- Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:37 am
#318492
I bought a Sarracenia pitcher plant at Kew Gardens a couple of weeks back, the instructions with it were basic at best, so thank goodness for the internet!
I have purchased distilled water from Halfords (because rainwater is pretty much non-existant in London this summer!), which it seems to be quite happy with as its already grown several new pitchers and nearly doubled in size since I bought it! Its on a windowsill in the kitchen (the only sunny spot of our flat) and is next to the kettle - I figured the steam from the kettle might be favourable? I've not given it any plant food. I hope that flying bugs will be attracted enough to my plant to be consumed but what signs would the plant show if it needs to be fed artificially?
My main concern is whether it needs to be transplanted into a bigger pot already. I read that you should ideally repot them during their dormant season, however is mine too overcrowded in its current pot and needing transplanting sooner rather than later (seen photos of some with many more pitchers to a pot, so hoping its OK as is?)
Also - silly question - but how to get the plant out of its current pot - I would usually hold a plant pot upside down to tap it out carefully, can you do that with pitcher plants (visions in my mind of partially digested bugs falling out! ) I bought carnivorous plant compost from Kew at the same time. I've not examined what it contains yet, but assuming that anything sold at Kew Gardens would be appropriate.
Anything else I need to know? I read the care sheet on this forum and was a little concerned about aphids - found some this morning on a mint plant in another part of my kitchen which I've been trying to remove, didn't consider they might be damaging to pitcher plants too. Obviously don't want to use bug killer, so if any do get on my sarracenia, do I just try to wipe them off?
I have purchased distilled water from Halfords (because rainwater is pretty much non-existant in London this summer!), which it seems to be quite happy with as its already grown several new pitchers and nearly doubled in size since I bought it! Its on a windowsill in the kitchen (the only sunny spot of our flat) and is next to the kettle - I figured the steam from the kettle might be favourable? I've not given it any plant food. I hope that flying bugs will be attracted enough to my plant to be consumed but what signs would the plant show if it needs to be fed artificially?
My main concern is whether it needs to be transplanted into a bigger pot already. I read that you should ideally repot them during their dormant season, however is mine too overcrowded in its current pot and needing transplanting sooner rather than later (seen photos of some with many more pitchers to a pot, so hoping its OK as is?)
Also - silly question - but how to get the plant out of its current pot - I would usually hold a plant pot upside down to tap it out carefully, can you do that with pitcher plants (visions in my mind of partially digested bugs falling out! ) I bought carnivorous plant compost from Kew at the same time. I've not examined what it contains yet, but assuming that anything sold at Kew Gardens would be appropriate.
Anything else I need to know? I read the care sheet on this forum and was a little concerned about aphids - found some this morning on a mint plant in another part of my kitchen which I've been trying to remove, didn't consider they might be damaging to pitcher plants too. Obviously don't want to use bug killer, so if any do get on my sarracenia, do I just try to wipe them off?