American Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia) Care Sheet
Lighting
Sarracenias (Pitcher Plants) need strong light. They like a sunny location in the yard with a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight. If grown indoors they need a very sunny window and/or to be 2 to 4 inches directly under a fluorescent light that is on for 12 to 18 hours a day.
Water
Do not water Sarracenia with tap water, purified water, drinking water, or mineral water because these kinds of water will kill you Pitcher Plant. They must have Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water only. You can buy Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water at the water store or grocery store. Just check the fine print to make sure it doesn’t have anything else added to it. Put your Sarracenia’s pot in a bowl or saucer. Fill up the bowl or saucer with Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water to about half way up the pot. When the water evaporates to near the bottom of the container refill it back to about 2/5ths the way up the pot again. Never let the Sarracenia’s soil dry out.
Feeding
Sarracenias can eat 1 live insect a week that can easily fit into their traps. If you grow your Sarracenia outside you do not need to feed it all. It will catch bugs on its own. Don’t use fertilizers for your Sarracenia.
Leaf/Trap Growth
If your Sarracenia is shedding its lower leaves don’t worry this is normal, as long as there is also fresh new healthy leaves with traps emerging.
Potting
To pot up your Sarracenia first put your long fibered sphagnum moss in a bowl with Reverse Osmosis or Distilled water. Make sure to loosen the fibers and mix it around in the bowl to help it hydrate. Then use this as your potting soil for your Sarracenia. You don’t need to firmly pack it into your pot. It is better if it is loose and airy. Sarracenias can grow larger and may need a larger pot in the future.
Dormancy
Every Winter Sarracenias need to go dormant. If you grow your Sarracenia indoors or you get more than a light frost where you live you will need to put it in your refrigerator for the winter. Do not put it back outside until the last frost is over. When Sarracenias go dormant their Fall leaves dry up and turn black and they grow small leaves or no leaves for all of Winter. If you see this happen to your Sarracenia in November to December don’t throw your Sarracenia away. They are supposed to die down every Winter. They will regrow right back every Spring and maybe make a flower for you too.
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