FlytrapCare Carnivorous Plant Forums

The areas circled in blue ?

I cut into the excess of the old part of a rhizome and a few moths later it seems to have a red bump. Compare that to an existing growing plant, where I also see red pushing through. I am hopeful.
I know Sarracenia NW says to throw out the old rhizomes, but I’ve got time.

Isn't this something called rhizome propagation? I've heard that this is sometimes succesful at creating new plants. "The Savage Garden" says that notching or cutting the rhizome could create more growth points. If there is a bit of red poking out, its probaly still alive and growing.

It could be. I've got a couple of "blind" rhizomes, as I call it, that have formed those bumps. Then it threw out pitchers from a different area. I do always scar the rhizome with my fingernail as I have heard that helps. I have been very successful doing this.

I agree with Panman, it's a super successful way of propagation. I break off the back ends of old rhizomes, stick them under 1/2" or so of typical sarr soil, and by the end of the year I've got new growth points.

A few days have passed now I can see two distinct areas

Just an update.

Very timely post - I decided to keep a couple 'empty' rhizome chunks that occurred inadvertently during divisions. I'm encouraged by this update you've shared - and other folks' experience that have chimed in!

Last year, I sliced a rhizome in half lengthwise by mistake. (I really need to slow down and be more careful). It has tons of growth points this year.

Years ago, I read a post by someone who was exploring a field in southeastern North Carolina. At the entrance to this pine savanna was a massive clump of Sarracenia purpurea ssp. venosa about 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8 meters) in diameter. He discovered that when vehicles entered and exited the field, they would run over the unfortunate pitcher plant and break the rhizome into pieces. Each piece then sprouted a growth point. A few years of this produced a huge clump of plants.