Ultimate Sarracenia Care Guide

[@therombaro]

I live for this type of content, just someone speaking knowledge right off the cuff without gimmicky edits, background music, and all that nonsense. Just start dropping knowledge.

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you so much! I’m honestly not capable of fantastic, slick editing 😂🤦‍♀️ I don’t have the time to do it or the knowledge so it’s nice to know that you like it! It’s something I always worry about!

[@tishie42]

I second this, i don't know if you'll see this, but this is a much easier way to learn without the gimmicks. The audience that needs that stuff is probably not your target audience or for the serious collecting and conservation efforts. This seems like you respect your audience to be able to choose to be here, VS being hooked in with gimmicks. I have some standard issue rescue vft I got from a big box store in Yuma AZ. They weren't in too terrible bad shape so that's the only reason I tried. They're in dappled shade outside and absolutely growing insane. I've never had one but am an avid gardener. This channel supplied me with 80% of my current knowledge and absolutely gave me the info for success. I will be ordering something from you very soon. Thank you.

[@pinecone.jeff.carnivores]

You all at Cal Carns are my planty friends and planty heroes!!!

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you! 😊

[@pinecone.jeff.carnivores]

Such a great 360 deg view, Daniela! It’s so inspiring to see so many carnies in one place!!! Damon, it’d be great to see all of your plants that you still have growing from your childhood!

[@theratlab]

I would love to see your childhood plants too!!

[@deandavis8165]

Wow! Great job. One of the great things about vids from CC is how the information just pours out of you so naturally, one can feel the love and knowledge of Kate, Daniella, Damien and Peter when they speak. Thank you for another complete guide!

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you!

[@OleanderSmoothie]

I agree! I love the way Damon explains things with relevant background information and in a way that's memorable. He reminds me of all my favorite teachers and the ways they encouraged my love of learning.

[@christerrell5145]

I’m based in uk 🇬🇧 and find myself coming back again and again to your videos. Clear, concise and delivered with great passion and relevant detail. Thanks for all your efforts

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you so much!

[@gopheruself2hi722]

Thank you for your knowledge. I recently bought a sarracenia no red. I think these plants rock. I now feel confident that I can do right by it.

[@zzippo81]

I've been back and forth on adding carnivorous plants to my patio jungle for awhile and this video has finally given me the knowledge to be confident so I just ordered three sarracenia and a King Henry. Thank you so much, I love your channel and site.

[@California_Carnivores]

Yay!!!! I’m so glad!!! You’ll have to keep us posted as they break dormancy and start to grow!

[@OleanderSmoothie]

Thanks for making this guide! Sarracenia are easily my favorite carnivorous plant. I appreciate your explanation about glazed pots at 14:14, it was a concern I had! And thank you for talking about conservation of these plants!

[@drathicusrex7244]

This video was SO helpful and informative. Subbed 👍

[@SandyBall-i3f]

This is the BEST video I've seen in a long time. So informative, I'm inspired and much more confident to start growing them. Thank you!

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you so much!

[@igotnothing2657]

Man your guys videos were so good I ordered a couple hundred dollars worth of plants and feel really confident thanks much

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you so much!

[@kathymacomber5115]

I have been ordering from you since for 30 years..always a delight

[@maximpliner2484]

Thank you very much for sharing this information with us

[@vsocarras27]

Speaking about them being difficult in Miami not for me I keep them outside even during winter however despite little temperature change they do go dormant at least at my house I know since between mid-late December to mid-late February they in my backyard don’t grow at all afterwards they start growing again and I live in Miami-Dade County Florida

[@shahesfelazi8549]

Im in malaysia, we are on the equator so its very3 tropical and never done the dormancy part, they seem to be happy and thriving.

[@TheBigfootExpertonYoutube]

Thank you

[@Turnip.8950]

Thank you for this guide! I chose a Sarracenia for my first carnivorous plant, mostly because it's native to my state, and this has been a huge help to get me started. Our 100 degree temps with 100% humidity are finally useful for something!

[@samanthacaasi8568]

Hi question I have a sarracenia psittacina when I re potted it with sphagnum moss after a week the leaves turning black.what can be the problem? Thanks

[@California_Carnivores]

Some leaf die back is normal after repotting but if you’re seeing full die back, there may be some issue with the roots.

[@samanthacaasi8568]

Thank you!hope I can still save it. Learning more about my carnivorous plants ,keep watching your videos❤️

[@brandonalexander5185]

I picked the best plant to begin with

[@duncanpage1556]

Yes i am a friend Damon...lol Love your vids

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you!

