Monthly Carnivorous Plant Care

• If your Sarracenia and other cold hardy plants are in storage or under mulch, it's time to bring them out and prep them for spring growth.

• Growers in southern regions have already reported open pitchers and open flowers. Sarracenia flava is usually the first to bloom.

• If you live in the Pacific Northwest, your plants are emerging from dormancy. Clip off dried pitchers and old growth to make way for new growth. (VIDEO: Trimming Sarracenia)

• Early spring is a good time to divide your rhizomes without affecting the new growth. (VIDEO: Dividing Sarracenia Rhizomes)

• If necessary, plant your rhizomes into larger pots with fresh soil.

• Regardless of where you live, give your plants as much sunlight as possible. Keep the soil moist at all times.

• Sundews, flytraps and temperate butterworts will also emerge from dormancy.

• Pay attention to aphids, slugs and snails. They love to munch on the tender new growth. Spray your plants with a water-based insecticide if you see any signs of insect damage. Use slug and snail bait if necessary. Always follow the directions provided by

• If your Nepenthes stopped producing pitchers during winter, use a foliar spray of diluted fertilizer to perk them up. They could use the extra nutrients as sunlight increases. Use a solution of 1/4 teaspoon orchid fertilizer per gallon of water. Spray your plants generously once weekly until new pitchers develop and the plant is capturing bugs on its own.

• Many tropical carnivorous plants grown in a windowsill may have flower buds by now in response to the increase in daylight hours.

• If you are growing your plants under artificial lights, increase the daylight hours to 12 to 16 hours per day. This will stimulate flower production.

• As the weather warms up outside, aphids and thrips can find their way into your home. Spray your houseplants with a water-based insecticide if necessary. Always follow the directions provided by the manufacturer.