skip to main content

1st Picture Plant, growing advice?

18 years ago

I just purchased my 1st picture plant:

Sarracenia 'Lady Bug'

I do not have any care instructions on this plant. Any adivce on how to grow these in zone 7b area of NC would be greatly appreciated.

The nursey where I purchased these from where basically clueless and no help!

Thanks everyone.

NCGardengirl

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

plantfreak
18 years ago
NC Gardengirl, your plant is a hybrid between three species of Sarracenia: purpurea, psittacina, and minor. It needs to be wet during the warm months starting in April and ending around October. The rest of the year it is not in active growth and it's a good idea to just keep it moist to avoid rot. This is a true acidic bog plant and needs specific conditions to thrive. They are:

50% sand/50% peat moss for the growing medium

An undrained container to grow in; however the top 3-5" should be above water line. Most people create a small bog garden by choosing any plastic container with no drainage holes at the bottom, and a couple towards the top of it. Thus a reservoir is created at the bottom keeping the whole thing wet.

Sunny conditions; at least 4-5 hours daily, more is better

Water that is relatively mineral free; rainwater being the best. Artificially softened water is the worst, and should not be used. If tap water is used, it should have stood for a day to release all the chorine in it.

There is much to say about growing these plants correctly. I'd place your little bog garden on a sunny porch or the like and let nature do the watering, but be careful during dry spells since it can dry out and kill your plant. Also, these plants need a winter dormancy, so leave it outside unprotected year round. The plant will grow new pitchers in the spring.

Here's a link showing my bog garden this spring. Good Luck. PF

Here is a link that might be useful: My Bog Garden
just_curious
18 years ago
Nice link, good use of cranberries in bloom in the background.
Related Discussions
ficus elastica... it's 1st overdue haircut. long with pictures.
Q
Comments (7)
Dear Amber, Just to reassure you, as Al (Tapla) is too modest a fellow to toot his own horn; but his recommendations have been a great help to LOTS of us here. While his recommendation may sound dramatic, you are in the best possible hands when it comes to Ficus care in particular. Al is a kindly, very knowledgeable fellow who shares his knowledge generously w/ any who cares to read & learn. Over the years I've benefitted greatly from reading his posts. He is variously known here for posts on Ficus Care, Soil Mixes (a VERY popular discussion of his which has helped LOTS more people) & the Perched Water Table (my personal favorite) which has been especially helpful to me & my Hoyas. I found it exciting to see the plants behaving exactly as he predicted. I expect you'll have a good experience w/ whichever of his good counsel you choose to follow. Hi Al, Sorry I haven't gotten back to you of late, but as usual, I'm appreciating you & your fine efforts from afar. (PG) Karen
...See More
1st time growing Black Cherry etc advice please
Q
Comments (10)
Well, I just got my plants from E & R, an Amish company in Indiana.I wasn't able to insert a picture but have posted a link to a picture of them. See how much smaller the Black Cherry plant is on the far left? Next to it is Cherokee Black, which is taller. Then you will see a Caspian Pink out of its 3-pack and a Sweet Little Girl (already with bloom) out of its 3-pack. Surely they didn't send the wrong, mislabeled plant. Does it start out so small and then make up for it big time? I thought these were a good deal. No minimum purchase. The two 3-packs were $1.99 each and the individual plants were $2.25 each. It was the shipping that was killing: $8.35, for a grand total of $21.33 for 6 plants (I also got two ground cherry plants.) But $3.56 a plant isn't bad. Here is a link that might be useful:
...See More
Need Suggestions/Advice...1st time trying indoor germniation
Q
Comments (1)
The problem with that clear glass dome is that there is no way to get rid of excess heat that builds up under plastic when the sun is shining on it. That is unless you can leave that window open. That would get rid of the excess heat during the day and heat it a bit at night or you could move the plants inside for the night and close the window. You can't leave a heat mat under seedlings because it would cook the roots. One concern is the different germination temperatures for snaps and tomatoes. Putting snaps on a heating mat will kill the seeds. Snaps germinate at 60-65 degrees and tomatoes at 70 -75 degrees. They also have different starting dates. Snaps take longer to grow into a transplantable plant than tomatoes and must be started earlier than tomatoes. Snaps seedlings also can't take as much sun as tomato seedlings and like to be shaded during the heat of the day. If you think it will work then try it but choose a flower that is compatible with the growing conditions of your tomatoes. Petunias or Salvia would be a good choice. However I think it would be better to sprout them inside so you can keep an eye on moisture and they'd have an even temperature for germinating.
...See More
odsrandy's 2016 (and 1st!) Pepper Grow Log
Q
Comments (18)
Time for another update! The 3 Scorpions and the Peter have now been fully hardened off. They have VERY rapidly shot up and are ready to be potted up to their final home in 5 gallon buckets. The 4th scorpion, the runt of the litter, I decided to throw into the same 27 gallon tote as my habs as a final shot at some growth. It seems to be enjoying it and actually grew a tad as well. My Bhuts just keep coming and coming. I have about 16 pods currently on the plant as we speak. My habanero plant is by far my best producer at the moment, currently holding upwards of 40 pods on the plant. It's hard to tell from the bad picture, but they're there. And my newest addition to the "family," for my reaper seedling, I decided to take a shot at hydroponics. For no other reason than an opportunity to learn and explore something new. I have him in a simple, single site, 5 gallon DWC system. More updates to come on that road as well. I apologize for another novel of an update, and thanks for listening! -Randy
...See More
kwoods
18 years ago
PF your bog is wonderful! I missed it on the other forum. I can see your "style" in it! Very clean, controlled... the antithesis of my wild, exhuberant "style". I LOVE it!