[@watchmanknowledge4345]

What of maggots?

[@CraftyMoonshine]

Do you think putting mosquito bits in the water tray would have a negative impact on these guys?

[@California_Carnivores]

You can definitely do that! We do!

[@danny34867]

Dude your plants are huge

[@Jar0fMay0]

How are Sarracenia in windy areas like Texas? I'm also curious how they would take our hot, humid climate? Especially in August.

[@California_Carnivores]

The pitchers may need to be staked up in extremely windy areas, but they can take some wind! In your area you can grow them but you’ll want to grow them in the full morning sun in summer and protect them from the afternoon sun. And make sure they never dry out!

[@BreatheAirToBeBetter]

I have a question I’m wanna buy a Sarracenia flava large but idk how big its gunna be could I get a rough estimate?

[@California_Carnivores]

Flava is a tall species so over time the pitchers will grow to three feet or more!

[@nielsmit2947]

Is it fine if I keep all my plants(sundews, sarracenia and fly traps) outside in the rain?

[@California_Carnivores]

Yes! Keep an eye on them to make sure they’re not completely submerged in water for days and days at a time (I go check my bogs once a week and tip out the excess water) but they don’t mind being under water for brief periods. And the only other issue can be that rain can uproot them, meaning it can drill all the soil out of the pot, so keep an eye on that!

[@nielsmit2947]

@@California_Carnivores thank you so much. Keep up the good work and love all of ur plants❤️🌱

[@unflushable_logs4797]

I'd love to grow this around my fish pond out side any advice on species to choose would be awesome I'm from Pennsylvania

[@California_Carnivores]

Try psittacina! Sarracenia may not love the pond area if it has high dissolved minerals and salts but sometimes they do well!

[@Kaely17]

Does reverse osmosis water work? Just wanted to triple check.

[@California_Carnivores]

Yes! It’s the gold standard of water for carnivorous plants

[@johnelliott7850]

Well, carnivorous plants USUALLY know what they're doing. A few weeks ago I received a (second) Venus' fly trap by post. It's August here in England, and I've just noticed that it's started to send up a flower stalk. I'll cut it off tomorrow morning.

[@California_Carnivores]

😂 sometimes they do make bad choices!

[@buggsy5]

I have see S. Oreo sometimes start a flower stalk in the fall, but it does not have time to mature before dormancy. If you got the VFT from a general retailer, then there is a good chance that it was grown through tissue culture. If so, it will have to go through a winter dormancy to start establishing it normal dormancy period.

[@dalitrh]

We got water quality measured to 2°dh and calcium below 20 all year around. Is this water ok to use for sarracenia?

[@California_Carnivores]

We usually work with TDS measurements as this measures total dissolved solids in water!

[@buggsy5]

No idea what those values mean and I am too lazy to look it up. Get a cheap TDS meter at just about any place that has nursery supplies - or online - they cost less than $20. If the TDS reading of the water is less than about 50 ppm, it should be fine - even in areas that don't have any rainfall all summer. Higher dissolved content will also work, up to some limit, as Damon mentioned. I use RO water with about 4 - 5 ppm, so it is almost pure.

[@therisinggarden5928]

Are sarracenia seedlings not as hardy as fully grown plants? At what point should they be protected?

[@California_Carnivores]

They’re little rhizomes are still pretty tough and in our area, zone 9b, we do leave them outside safely. But if you live anywhere it will get colder than that for extended periods of time, I would mulch them in heavily on the tops and sides. (If it drops below freezing for more than a few days or drops below freezing and does not heat back up over 40 during the day)

[@stevo-kun3924]

I just got a lucophllya. Is it ok to put charcoal (activated) on the bottom?mixed with perlite

[@California_Carnivores]

You can add charcoal to your mix. We don’t use it but it won’t adversely effect your plant and it may make a great mix for you!

[@kafelek7126]

Hello. Will this guide apply to Heliamphora as well?

[@California_Carnivores]

No, Heliamphora are tricky and have much more rigid temperature ranges that need to be in

[@MountainFisher]

Shoot, my tap water runs from 230 to 370 ppm in Southern New Mexico. It has so much Calcium if I use it to replace evaporated water in my coral reef tank my Staghorn Corals and calcareous algae Halimeda take off. I don't drink it though, it tastes funny and is so hard you can't grow tomatoes without using pine needles or sphagnum peat moss as mulch. PH is 8.8, seawater runs from 7.9 from high rain coral lagoons to 8.6 in high evaporative seas like the Red Sea or Persian Gulf. I wouldn't worry too much about sea level rise and Climate Change, it is highly exaggerated by the Media and special interest money.

