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Sarracenia – Trumpet Pitcher Plants

In Chinese, trumpet pitcher plants signify ‘Bags of Peace’ – the more pitchers (bags) a plant has the more peace and happiness you will accumulate.


Sarracenia purpurea was named after Dr Michael Sarrazin, a surgeon and naturalist who lived in the 17th century. He was one of the first scientists to document and catalogue ecosystems in New France – an area that reached from the Gulf of Mexico all the way to the coast of what is now Canada. On discovery of these plants, he informed the academic community that the plant trapped and digested insects, but his theory was dismissed only to be later validated by Charles Darwin’s findings in 1875.

Commonly known as trumpet pitchers, this genus of North American pitcher plants has approximately 11 species. They grow from rhizomes and their upright pitchers – some reaching up to 1m in height – can survive winter temperatures down to -5°C and summers of up to 35°C. This makes it a perfect plant for beginners.

Unlike sundews, trumpet pitchers do not move to catch their prey. The passive, elongated modified leaf tubes, have intense veined colourations, luring prey towards the opening of the hooded funnels. Trapped by the waxy opening, prey slip down the mucus-coated walls into digestive enzymes and trapped rainwater. Fine hairs, facing downward, prevents their escape.

Many species have been hybridised and with a few basic requirements can be grown at home.

READ MORE: Do you want to learn more about carnivorous plants? Click here


Light

Trumpet pitchers need a minimum of 6 hours full sun per day. The sun ensures healthy, vibrant colouring of the pitchers.

Water and Soil

They have high water needs and should never be dry. Plant your trumpet pitcher in a plastic pot, with a soil mix of 2 parts processed sphagnum moss to 1 part perlite to ensure sufficient water holding capacity. Sarracenia fare best with bottom watering, so stand your pot in a plastic drip tray, keeping the drip tray filled with either distilled or rainwater. Because they grow in nutrient poor soil and have adapted to take up nutrients from prey, mineral build up from tap water can cause plants to deteriorate.

Humidity

They have average humidity requirements but if the air is too dry, pitchers will turn brown and die off.

Temperature

Trumpet pitchers do have a winter dormancy period. When the days get shorter and temperatures start to drop, the pitchers will dry out and die back. Do not be alarmed by this, it is normal. Once pitchers have dried, they can be cut off at the base of the plant. Keep your plant moist during this time. At the turn of winter into spring, the first sign of life will be a flower bearing stem. Depending on the species, flowers can be yellow, pink or red with some stalks reaching a height of up to 40cm. Resembling an upside-down umbrella surrounded by drooping petals, these flowers emerge before the new pitchers. They are not self-pollinating and a special selection of insects have the privilege of this function. As with normal flowers, pollen and nectar is produced, giving the carnivorous plant a reprieve from its hunting habits.

READ MORE: Find out more about the carnivorous Drosera Sundews here

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The Gardener