Question

Frilled Pitchers   Last year was my first time growing Sarracenias. I used the tray method with water in the tray and pots inside. I use 50-50 peat and perlite. My plants all did great. This year I'm getting deformed pitchers that look like they have lizard frills. They are curved instead of being upright. It's almost as if they couldn't decide to be phylodia or pitchers.  This has happened mostly with my green S. rubras but now it is happening with my S. flava. It made two nice normal pitchers then made the first deformed one. I am including that one here as well as the one of the rubras

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y173/DestroyahDes/IMG_2478.jpg

What's wrong with my Sarracenias and how can I fix this? I am in Florida Zone 9. Thanks.

Des

Answer
Thank you for uploading the photo.  This helps me out a lot.  Based on your description and photograph, my first impression is lack of sunlight.  The curved pitchers with the semi-phyllodia appearance is a classic sign of low light.  These plants prefer full sun, 6 or more hours of direct sunlight, no shade, no obstruction.  The rule of thumb regarding lighting for Sarracenia is this: if you can grow tomatoes where you plan to grow your Sarracenia, you have enough sunlight for your plants.  Both tomatoes and Sarracenia need similar sunlight.  In your photograph, your plant is in shade, which isn't sufficient for either tomatoes or Sarracenia.

With that said, I know that you also had a very early spring.  When plants emerge earlier than normal, it's not at all unusual for the first set of pitchers to have the classic signs of low light, despite growing your plant in full sun.  This is because the sun is lower in the horizon and isn't as intense as it would be during the summer months.  So if your plant emerged from dormancy in February, then this would be normal.  You'll need to wait until late spring and early summer when the sunlight is more intense to see the typical pitchers.

So make sure your plant is indeed getting 6 or more hours of unobstructed, direct sunlight.  Give your plant time to produce their classic stout pitchers.

For more information about growing Sarracenia, read our care sheets online, or watch Grow Carnivorous Plants, Volume 1.
http://www.cobraplant.com/caresheets
http://www.cobrapalnt.com/DVD

Good growing!
Jacob Farin