[@buggsy5]

As bad as the TDS in your water, the pH is also a major problem. American carnivorous plants like acidic soil - not alkaline like yours. Buy an inexpensive RO (reverse osmosis) unit. You should be able to find one for less than $150, possibly far less. If you only have a plant or two, a Zero Water (tm) pitcher will be sufficient, although more expensive than a regular RO system.

[@theratlab]

Sarrah (sarracenia), Vincent (venus flytrap) and Renee (me -human) Thank you for all the great comprehendible information & guidance you generously provide. 🪰

[@chevyfish4028]

Excellent information and advice. Thank you Damon for this species care guide. They are such a cool plant to keep. 🌱

[@RareRootsOfJoyMelbourne]

I love these longer form knowledge sharing videos. Thank you for being so generous with your time. I have read a number of books on Sarracenia and thought they should be okay for my environment but you’ve confirmed it with much more detail. I look forward to adding these to my collection.

[@California_Carnivores]

I’m so glad this has been helpful! Sarracenia are really adaptable to a wide range of conditions and quite rewarding to grow!

[@pinecone.jeff.carnivores]

I love your longer videos chock full of info like this. Wonderfully done, Damon and Daniela!

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you!

[@unflushable_logs4797]

I loved my springtail army but then i got aphids and it killed all my lil buddies

[@California_Carnivores]

We use TakeDown garden spray or Bayer 3in1 for Aphids!

[@rocki_bb]

Thank you so much for this! I bought one of the last babies in a tray a month or 2 ago. I've gotten really attached to the little guy! Turns out they're local to my state. I may go see a field of them in the wild next year!

[@AmmyNoUzume]

Fantastic video. I've been loving my first sarracenia and was shocked to learn they are yet another species fighting to survive in the wild through human incursion. These plants are lucky to have people spread awareness and care enough to grow them.

[@leobolander3124]

Love your advice! I just love carnivorous plants, its just so cool how they have developed a system that gets nutrients from catching insects! I own some myself and I really enjoy taking care and feeding them frequently!😀

[@helliumballoons7546]

hold up, this whole time I could have used regular glazed pots? All this time I've been so specific about them being glazed on the inside and on the bottom that sometimes I just make them myself!

[@Your_VR_dude]

Can y’all let me know when you sell winter growing sundew.?

[@California_Carnivores]

We sell them as soon as they start to grow! We’ll be selling select plants in the next few weeks!

[@z.l.3685]

Truely an "ultimate" guide! Bravo!

[@laurahodson1914]

I've had these skunk Striped caterpillars munch on my sarracenia I've got in my pond outside here in NC. They thankfully seem to like water hyacinth better

[@California_Carnivores]

You can try applying the Bayer 3-in-1 to deter the caterpillars in future!

[@keithmartland6463]

Great video Damon, the more people know the more our hobby will spread, i noticed in the film, you have a large Sarracenia on background is it a wooden prop or what?

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you! That’s a large statue!

[@tarakincade501]

I couldn't quite understand the name of the fertilizer mentioned in this video. What was it? Great summary anyway, lots of info!

[@jordanferguson8645]

Maxsea 16-16-16

[@tarakincade501]

@@jordanferguson8645 thank you!

[@California_Carnivores]

We keep a list of fertilizers on our website! Maxsea 16-16-16 is great!

[@christophergraham8191]

Great video! A question: I have several Sarracenia plants in a bog planter. They tend to get tall, and then the pitchers fall over. Besides staking them is there a way to keep them upright? What makes them fall over?

[@California_Carnivores]

Sometimes they just fall over and it’s totally normal. But if a lot of them are falling over, and it’s not a particularly windy area, it may be a sign that they need more light. You can stake them up too and all of the different flower stakes work well!

[@atomicskull6405]

If they are getting tall and spindly they need more light, they like full sun, as much as possible. I keep mine outside in sacramento and they sneer at full sun that will burn cacti. They are not delicate plants and they don't want shade. They live in bogs and swamps with zero cover from the sun. The only things they want are to be waterlogged, nutrient poor substrate and lots and lots of direct sun.

[@buggsy5]

@@California_Carnivores They can also fall over if they get full of rain or insects.

[@zimmy1958]

Thanks. what a wealth of knowledge.

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you!

