Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants that grow in nutrient-poor soils. They have long, hollow leaves which form a pitcher shape and secrete nectar to attract insects. Once the prey falls inside the “pitcher,” it is unable to escape and will eventually drown. The best way for beginner growers to take care of a pitcher plant is by providing them with an acidic soil mixture such as peat moss or sphagnum moss, good drainage, and plenty of sunlight. These tips will help ensure your pitcher plant’s success!
Before anyone could start with growing pitcher plants, it is a must to know a few things regarding this plant species. It is essential to know the different types of pitcher plants to know and understand more information about it and to take care of it properly. Pitcher plant has a lot of species and sub-species that grows in different parts of the world. We can categorize this plant into five different types, and each of them has a unique way of growing.
To learn more about Pitcher Plants, you may read also one of our articles as well: Pitcher Plant: 5 Coolest Variety/Cultivars
Taking Care of North American Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia)
Sarracenia is famous with the name of trumpet pitchers and has 8 to 11 species under it. This plant usually grows in warm to temperate areas and prefers locations with a distinct summer and winter season. Sarracenia can be often seen in coastal regions of the south-eastern part of the United States.
Each type of pitcher plants have different means of survival and taking care of each species should also be based on that. As for Sarracenia, it is not an easy thing to grow it. But some tricks were discovered to help growers in cultivating this plant.
To learn how to take care of Sarracenia, read this: Best Practices to Care for Sarracenia Leucophylla
To start planting, you should give appropriate attention to the soil mixture. The soil mixture should be peat and sand in equal portions. For best results, we recommend sphagnum peat and the sand should be coarse. Grain-Like size sand would be the best option for this.
Another thing to consider is the salt content in the soil mixture. Make sure to soak your sand in purified water before mixing it to the peat to remove salt contents. The most appropriate time to start planting Sarracenia seeds is during fall and should be planted 6 inches below the ground. Make sure to shield it from heavy rain up until its fully matured.
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How to Take Care of Tropical Pitcher Plants?
Nepenthes can be usually seen in areas surrounding Malayan archipelago. We can see a lot of species of Nepenthes in places such as the Philippines, Sumatra, Madagascar, India and many more. However, most of Nepenthes plants exist in Borneo. This type of pitcher plant contains more than 170 species.
Growing Nepenthes is very challenging. That is why most growers prefer to buy hybrid plants or cuttings of Nepenthes because of a low survival rate of developing it from seeds for beginners.
However, with proper training and knowledge regarding this plant, the result is very fulfilling. It will take around three to five years for this plant to bloom from seed fully. This seed needs a lot of tending because of its vulnerability to freezing at a short period. As soon as you got the seeds, you need to plant it immediately. You need a different medium to plant these seeds, and it’s very complex. A chopped live sphagnum moss would be an excellent option to grow the seeds. If sphagnum moss is not available, you can use coir (coco peat). If your medium is ready, you can sprinkle the seeds and spray it with pure water right after. Make sure to put the pots in the plastic and temperature should be at 80 to 90 degree Fahrenheit. Make sure your containers are under a fluorescent lamp. You can start repotting after two years.
Here’s another article we’ve written for caring Tropical Sundews; another Carnivorous plant along with the Pitcher plant: Tropical Sundew Care Guide
Taking Care of West Australian Pitcher Plants (Cephalotus)
Cephalotus is one type of pitcher plant with one species under it which is Cephalotus follicularis. You can find this plant in some districts in the southern part of Australia. This species prefers a warm temperature up to 25 degree Celsius.
Among other types of pitcher plants, this type does not require too much attention. The soil mixture for Cephalotus should be 75% sand and 25% peat or sphagnum if available. This mixture is suitable for this type because it can quickly drain water.
The primary cause why Cephalotus plants die is because of root rot, and too much water exposure is one contributing factor. Applying a quarter or half-inch of sand at the topsoil will help in maintaining the dryness of the crown-making it less vulnerable for moss growth. Proper lighting would greatly help in the growth and appearance of the Cephalotus.
Taking Care of the Sun Pitchers (Heliamphora)
Heliamphora consists of more than 20 species of pitcher plants, and this species is among the rarest compare to the others. This type of pitcher plants can only be found in the Guiana Highlands of Venezuela and some areas in Guyana and Brazil.
This type is one of the hardest pitcher plants to cultivate because of its temperature requirement. Heliamphora prefers a cool to warm temperature with a high level of humidity.
A mixture of sphagnum moss, lava rock, perlite, and pumice is the soil substrate that experts suggest for better growth of Heliamphora. It is a must to keep the soil substrate moist and well-drained all the time. This species needs to be well-lighted as well, but it is okay with the artificial type of lighting.
Taking Care of the Cobra Lily (Darlingtonia)
Darlingtonia California is another type of pitcher plant that grows in bogs or streambanks fed by mountain waters. It usually survives in southern areas of Oregon and the northern part of California.
It is termed as Cobra Lily because it resembles the shape of the Cobra snake.
Just like Sun Pitchers, Cobra Lily requires particular temperatures to survive, making it hard to cultivate. In growing Cobra Lily, soil mixture should be five portions of peat and one portion of sand. You should place it in areas with partial sun or bright shade only. The humidity should also be high.
What We Learned While Writing How To Take Care Of A Pitcher Plant?
Pitcher plants come in different varieties, making it a good target for those who love to collect plants. Nonetheless, they all bloom beautifully making it an excellent medium for display. Growing it might be complicated, but with proper method and care, it is possible to develop and collect this plant species.
