Sarracenia

 

Sarracenia purpurea

 

The hood has needle like stucture which impede the insects to escape when they try to come out from the plant mouth

Description 

It is a carnivorous plant native to North America. 

The plant has adapted to the soil without nutrients. The leaves represent those pitchers, white rhizome is under the moss. 

The rhizome can be seen on the surface, from which the plant divides itself and the roots have a ladder shape which take water from the soil.

The flower stalk can reach up to 10 cm in diameter and the flower can stay open for about two weeks (in early spring you can self-pollinate manually). 

The flowers are white or red.

The pitchers attract the insects (the insects are attracted by the color, the smell of the flowers and the nectar).

The nectar is at the base of the "cover" and thus the insects can no longer come out of the "tube", being stopped from their way to freedom by some "spikes" also at the base of the "tube".

Soil

Ordinary soil is not used, but only peat moss or mixed with sphagnum moss. Must not contain any fertilizer.

The pot must be at least 15 cm (it can be at least 15 cm wide, but at least 15 cm deep) and plastic material, not iron or clay pots and not transparent. 

In winter, it must be sheltered in the house for 2 years, if you do not want the plant to enter dormancy or has been barely germinated (young at least) if not, put it to sleep (dormancy), as is normal or in the refrigerator. 

The plant dies at low temperatures and grows again, from the rhizome, in spring.

 

Light 

Sunlight is better. 

Leave the plant in a sunny window with as much light as possible and if it is not enough, use at least 36w fluorescent tube, 6500 k and starting from 3050 lumens, about 14 - 16 hours.

When the plant grows, the light will not be enough because it no longer reaches the sides of the leaves, in the case of artificial light.

You can still place the artificial light vertically though, but it is a bit difficult or you can buy smaller dwarf species or wait until larger species grow under neon and move them in a sun light area.

You will see in the window if there is not enough light and as for the duration, the plant starts to show signs of not growing, but it will not die so quickly.

Water 

Use only distilled or demineralised water (ordinary water is too hard with minerals and kills the carnivorous plant). You can also use water from melted snow, using it at room temperature. 

If, for example, you collect 5 plastic bottles of 6 or 8 liters each (go a few times in a field somewhere) and you will use water about half a liter per week, it will last almost a year, without you have to buy distilled water, for a few plants.

The peatmoss must always be moist, unlike nepenthes. You can water from the top, but best from the bottom, because the distilled water you put in a saucer (the pot is on the plate) is absorbed by the soil. 

Food

The leaves in the form of "tubes" attract prey. Insects are attracted by color, the smell of flowers and nectar. 

If the pitchers are filled with insects, they can tilt on a side. Do not use ordinary meat or worms. 

I had no snails digested, but a small snail appeared on the edge of the pitcher and was waiting for something (something besides imminent death). 

Flying insects in the house (I mean vinegar flies, gnats) can escape. Wingless insects are more likely to die, but I have a spider patiently waiting with its net made between the pitchers, for insects.

Jumping spider avoids being eaten.