[@isaacreynolds9541]

What can I do if the inside of my sarrecenia is dry? Like Theresa no liquid

[@California_Carnivores]

You can add a little distilled water into the pitcher to jump start fluid production

[@Carnivorousplantslife]

Wonderful information, all you need to know!

[@Kyddoemiko13]

Thank you Than you for sharing the wealth of this video. I have experience a little of all this with my out door bog garden. You speak truths I am a bayou baby Louisiana😊 so much has been altered in nature we are all suffering because of the foolishness we create. Love you guys keep up the good work.

[@jret65541]

The sasquatch you sent me has a thick flower growing in Florida right now

[@cupofjae]

i love love love the way you always mention conservation efforts as a part of your care guides. I look forward to it every time.

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you!

[@Hollywiththeflowers]

Thank you for this talk, really enjoyed listening to your knowledge of these fascinating plants. I have learned loads & loads & have been completely awed by these plants. I live in the UK and never seen them in the wild , but I would love to some day . I have seen some at a botenical garden & was left gobsmacked. Nature will never ever fail to take my breath away. Let’s hope more and more people can join forces to protect and conserve the populations that remain. I’m certainly keen to cultivate some in my own garden now. I appreciate the education.

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you so much! Have you looked up Hampshire Carnivorous Plants? Matt has a beautiful nursery in the UK and you’ll love his content as well!

[@pinecone.jeff.carnivores]

So sad that the human race can’t be good caretakers and cohabiters on this planet. But it’s so heartening to know that passionate folks like all of you at Cal Carns are teaching and showing people how amazing carnivorous plants are and about the conservation efforts going on to save carnivorous plant species. Thank you, Cal Carns!!!

[@craigdoc6656]

I'm from the UK, I've done myself a big garden in a planter, we didn't have a harsh winter this year so my Venus and sarracenia survived, I just covered them over. One of my sarracenia gets attacked by slugs, kinda annoying Excellent video, really enjoyed it

[@buggsy5]

I grow thousands of sarracenia and VFTs outdoors all year around in Western Oregon. They do just fine, even though we sometimes have periods of frigid arctic air where the temperature remains well be low freezing for a week or so. The coldest winter was when the temp got down to about -20 C for almost two weeks and they survived fine. The plants are a lot tougher than even some of the professional growers think they are. The slugs around here seem to occasionally nibble a tiny bit on the pitchers, but do not seem to do any more than that. Since all my plant pots are in wading pools with 24 hour standing water, I don't think many manage to crawl across the bottom of the pools to get to the plant pots.

[@JL_Loki]

I came back here again to relearn because this time someone gave me a sarracenia. I watch your videos learning how to take care of VFTS and droseras. I live in the tropics in Asia and I never tried to keep sars before because I don't think I can do well with them. Looking at my carnivorous friends sars that are so healthy and tall makes me feel scared to keep them. 😅 But since someone gifted me a smaller one I am learning all I can to nurture them. I'm mostly a Neps person and have a few VFTs and droseras. They are interesting. Droseras are probably the ones I'm having trouble but I am learning each day. Thank you for sharing these knowledge especially for us beginners.

[@buggsy5]

Sarracenia are easier to grow than VFTs. Just make sure they get their winter dormancy and they should be fine.

[@reesesbuttercup191]

I have a question about my sarracenia it’s growing tall pitchers but it’s wings are huge and the tubes are very thin it’s s getting 8hours of direct sunlight do u know what could be the reason for this?

[@California_Carnivores]

It most likely needs more light, they like all day sun. Try moving it to a sunnier spot over the course of a day or so and make sure to increase water too, to balance the extra heat from the sun

[@JamesEndo1]

That was an awesome presentation!!! Gives me great info to grow my first Sarracenia! How about adding flowers/seeds and propagation too? I hope to see other care videos for the other plants. ❤

[@California_Carnivores]

Thank you! We do have a few videos on seed sowing but I’ll add this to the list!

[@psycholiz]

Thank you a very thorough and easy to understand guide for a newby sarracenia virgin as i start my journey trying to grow these great plants in the uk outside thank you 👌👍

[@buggsy5]

It is easier than you think. Just give them as much full sun as possible and do not let the pots dry out. Then, for most of the UK, just leave them alone and watch them grow.

[@beartoe08]

Monterey Garden Spray good for Nepenthes?

[@California_Carnivores]

You can use it on Nepenthes!

