Question
i bought 1 each of the above plants in 4" pots from a vendor online about 1 month ago. i transfered them both into 6" pots using peat for the V.F.T. and sphagnum for the P.P.P.i keep them both outside on a patio under very hot Texas sun and high humidity.since then they both have been dying at about the same rate of time.i have trimmed several dead pieces of the plant until now i am left with only 2 leaves remaining on each of the plants.i have kept them watered with distilled water and occasional rain water.i have fed them live and dead insects.am i going to lose them because i am doing something wrong?these are my first carnivorous plants.thanks Chris.

Answer
Hello Jerry,

I am going to need some additional information about the environment your plants are in before I can make a specific diagnosis.

In general, the North American carnivorous plants do well in direct sun outside, however; can die off in extreme heat. About 100 to 110 degrees is the upper limit for Venus Flytraps and Purple Pitcher Plants. Even at 90 to 100 degrees, those plants need a lot of water to keep their roots moist and cool. My thinking is that the plants are probably being roasted by the heat of the Texas sun as both species are found farther North where the temperatures are not quite so intense. You will want to potect them from the hottest periods of midday sunlight with some shading and keep them standing in trays of water. The Venus Flytrap would require up to 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water and the Sarracenia Pitcher plants all prefer up to half the pot in standing water.

Also, make sure the potting material you used does not contain fertilizers of any kind. Fertilizer in the soil will kill carnivorous plants quite thoroughly.

Christopher