Sarracenia Care
How to Care for Sarracenia Pitcher Plant
Sarracenia, also known as the North American pitcher plant or trumpet pitcher plant, is an easy to grow carnivorous plant. Follow these simple steps to make your pitcher plant thrive!
North American Pitcher Plant Light Requirements
Sarracenia thrives in bright, direct sunlight. During the growing season (Spring to late autumn), it's best to place them outdoors or on a sunny windowsill, preferably south-facing. Alternatively, they can be grown under high-intensity fluorescent, LED, or halogen grow lights for at least 14-16 hours a day, ensuring a robust appearance. In winter, if using lights, shorten the photoperiod to 12 hours. Insufficient light may result in long, greenish leaves, and weak growth.
What is a photoperiod?
A photoperiod is the duration of time that a plant or animal is exposed to light within a 24-hour period.
Pitcher Plant Temperature and Humidity
During spring and summer, Sarracenia thrive in temperatures of 55-95°F, tolerating up to 110°F if the soil remains moist. In arid desert regions, provide shade during the hottest parts of the day. In late autumn and winter, move Sarracenia to cooler areas with reduced light to induce dormancy, enduring down to 20°F.
Watering North American Pitcher Plants
Sarracenia need pure water sourced from rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.
How to Water Sarracenia Pitcher Plants
Ensure your Sarracenia remains consistently moist by using the tray watering method. Place the pot in a tray with water about 1 inch deep, allowing it to dry out before adding more water to maintain healthy roots.
Best Soil for Sarracenia Pitcher Plants
Sarracenia must have a particular kind of soil that is poor in nutrients and acidic. They will very likely die in "potting soil" or soil from your garden. 50% pure peat moss and 50% perlite or sand is best. See our soil mixing guide for more information.
How to Pot Sarracenia Pitcher Plants
After mixing your soil, add water to the mix to create a paste-like consistency. This is important as peat moss is hydrophobic and will be difficult to water if not soaked first. Place the mix in your pot, create a hole in the center, and set your plant inside until the bottom leaves reach the base of the soil. Fill in the remaining gaps.
Repotting Sarracenia Pitcher Plants
Sarracenia should be repotted every 2 years. If they are growing happily, the rhizome will have outgrown the pot so much that it might fall over or bend the pot.
Feeding Sarracenia Pitcher Plants
For outdoor Sarracenia with fully opened pitchers, they'll catch their own prey. If grown indoors under lights, feed them a dead insect once a month. Alternatively, you can fill their pitchers with a diluted liquid fertilizer such as Maxsea, but be cautious not to overfill, as it may cause bending or breakage. Note: This method is not recommended for beginners.
Sarracenia Dormancy
Sarracenia requires a rest period during the cooler months to adapt to reduced light levels. Growth slows down, and new pitcher production decreases. Keep them cool, ideally between 35°F to 55°F at night, to discourage pests. While they can withstand temperatures down to the low 20's, it's best to keep them above freezing. They may appear dormant or almost dead on the surface, but if not dried out or overwatered, they'll thrive again in early Spring when warmer temperatures return.
Attention Holiday Season Buyers: If your Sarracenia arrives during winter and is still actively growing, it's best to let it continue. Young Sarracenia can tolerate missing one dormancy season, but more than that can stress the trumpet pitcher plant to the point of demise. Keep in mind that plants skipping dormancy may experience a mild dormancy period in the following spring/summer.
If you follow the above tips, you'll be well on your way to growing healthy and happy Sarracenia! Note: Temperate American sundews and Venus flytraps can be grown alongside Sarracenia under the same conditions.
Need more information? See our growing tips and care guides.