Why are the leaves turning brown at the edges?
The plant is suffering drought stress, or it may be going dormant. During the April to September growing season for Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia species), the leaves will stay green if you maintain the air humidity above 50%, and if you keep the soil moist at all times with distilled water. Leaf drop during the winter dormancy period is normal, and will help the plant grow even larger the next season. Do not be alarmed if the leaves turn brown at the edges in September and October. It means that your plant is entering normal dormancy.

How do I give my Pitcher Plants the dormant rest they require in the winter?
There are two types of Pitcher Plants: Tropical ones (Nepenthes species) that never go dormant and Temperate ones (Sarracenia species) that do. Check the photos on the Pitcher Plant page if you are unsure which you have.  All Sarracenia species MUST have a winter snooze in order to grow normally again in the Spring.

You have two easy options to give your plants the rest they need. One is to place the plants in a bright unheated window, where the temperatures are between 32 and 40F every night during December though February. The other is to place the plants in a closed plastic zip closing bag that holds moisture in the soil, and place the bags into the vegetable keeper of your refrigerator where the temperatures are about 40F. Leave the plants in this cool section of the refrigerator for 90 to 120 days. After this cold resting period, you can take the plants out of the fridge, remove the bags, and place them in a sunny window. Growth will resume naturally. For many plants, this will also trigger flower formation. Don’t be surprised if your plants reward you with flowers.

Do my plants need fertilizer?
Pitcher Plants benefit from monthly applications of house plant fertilizer once a month between April and September. Dilute the fertilizer to 10% of that recommendation on the box.

Should I transplant the plant when I get it?
If you want to, yes, but the plants we sell do not need to be transplanted right away. They can grow up to a year in the pot that we have shipped to you. Pitcher Plants (Sarracenia) will need larger pots each year, as they can grow very large. Some species of Sarracenia can grow 4 feet tall! We recommend that you transplant your Sarracenia in March into a pot at least 6” in diameter. Use only natural, additive-free peat moss when transplanting. Regular garden or potting soil can injure your plant.

I bought a Pitcher Plant to give to somebody as a gift. How do I take care of it until then?
Relax. Our plants are packed in plastic boxes that hold enough moisture for them to live about 2 weeks without any water or food being needed. Just place them near a bright sunny window, out of the direct sun until you can give them away. If they get too dry, you can water them without ruining the packaging by pouring the water through one of the side vents in the plastic box.

Is the plant I received fully grown?
Pitcher Plants will continue to grow larger year after year. In fact, some species can grow up to 4 feet tall. Be sure to transplant your Pitcher Plant to a larger pot after it's outgrown its current container. Use only natural, additive-free peat moss when transplanting. Regular garden or potting soil can injure your plant.

Should I buy bugs to feed my Pitcher Plant? There aren't any in my house.
You do not need to buy bugs for your Pitcher Plants. They have roots and can feed themselves by using the nutrients from the soil, and sunlight, just like any other plant. Bugs merely “supplement their diet,” so to speak. You can keep your Pitcher Plants in top condition during the summer by feeding them once a month with houseplant fertilizer diluted to 10% of the recommendation on the box.

Will Pitcher Plants control the fly problem in my house?
No, but you may find some wicked satisfaction in watching flies circle the leaves, land, enter, and never come out again.

Are the plants poisonous?
None of the Pitcher Plants are known to be poisonous.

How much sun does my Pitcher Plant need?
Give these plants as much sunlight as possible, if you grow them in your home. Place them right next to the glass. Normally, direct sun does not harm them as long as they are NOT in a closed terrarium where the heat can build up and cook them. If you place these plants in a terrarium, leave the lid off the aquarium so that the heat can escape. In humid areas, Pitcher Plants can be grown in full sun outside in the summer.

I bought a Nepenthes Pitcher Plant. Does it need to be cold in the winter?
No. Nepenthes are special plants native to the extreme tropics and never go dormant. They prefer a growing environment that is hot and humid all year long. Keep these rare plants in rooms where the night temperatures stay above 65F all year, and keep the humidity as high as possible, ideally above 55%.