[@justincook844]

I've been fascinated with American carnivorous plants for decades. Do you guys have an apprenticeship program to teach n00bs like me how to do this well? I'm from the southeast U.S.

[@California_Carnivores]

We don’t but we do like to put out a lot of content to help teach people all about these wonderful plants!

[@justincook844]

@@California_Carnivores The videos are greatly appreciated. I recently bought a B-52 flytrap. I'm anticipating it's arrival. The reason I asked about apprenticeship was because I am a tactile learner. I know it's very different looking at a video vs actually handling the plant. I just don't want to kill her. She hasn't even arrived yet. Can you make a video specifically for Northeast Alabama or the tri-state area (Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee)? Our winters are harsh and we are having a massive heat wave here now. I'm mostly worried about acclimating Black Betty to her new environment 😕

[@mtilford7978]

Love your videos! So informative; I always learn something. My sarracenias live outside all year round here in the East Midlands UK and grow really well even though I doubt they get as much sun as they'd like. Peat for amateur garden use is being phased out here by 2024 and a few years later for commercial growers. Not sure what's happening in US, possibly a similar action. Anyway, can I ask you what to do about other plants trying to grow in with the sarracenias in their pots? Namely a water rush (juncus from when I had a pond), red oxalis and odd tree seedlings. I pull them out when tiny but the rush is impossible to remove whole. It actually looks quite good with the pitchers but will it take over if left? Many thanks to you and everyone at California Carnivores. And the cat. :)

[@California_Carnivores]

We don’t have any restrictions on peat in the US and none are being discussed at the moment but we know it’s a serious issue that could come up at any time! What do you use for your soil as the peat gets phased out? One downside of peat is that it is a great seed starter so weeds do love to germinate in it. We just have to weed constantly. And it’s always a huge battle! Sometimes the rushes grow in too aggressively and we just have to repot!

[@mtilford7978]

@@California_Carnivores I really don't know what will be used when all available peat has gone. Lots probably stashed by growers! (I have a bag) but there seems nothing else without nutrients for use with carnvivorous plants. Alternatives for other plants include coir (popular), bark or wood fibre, pine needles, sheeps wool, home made compost from garden waste and composted bracken. So I'm carrying on with peat/perlite mix for everything carnivorous as it has good results. Supplies will probably outlast me! Being good and using peat free commercial stuff for everything else. Love my compost bin!

[@echow7298]

Do the sarracenia need less water during dormancy? I see people saying just to keep them moist, not in a tray while dormant. I'm bringing mine into my basement for dormancy. I'm in zone 6, but the freeze/thaw we tend to get wiped them out last year. Should I just put less water in a tray or just water occasionally?

[@California_Carnivores]

You don’t want them to dry out, that’ll kill them over the winter. You can keep them sitting in water but you can put less water in it you use the tray method, so a 1/4” in the tray as opposed to 1” for example

[@echow7298]

@@California_Carnivores that makes a lot of sense. Thanks so much!

[@technafloe]

I live in north Georgia in zone 7 ware it doesn't really go below 45 until december What should I do about dormancy for my pitcher plants?

[@clintparsons3989]

its fine

[@California_Carnivores]

That should be fine, just watch out for extended cold under 20 for many days. You’ll want to bring it inside then

[@gothivore277]

Great videos thank you for making them. Two quick questions that weren’t a covered here. One of my only problems when growing upright sarracenias is that the wind blows them over almost immediately after they open is there a non toxic wire or metal that can be used to stake them up? Also my S. Flava rubricorpora is out in 6 hours of full sun and bright dappled sun the rest of the day and it still won’t color up

[@California_Carnivores]

You can use any of the traditional garden stakes for staking up the plants but our preference is for the thick plastic or metal stakes coated in a thick plastic or rubberized outer layer to protect against degradation by the peat moss. The bamboo stakes also work!

[@California_Carnivores]

To get really good deep red coloration on your flava you will most likely need to move it to more sun; six hours is not going to be quite enough to get red coloration. After dormancy this year, move it to an even sunnier spot for its first pitchers of the year to come up into, they’ll acclimate to the increased light well.

[@christinaaa_xo]

​@@California_Carnivores I know this comment is old, but I'm wondering if bamboo that I grew and cut myself is okay? Does it need to be treated?

[@EarthsGeomancer]

I'm in southern California. Can you please explain what this thing you are calling "rain" is? It sounds helpful.

[@California_Carnivores]

😂

[@okantichrist]

I hope you’re getting some “rain” now 😢

[@EarthsGeomancer]

@@okantichrist Yeeees!