Question

VFT with moss  

Sarracenia   Another question :3 if you don't mind.
My sarracenia dana's delight has only one fully formed pitcher so far and it's pretty soon to summer now, the second one started to grow but curled under and stopped growing, it hasn't changed at all and in fact the third leaf is already far ahead of it in growth, as you'll see in the photo. I'd like to know what causes this as there doesn't seem to be any infestation. I'd also like to know if moss is a problem for VFTs as in my case the flags are very dense and tall and seem to be hindering it's ability to catch prey.

Answer
Hi Danny,

Let's start with the Venus flytrap.  The moss itself isn't harmful, but when you have that much it indicates that the plant has been in that pot awhile.  It's time to get it into a larger pot.  I like to put Venus flytraps into pots around 6 inch; they really appreciate the extra space.  The slight deformity you see looks like it might have been caused by aphids or some other bug while the trap was forming.  All of your new growth looks fine.

Now for your Sarracenia.  You're Daina's Delight looks exactly how it should for this time of the year in your area.  Considering the solstice is about a month away, this would be the equivalent of May in the Northern hemisphere.  Here in Oregon it is late spring still, and plants are just now starting their rapid growth.  Daina's is very much a late season Sarracenia, so you won't see the most spectacular pitchers until late summer.

Good Growing!

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