Question
Jeff,

I had a question regarding fertilizing some Darlingtonia that I recently transplanted into a bog pot. My soil mix is 1 part LF sphagnum moss, 1 part milled sphagnum moss, 1 part peat moss, 1 part small orchid bark, and 1 part pumice. I am pampering them with lots of top watering (RO water) until they are good and established. There are 2 transplants that are going on 5 years old. The other transplant is sending up a flower stalk and has some stolons that it is sending out. Should I wait to fertilize them after they are good and established, or can I do it now? I was going to use a diluted MaxSea 16-16-16 mixture (1/4 tsp to 1 gal of RO water)...I was also intending to apply the fertilizer to just the pitchers and not the soil. Would it be best to not fertilize them at all?

Thank you Jeff!

Answer
Hi Derick,

Fertilizing them can be beneficial, especially as young plants.  Like you're planning, only apply to leaves.  Darlingtonia have a much more sensitive root system than Sarracenia, and would not respond well if given too much.  I haven't experimented with Osmocote on them yet to know it they can handle it.  However, a once every 2 weeks spray on the leaves should be just fine.  Once you see they are catching bugs then the fertilizer wouldn't be needed.

Good Growing!

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