Maybe a bit intimidating for the beginner? You can also use the tried and true water tray method. Put the plastic pot your plant came in into a saucer filled w/ distilled or rain water. Let the water wick from the tray into the plant's medium. Make sure you always have at least a bit of water in the tray. These guys need lots of broad spectrum light so outdoors is best. Put the pot in the ground and mulch a bit for winter dormancy.

By the way coastal North Carolina is the best place on planet earth to build a CP bog! Try and visit some bogs where these guys grow in the wild, or visit the JC Raulston Arboretum, they have an amazing collection.
kwoods
18 years ago
Oh also...

It's "pitcher" like a pitcher of water.

And, If you do indeed have ladybug it's a good one to start with, I have found it to be very robust and reliable, I'm in a colder zone 7 than you. Warning, if you do well with this one you are going to want more, LOTS MORE.

Good Luck!
ncgardengirl
Original Author
18 years ago
UPDATE:
IT IS BLOOMING!! WAHOOOO!!!!!!
kakozord
18 years ago
If you want to know more about Pitcher plants and the like - take a look at the Carnivorous Plants forum:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/carnivor/?2231

Cheers

Kyle

Related Stories

HOUSEPLANTS 10 Top Plants to Grow Indoors

Brighten a room and clean the air with a houseplant that cascades artfully, stretches toward the ceiling or looks great on a wall

HEALTHY HOME How to Childproof Your Home: Expert Advice

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Safety strategies, Part 1: Get the lowdown from the pros on which areas of the home need locks, lids, gates and more

FARM YOUR YARD Advice on Canyon Farming From L.A.'s Vegetable Whisperer

By Annie Thornton

See how a screened garden house and raised beds help an edible garden in a Los Angeles canyon thrive

LIFE Edit Your Photo Collection and Display It Best — a Designer's Advice

By Apartment 46 for the Home

Learn why formal shots may make better album fodder, unexpected display spaces are sometimes spot-on and much more

EDIBLE GARDENS Summer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes

By Marianne Lipanovich

Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard

DECORATING GUIDES 10 Design Tips Learned From the Worst Advice Ever

By Mitchell Parker

If these Houzzers’ tales don’t bolster the courage of your design convictions, nothing will

BATHROOM DESIGN Dreaming of a Spa Tub at Home? Read This Pro Advice First

By By Any Design Ltd.

Before you float away on visions of jets and bubbles and the steamiest water around, consider these very real spa tub issues

GARDENING GUIDES 7 New Plants to Grow for Beautiful Foliage

Add color, structure and interest to your garden with these recently introduced plants that sport exceptional foliage

LIFE Get the Family to Pitch In: A Mom’s Advice on Chores

By Alison Hodgson

Foster teamwork and a sense of ownership about housekeeping to lighten your load and even boost togetherness

GARDENING GUIDES Grow a Beautiful Fall Garden in a Pot

Welcome autumn with 7 gorgeous plants that thrive in containers and enliven your porch or patio throughout the cooler season

Sponsored