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Carnivorous Plants/Problem? Not Sure.


My Little Monster
My Little Monster  
To answer your first question I'm not really sure what kind of Sarracenia I have. I think it's the white but the pictures I've seen on the Internet do not look like the plant that I have. Could it be a cross? Anyways I call him My Little Monster. My major question is did I hibernate him right? I live in Houston Texas and our winters are not exactly cold. This past winter was like previous ones cold weather one day warmish weather others. I am not sure if one I followed the correct steps to hibernate him. Or two he didn't get cold enough to go into hibernation. Right now some of his new shoots are breaking off at the top. I have provided photo of my plant. Any information you can give me would be helpful thank you so much.
Other information you asked for:
What type of lighting- sunlight
Water and soil- distilled and Pete Moss
How long have I had the plant- since August 2012.

Hi Leslie,

Thank-you for including a photo.  This always helps.

This does look like either a Sarracenia leucophylla (White-topped Trumpet) or a hybrid of it.  These are native to the Florida panhandle through Eastern Louisiana along the Gulf Coast, so temperatures in their native habitat are going to be very similar to what you have in Houston.  The plant looks very much as it should for this time of year with new shoots developing.  Dormancy is triggered not only by temperatures, but even more so by the photoperiod (Day length).  Your plant is doing fine with the dormancy it got.

It does look like it could use a bit more sun, however.  Sarracenia and Venus flytraps need no less than 6 hours direct sun on a sunny day.  The rule of thumb I always use it that where you decide to put these you should be able to grow vegetables such as tomatoes or squash in in that spot.  If you couldn't, it's not bright enough.  Also, make sure you always have some water in the tray for the plant.  Since it's in a terracotta pot, it can dry quickly on hot days.  The terracotta can be helpful in cooling roots, you just need to make sure there is always ample water.  Here's a link to some photos of Sarracenia leucophylla in the wild:

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest

Carnivorous Plants

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