Question
When getting Picture plants in the mail,(cobra, flava ect. )  should i add a little rain water to them ?.  Will they form new water in the old growth on their own ?.  Or, should i wait and feed only the new growth.  
Thanks for you time,
Jamie

Answer
Hi Jamie,

Actually they are Pitcher Plants, not "Picture Plants"; think water pitcher.

There is some benefit to adding a little distilled water or rainwater to Nepenthes pitchers when you first get them.  Of Sarracenia, only Sarracenia purpurea has water in the pitchers, so do add it to them. (In nature they fill with rainwater.  It's the same with Heliamphora.)  Trumpet pitcher varieties such as S. flava, S. leucophylla, etc... don't have water in them.  This is a very common misconception often repeated in children's books along with many other myths about carnivorous plants.  They secrete digestive enzymes as insects drop into the pitchers.  Darlingtonia will put water into the pitchers themselves.

Since your new to growing carnivorous plants, consider taking a look at our "Grow Carnivorous Plants" DVD series.  They will give you a thorough understanding of major plant varieties, and help you avoid the myths and pitfalls so common to new growers.  An investment in those will help you protect your future plant investments.  http://www.cobraplant.com/dvd

Good Growing!

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