Question
Hello.  Your newsletter last week said to spray hardy sundews with a sulfur based fungicide.  I have so far only fund one that also contains pyrethrins.  Will the pyrethrins hurt the sundew?  If so, what fungicide brand do you recommed?

You didn't mention Sarracenia fall care.  Should I be using Neem oil on them now, or wait longer?

Thank you.

Answer
Hi Dresden,

Since you're in Oregon you don't need to worry about the fungicide as long as your hardy plants are outside in the open and can get rained on.  The combination of UV light and flushing action of the rain (if we ever get any this year) makes this not much of a problem in the Pacific Northwest.  Growers who have to put their plants in a cold frame all winter in much colder parts of the country need to apply fungicide to prevent mold in the dark, damp conditions.  In Western Oregon and Washington I don't recommend having plants in a cold frame or garage except during hard freezes where the temperatures might be in the teens.  Otherwise, back out in the rain they go.

The video podcasts and newsletter are meant to be just a supplement to the Grow Carnivorous Plants DVD series.  http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com/Grow-Carnivorous-Plants-DVDs-s/1826.htm  Really all you need to do to Sarracenia right now is clip dead leaves and keep them watered.

Good Growing!

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