Question
hi, guys! thanks again for my wonderful sarracenias i received last month-all are doing well! a question about red spots [blood-clot color] on a sarracenia rubra...looks like a bacterial spot...not fungal as is not stinky/oozing/rotting...also-i see little infestations of mealy bug...could be root mealys...any recommends for treating this plant?...[i have in my arsenal: captan/sulfur/benomyl/alcohol-409-water mix] thanking you in advance

Answer
Hi David,

The red spots on the sweet pitcher are a type of fungus called rust spots.  It's nothing at all serious, and there's not much you can do to prevent it other than spray your plant with a fungicide every week.  Because the plant secretes nectar, drops of the nectar ends up on the sides of the pitchers.  Fungus love nectar, so they colonize right there.  They don't spread or anything.  They just created a permanent red spot.

The mealy bugs are another story!  Get rid of them as quickly as possible.  Use any non-soap-based insecticide.  The mix you have is fine except for the 409.  Soaps will breakdown and add phosphorus to the soil, which isn't good for carnivorous plants.  But if you use it locally and not allow any of it to get in the soil, it might be fine to use.  

If the infestation is too much that you have to literally douse the plant, use Orange Guard? Neem oil or pyrethrin.  These are all natural products and safe to use with carnivorous plants.  They are also OK to use for certified organic gardening.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin