Carnivorous Plant Care for September 2009
September 4th, 2009North American Carnivorous Plants
* In some northern regions, it is not unusual to experience the first frost of the season by the end of the month. If so, avoid bringing your temperate carnivorous plants indoors. The frost is their signal to prepare for winter dormancy.
* Collect your flytrap seeds. Sow them now before the first frost hits, or place them in the refrigerator for sowing next spring. Germination will occur within 3 weeks.
* Sarracenia seedpods will continue to develop. You can look forward to harvesting Sarracenia seeds in October and November, depending on your climate.
* Look for spectacular leaves on your pale pitcher (Sarracenia alata), white top trumpet (Sarracenia leucophylla), hooded pitcher (Sarracenia minor), and parrot pitcher (Sarracenia psittacina). Dana’s Delight and Scarlet Belle hybrids will also produce their best leaves of the season in September and October.
* Both the yellow trumpet (Sarracenia flava) and the green pitcher (Sarracenia oreophila) will produce non-carnivorous winter leaves (phyllodia). Their main pitchers will slowly turn brown as they head into dormancy a bit earlier than other pitcher plants.
* Trim off dead leaves.
* Give your plants full sun and keep their water trays filled.
Tropical Carnivorous Plants
* If you have been growing your tropical carnivorous plants outdoors, monitor your nighttime temperatures. If the nighttime temperature approaches 50°F, it may be time to bring your tropical plants indoors. Before doing so, however, inspect them for pests. If necessary, spray them with a water-based insecticide, such as pyretrhin or neem. Always follow the directions provided by the manufacturer.
* When bringing your plants indoors, place them in a window that has similar lighting to what they were getting during the summer. If necessary, use strong fluorescent lights. Use either tubes or compact fluorescent bulbs with a minimum rating of 40 watts or 3000 lumens.
* Make sure your plants are watered appropriately.

