Total newbie-getting started in pitcher plants

15 years ago

On a garden tour last year, one of the homes had an old clawfoot tub in the yard with pitcher plants in it. The homeowner was very busy talking to visitors and I had to leave before I could ask her about her display. I would love to have something like this in my garden but am having trouble finding info on how to set this up. Hers was in dappled shade but I read that carnivorous plants need full sun. Being in Georgia, I worry that full sun here isn't the right environment. I believe the "wild" sarracenia here in Georgia is in swampy areas which is somewhat shady, am I right?

Anyway, would love help on how to get started. Is using my antique galvanized tub a good idea or am I all wrong to get started? Also, can one mix different sarracenias in one place? I'd like a few colors. The tub I'm going to use is about a 4 foot oval and is about 30inches deep.

Thanks all,

Annette

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Comments (15)

tommyr_gw Zone 6
15 years ago
You could use almost anything to grow them in. They can stand full sun no problem. Use a 50/50 mix of peat moss and perlite. Rainwater or distilled water only. They can grow in pots too. I would recommend pots or small tubs that can sit in larger trays with an inch or two of one of the above mentioned waters in it. Get the Book "The Savage garden", LOTS of great info in there!

Also check out these links:

http://www.pitcherplant.com/care_sheets/sarrac_care.html

http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/295_pitcher-plant.htm
(lots of videos here!)
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
15 years ago
tommyr, thanks so much for the great links. I've watched 5 of the videos already and will watch more tomorrow.
Will put the book on my birthday list (next month).
So are there any specific retailers I should look into to purchase online?
Thanks again,
Annette
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petiolaris
15 years ago
Also some of us hobbyists have extra plants.
tommyr_gw Zone 6
15 years ago
There are several great places to get plants online:

http://cobraplant.com/index.php

http://www.flytraps.com/Scripts/default.asp

http://www.californiacarnivores.com/

http://www.equilibriocarnivorousplants.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
ccoombs1
15 years ago
Ebay is a good place to get some small plants to get started. That's where I got many of mine...I also traded hostas for plants. Now I have gotten hooked and want some of the more exotic, rare varieties. I need to make another bog. Of all the gardens I have on my property, I think my bog is my favorite.
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
15 years ago
Oddly enough I went to the Georgia Hosta Society Annual sale this past Saturday and was thrilled to find a woman selling Pitcher Plants. I bought 4 to get myself started and will post pics when I get them into their new home.
Annette
tommyr_gw Zone 6
15 years ago
Please DO post the photos as there are 2 kinds of pitcher plants, Nepenthes which are tropical and Sarrs which are not. Which type you bought is really important as for the care they get!
petiolaris
15 years ago
Just in case you're not sure, here is a picture of baby Sarrs I recently spouted, with a stray:

{{gwi:553019}}

Sarr Seedlings:

{{gwi:553022}}

Asian (Nepenthes) pitcher plants:

{{gwi:553024}}
krista_the_pixie
15 years ago
Wow, this is the same question I was about to ask. I live a lot further north, in Ohio, but pitcher plants grow wild here as well. I had recently seen them for sale and had been thinking about trying to grow some outdoors, but I didn't know what I should do. Now I have some ideas.

As for where to get them, I saw them at Lowe's (which you probably have in your state as well) but I do NOT know if they're the tropical variety or the temperate variety. I will check the species name when I go there tonight.
petiolaris
15 years ago
Lowes typically has both. I have gotten what has turned out to be N. sanguinea{{gwi:546278}} and the more common N. ventrata. {{gwi:547541}}

Those are tropical (Asian)pitcher plants. The American (temperate) ones will be S. purpurea, which are likely what you are seeing in Ohio.

{{gwi:430447}}

As well as rubra and Judith Hindle. These all came from Lowes and Home Depot, a few years ago.
Annette Holbrook(z7a)
Original Author
15 years ago
Here they are!
Annette
{{gwi:553027}}
tommyr_gw Zone 6
15 years ago
Nice Annette! Keep them in full sun and only use Rainwater or distilled water.
tommyr_gw Zone 6
15 years ago
Just to note, I bought a Sarr Judith Hindel and Scarrlet bell yesterday at Lowes. In the large sized "death cubes".
petiolaris
15 years ago
Looking real good!
the_mikado
15 years ago
Hey - I'm in North Alabama - you shouldn't have any trouble growing pitchers outside. Flava and purpurea (both of which it appears you purchased) grow very well here. If I can borrow a camera, I'll get a few shots of my bog garden and post them. If I can figure out how. ha

I'm not as crazy about a lot of the hybrids, as some of them aren't quite stout enough. I do love the cross between minor and leucophylla, though. And I have a few alata crosses that do very well, also.

Certain rubra species do just fine here, too.

"Savage Garden" is a GREAT book...I've met the author, and he knows his stuff (surprisingly, he remembered something I'd written for the Carnivorous Plants Newsletter back in the 1980's, so we're mutual admirers, I guess...).

Now, I have not read Barry Rice's "Growing Carnivorous Plants," but I expect great things. It came out last year, when I'd been hospitalized and tending to plants at all was rather difficult. However, I've met him, too (he also remembered the article) and he is both knowledgeable and personable. I will go out not on a branch but a pitcher leaf and say I'm sure it will be a wonderful companion to "Savage Garden."

Armed with the knowledge of Peter and Barry, you should be able to grow any number of plants.

I love the idea of the clawfoot tub and was looking into it, myself. Provided you are friends with Kong and Godzilla, you could also take it with you if you ever moved.

I may have to visit Lowe's and Home Depot, too. If only to rescue carnivores. Those sorts of places, along with grocery stores and nurseries who know zilch about CP, are notorious for underwatering them and leaving them to fend/die for themselves...

Also, if you get any flytraps, don't bother feeding them hamburger. The smaller ones can't even CATCH cattle.

Here's a link to info on Barry's book:

http://www.sarracenia.com/faq.html

Total newbie-getting started in pitcher plants

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tommyr_gw Zone 6

Annette Holbrook(z7a)
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Total newbie-getting started in pitcher plants

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Annette Holbrook(z7a)Original Author

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