Question
the part i'm pinching
i'm in brazil on a vacation to see my big sister( trust me since the father son related case ended this place is like in desater!!!) my sister sarracenia pitcher forming a thin like pitcher, is this normal because the wing is bigger than the producing pitcher i have a photo can you tell me whats wrong so i can tell my sister, i know this is not a philodia because is summer now, the plant is a judith hindle she did tell me that she cut all the pitchers couple weeks ago idk why!!!
the producing pitcher is about 4 inch tall
the pitcher stomach or something is about 1 milimeter and the wing of the pitcher is about 5 milimeter.
the plant is receiving full sun
water with distill water
media 50%lfs and 50%peat
no pest the ribosome and roots are fine and white
Answer
Yard Carnivores
Hi Aaron,
Thank-you for helping your sister by taking of photo of the plants. This really helps. I wouldn't have been able to help much from just your sister's description. This is a classic situation of why a picture can be so important, since what you think is happening, isn't really.
The problem is light. Sarracenia are full sun plants. When they don't get full sun the new growth will be like what you are seeing. They make the ala (wing) bigger to try and get more sun. Also I can see that the plant has no red, and should be a nice crimson color. The Venus flytrap in the background and the tiny tip of the Cape sundew I see should also have much more red. Both of you mentioned in the growing conditions that the plants were in full sun, but I can tell from how they look that is impossible. Often what people think is full sun isn't. The rule I usually use is what I call the tomato rule. If you could grow a tomato plant or other garden vegetables in the spot you have your Judith Hindle, you're fine. If you couldn't, it's not bright enough. Also, be sure not to fall into the trap of thinking, "Oh, they couldn't possibly mean full sun here in Brazil where it's so hot." Yes I do. These plants experience very hot humid temperatures in the southeastern US where they originate from. In all of this I'm assuming you have your plants outside. You won't be able to get them enough sun indoors.
Now, having said all this, your plants may experience some leaf burn when you move them into strong sunlight. That's normal. Just cut off any that burn, and they'll be replaced with healthy new leaves. Also, be sure the plants are not in any kind of enclosure. I couldn't tell from the photo, but it looked like they might be in some kind of terrarium. Flytraps and Sarracenia should never be in terrariums. Give the plants about 3 weeks and let me know how they look.
Good Growing!
Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.cobraplant.com
