Green and purple carnivorous plant Sarracenia venosa
Water-filled urn Sarracenia venosa
Trichomes of Sarracenia venosa
Pink flowers of Sarracenia venosa
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Sarracenia venosa, the southern pitcher plant
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A bit like the Americans during the American Civil War, pitcher plants are divided into two camps. The northern United States is home to Sarracenia purpurea subs purpurea. In the south, from Carolina to Georgia, it's the domain of another subspecies: Sarracenia venosa, a carnivorous plant with shimmering colors.
How to recognize Sarracenia venosa?
A carnivorous plant with a tapering habit, Sarracenia venosa measures no more than 30 centimetres in height and the same amount of spread
The plant has no visible stem. It grows in a rosette at ground level, from a trailing rhizome.
The trap consists of a hollow, urn-shaped petiole and an erect, open leaf. The leaf blade and petiole are green with strong purple veins. The species has given rise to several varieties, such as Sarracenia Montana, with its almost brown foliage, or Sarracenia All Green, with its completely green leaf blades.
In addition to its color, Sarracenia venosa can be distinguished from sarracenia purpurea by several details. The former's leaf blades have wavy margins and are covered with fine down, while the latter's margins are rigid and only the inside of the foliage has hairs.
The trap is passive. Unlike dionaea muscipula, Sarracenia venosa doesn't need to activate a mechanism to capture its prey. Attracted either by nectar or by the color of the foliage, the insects fall into the urn filled with rainwater. The trichomes, directed towards the ground, prevent any escape from the trap. The flies eventually drown before being digested by enzymes produced by the plant.
In spring, a pale pink flower blossoms at the top of a one-meter flowering spike. It has five petals, folded inwards. The fragrant bloom lasts for several months.
Pitcher plants are only dangerous to insects that fall into their urns. The plant is non-toxic if ingested, and its nectar and enzymes are harmless to pets.
Our maintenance tips
Sarracenia venosa can take a long time to digest their prey. To prevent indigestion, check the contents of the urns regularly. If one is one-third full of insects, place a piece of clean cotton inside. This will reduce the size of the reservoir.
Watering
Water your plant generously during the growing season.
Sarracenia venosa like to keep their potting soil always moist. Place the pot on a saucer filled with rainwater.
When the level drops, add more rainwater. If you don't have any, you can use demineralized or osmosis water. Never fill the dish with tap or bottled water. The nutrients and minerals it contains will kill your plant.
Substrate dries out quickly in hot weather. In addition to watering by capillary action, water from above. Water the soil with rainwater. Take care not to wet the leaves or fill the urns.
When the level drops, add more rainwater. If you don't have any, you can use demineralized or osmosis water. Never fill the dish with tap or bottled water. The nutrients and minerals it contains will kill your plant.
Substrate dries out quickly in hot weather. In addition to watering by capillary action, water from above. Water the soil with rainwater. Take care not to wet the leaves or fill the urns.
Reduce watering during dormancy.
The substrate must remain constantly moist, but not soggy. Water the soil without wetting the leaves.
Use only rainwater or demineralized water. Tap water is too hard for your Sarracenia purpurea subsp. Venosa and will eventually kill it.
Remove any stagnant water from the cup or pot after watering.
Remove any stagnant water from the cup or pot after watering.
Repotting
Obtain a pierced plastic pot twice the size of the previous one.
Fill it with a mixture of blond peat (70%), perlite (15%) and vermiculite (15%). You can also use a commercially available potting soil for carnivorous plants. Lightly pack the soil by tapping your pot on the ground.
Make a pilot hole and plant your Sarracenia venosa. Water to remove air bubbles, but do not pack.
If you wish, you can plant moss at the base to help the substrate retain its freshness.
Fertilization
You don't need to fertilize your Sarracenia venosa. The plant gets its fill of nutrients from the insects it ingests.
Prune
Remove wilted urns. As they rot, they risk contaminating the whole plant. Cut them two or three centimetres from the ground. Always use a clean, sharp instrument (scissors or pruning shears).
Also remove urns where only the lid is dry.
Cutting
Cutting is carried out during the strong growth phase, generally in spring and early summer.
Carefully dig up your plant. Locate a rhizome with roots and several leaves on its periphery.
Carefully separate it from the others using your hands or a clean, sharp tool.
Choose a plastic pot larger than the root ball. The larger it is, the more your plant will be able to grow. Check that the pot has drainage holes.
Line the pot with substrate for carnivorous plants. You can also make your own growing medium by mixing two-thirds blond peat and one-third perlite and vermiculite.
Lightly pack the soil by tapping your container two or three times on the ground. Make a starter hole and plant your Sarracenia venosa. Water to facilitate rooting and remove air bubbles.
You can plant moss in the pot to keep the soil fresh.
Diseases / Threats
Information
| Family | Sarracenia - Sarraceniaceae |
| Type | Sarracenia - Sarracenia |
| Species | Sarracenia venosa - Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Foliage | Evergreen |
| Exposure | |
| Substrats | |
| Planting methods |
In pots In tubs Planter |
| Categories | |
| Tags |
Flowery Rustic Soiffarde |
| Origin |
North America |
| Hardiness (USDA) | 7b |
| Leaf color |
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| Flower colors |
|
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