Question
Hello!

Recently I received a large number of Sarracenia seeds (and a few sundew and Venus flytrap seeds as well). I am stratifying them now and next week will be their fourth week in the fridge. I do not have lights so they will have to be grown outside the natural way. I know this will take longer but generally how long will it take to see signs of germination and sprouts?

I am going to be using your soil mixture (peat and perlite) in seed trays with humidity domes to help keep bugs out. I'm also in the piedmont region of NC. Thank you.

Answer
Hi Heather,

Expect to see germination in late April outdoors.  Depending on how warm your weather gets during the spring it could be earlier.  Here in Oregon our Sarracenia and hardy sundew seeds usually start germinating in May.  I would expect North Carolina to be earlier since you have far more warm days in the spring than we do.

I would recommend not using a humidity dome.  If your germinating them outside, you could end up cooking your seedlings with one warm day.  Instead see if you can find some screening you can put over the trays.  I've used the inexpensive fiberglass screen they sell bulk or in rolls for doors and windows.  You just cut it to size, then clip it over the trays.  Plenty of sun gets through, bugs, slugs and snails don't, and they won't overheat.  It also helps keep the rain from washing out the seeds.  You will need to have holes in the bottom of the trays so things don't flood.

Good Growing!

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