Question
I was given a very healthy-looking plant 3 weeks ago. It came from a nursery here in NC and appears to be in the appropriate peat mix. I hung it on a bright porch out of direct sun and have kept soil moist, but most of the smaller pitchers are turning brown, first at top, then all over, with stems yellowing. Larger pitchers look OK, red at the top, with small insects in liquid at the bottom. We've had very high temps the last two weeks, up to 100, with high humidity, but I've kept soil moist. Should I move it in, mist it, water more vs less? The greenery seems healthy, with 2 leafy shoots growing rapidly upward. I love the plant and don't want to lose it.

Answer
Hi Barbara,

Chances are the plant is responding to the change in conditions from being in a nursery to being outside now.  This is not unusual.  What you should do is give it more time.  Make sure the soil is moist, but don't stand the pot in water.  During hot weather you'll need to water it daily.  You should have your plant in a location that gets dappled light; near a tree or shrubs works well.  It needs some sun, but not the full day sun that Sarracenia enjoy.  If it's in full shade, however, it won't have the energy to make pitchers, but full sun in your heat would burn it.  You have to find that "sweet spot" for it.  We keep some of ours in the summer under a small Dogwood tree, and on a front porch where it gets intermittent sun throughout the day.  A hop vine and a Currant bush that shade it during the hot afternoon.

Send me a photo when you get a chance so I can get a better idea of what your plant looks like, and possibly what species it is.

Good Growing!

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