Question
Hi, i just had a few questions about these.  First, my S. Alata "texas form" hasn't produced any tall pitchers, just little ones under 3inches tall, if i cut all or most of the small pitchers off, will that increase the chance of it to produce a large pitcher?  Its growing in the same conditions as the others and the others are getting big enough that next year i could start doing rhizome divions to produce 1-2 extra plants per bulb.  When i collect seeds, how do they mature?  I know about nov-oct, but are they inside a fruit or outside?  Right now they appear to be on the outside, and i know the dormancy process but this year i will have a layering of sphagnum moss, when i spray the plants with fungiacid will that kill the moss?  and can sphagnum be grown as a tropical or does it require the dormancy period?  Thanks for your help

Answer
Hi Dustin,

Depending upon how old your S. alata is, cutting off the small pitchers may or may not help.  I find this species just takes some time after division to get going, then they get quite large.  They are also odd amongst Sarracenia in that they seem to like being root-bound.  I've had some ridiculous large plants in very small pots, and even had them break pots apart.

When you look at a Sarracenia flower the ball-like structure in the center of the flower is the ovary.  The seeds form inside that.  Wait until it turns brown, then you can remove it and open it up.  You'll fine about 5 chambers inside with little bean shaped seeds.  The things you're seeing outside the ovary are dried stamens.  The seedpod at some point will open on it's own also.

Many fungicides can kill sphagnum.  I've found sulfur to be the least toxic, but Consan 20, Physan 20 Chlorothanil, will definitely kill it.  

You can definitely grow sphagnum as a tropical.  It doesn't seem to have a need to go dormant.  On the contrary, we get our best sphagnum growth during our rainy Pacific Northwest winter.

Good Growing!

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