Question
QUESTION: So I got a flava var. maxima this year because I loved the extreme green I bought from you. It is sending up a flower stalk, now, it just started up. I've never had a sarracenia send up a flower before so I don't know if this is the normal time of year for it or it's just really confused. Honestly I just don't know what to do with it.

ANSWER: Hi Jesse,

Where do you have the plant right now?  What are the current growing conditions and temperatures?

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com

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QUESTION: Outside in Portland Oregon, I was surprised because we've just had a bit of a cold snap.

ANSWER: Hi Jesse,

I'm not sure what made the plant do that, unless there's something about the micro-climate where you have the plant that makes it a little warmer.  It's not at all unusual for Sarracenia to send up an occasional Fall flower in September, but it's super rare for this to happen when the plant is supposed to be dormant, and it's been cold.  The only example of this I've seen is we've had some S. leucophylla "Tarnok" produce flowers in winter, but these are tissue cultured plants that have been messed up a bit by hormones.  Your S. flava maxima was nothing of the sort.  

Send me a photo if you get a chance.  I'm curious to see this.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com

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Winter Flower   QUESTION: I also posted this question on the ICPS forums and most people suggested I clip the flower stalk. I bought the plant originally from Cook's Carnivores, I don't think he does the tissue culture route.

Answer
Hi Jesse,

Very odd.  I've never seen a flava do that mid-winter.  You can even see some frost damage on the edges of the flower.  I would say clip it off too.  Unless you bring the plant fully out of dormancy under lights, this is probably not beneficial for it to be doing this at this time of year.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com