Question
I bought a nep. x velvet from you guys a few months back.  I immediately took a stem cutting as I attempted to grow the mother plant outdoors in zone 5 for the latter part of the summer.  The mother plant has done well since then, but has'nt produced any pitchers, yet, but is still growing. I have moved it back indoors for the winter.  My question is I have the cutting in a terrarium about 8 inches from the light source and its still small, however  surprisngly I just noticed a flower stalk coming up.  Just not sure weather I should clip it or leave it seeing that it is almost winter.  Also my outdoor CPs are doing fine and I wanted to know since i live in zone 5 should I clip all winter leaves off also on my sarracenia (I have too many to really list).

Thanks

Answer
Hi Tim,

Good going on your cutting!  Yes, cut off the flower stalk.  This particular hybrid tends to do that whenever we do cuttings of it.  Something about clipping the vine stimulates it to produce a flower.

Since you live in zone 5, yes you should clip the leaves off of your Sarracenia.  But do this when you're certain that your plants are dormant.  This usually occurs when the daytime temperatures averages about 40癋 and there has been consistent frosts each night.

With S. purpurea and S. psittacina, keep their leaves.  With S. flava and S. oreophila, clip off only the dead pitchers. Keep their non-carnivorous winter leaves, however.

After clipping your plants, go ahead and mulch them.

Good growing!
Jacob Farin