants?

Well cared for Sarracenia need to be divided about every three years. Even plants in a bog benefit from division. Sarracenia like to grow into open soil and you will get your best pitchers on the edge of the clump.

How do you make pitcher plant soil?

Make a new pitcher plant soil mixture out of sand, horticultural charcoal, sphagnum moss and peat moss. Keep the ratios 2:1 for moss and sand/charcoal. Perlite and milled bark can also be used in place of horticultural sand and peat moss. Mix the ingredients of the soil mixture together thoroughly.

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.

Should you fill pitcher plants 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.

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.

Should I repot my 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. ... Stand the pitcher plant in a new plastic planter and gently drop planting mix into the pot to cover the roots.

Should I prune 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.

How do you take cuttings from a pitcher plant?

Cuttings from mature plants with actively growing stems work best. When the plant begins to produce vining stems, harvest a climbing stalk that has a basal rosette. Use a clean, sharp razor and take the stem just below a lower leaf with a growth bud. Count 3 nodes and make your cut.

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 do you keep a pitcher plant alive?

Set the pots in a tray or saucer, and keep water in it at all times. Pitcher plants can grow in soggy soil with the water level in the saucer as deep as 1/2 the pot, but most carnivorous plants prefer damp to wet soil, so keep the water at about 1/4 inch and refill as soon as it is nearly gone.

Can I use sand instead of perlite?

Sand is an excellent alternative to perlite because it does not hold onto water and provides sharp drainage. However, it is not comparable in weight because it is much heavier.

Is my pitcher plant dying?

Is My Pitcher Plant Dying? More than likely, your pitcher plant is just getting older; browning or yellowing pitcher plants are perfectly normal even when plants have received excellent care. As individual pitchers age, they may start to yellow, then brown and collapse.

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 often should you water a pitcher plant?

Nepenthes like to remain moist but not flooded. This is best accomplished by top watering them 2-3 times per week. The shallow tray method can be used when going out of town. Fill the tray with about 1” of water and then allow the tray to dry out for a couple days before refilling.

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.

What kind of bugs do pitcher plants eat?

Pitcher plants (Sarracenia, Nepenthes, Cephalotus, etc.) capture foraging insects, especially flies, moths, wasps, butterflies, beetles, and ants.

Can 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. ... If you move plants after the pitchers are full, do so carefully. Partially digested food from a spilled pitcher smells atrocious.

How do you take care of a pitcher plant indoors?

How to Care for Pitcher Plant Indoors

Light – If possible, refer to the tag that came with your pitcher plant, as sunlight requirements vary depending on the species. ...
Water – When growing pitcher plant indoors, water as needed to keep the potting soil moist, but not soggy.

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.

How do you grow carnivorous plants in pots?

A shallow layer of long fiber sphagnum moss in the bottom of the pot will help keep soil from coming through the pot holes. Add Carnivorous Plant soil to the plastic pot, and gently pack it down. The soil level should be to the top of the pot.

How do you make soil for carnivorous plants?

Soils. Garden soil is not suitable for carnivorous plants. The preferred media for most are live sphagnum moss, dried long-fiber sphagnum moss or a mix of about three parts peat moss to one part clean, sharp sand.