Question
my sarracenia plantlets (from your seeds purpura and hybrid mix) are about an inch tall in their germination container which is another inch higher.  They are starting to dry out. I'm from a very hot and 70 to 80 percent humidity, nevertheless maintain their pit moss wet at all times. They get sun from the east through window for about 3 or 4 hours and then I move them to the west where my nephentes grow perfectly outside.  Maybe I should transplant them already into individual pots (I have only pit, no more perlite, it is difficult to get here in Yucatan) with pit moss and some agrolite pebbles. Some have 4 or even five pitchers.  What can be wrong? This season has been rainy so also cloudy at times. The pitchers start getting yellow and shribble. In one containter with higher walls it's worse.

Answer
Hi Elizabeth,

If you have any way to take a digital picture and post it here on Allexperts that would help me to better understand your setup for your seedlings.  

A couple things could be going on.  First, make sure whatever container your seedlings are growing in can drain.  If the water is accumulating and not draining out from the bottom, it will create a bad environment.  Also, is there any mold growing around them?  This would cause them to die very easily.  If you see mold you many need to spray them with a fungicide.

Do transplant them into individual pots.  This will help.  If you can't find peat moss, look for either long fiber sphagnum moss (This usually comes from Chile) or bricks of coir coconut fiber.  The coconut fiber works with Sarracenia, but be sure to wash it thoroughly with water to rinse out any salt that may be in it.

After they are transplanted, spray them every two weeks with a very weak solution of orchid fertilizer.  If you have powdered fertilizer, mix it 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water.  Just spray the leaves, and try not to get much on the soil.

Hope this helps.


Good Growing!

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