Purple pitcherplant (Sarracenia rosea)

Purple pitcherplant

Purple pitcherplant is a striking carnivorous plant with pitcher-shaped leaves that allure and trap insects. These modified leaves are often tinted with hues of green, pink, and red, and topped with a rounded hood. Authentic to wetlands and bogs, purple pitcherplant's trapping mechanism aids nutrient acquisition from its prey, counteracting nutrient-poor soils. Its springtime blooms feature uniquely veined, umbrella-like flowers that add to its allure.

Scientific classification

Species

Purple pitcherplant (Sarracenia rosea)

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0 mm to 30 cm

Plant Height

25 cm

Spread

15 - 38 ℃

Ideal Temperature

Images of Purple pitcherplant

Care Guide for Purple pitcherplant

Twice per week

Water

Full sun

Sunlight

15 - 38 ℃

Ideal Temperature

Water: To care for purple pitcherplant, maintain permanently moist soil, using a soaker hose to prevent dryness. Use pots with drain holes to flush minerals. Water with acidic sources, preferably rainwater, avoiding hard tap water. Keep soil saturated during the growing season; reduce watering in winter to prevent root rot.

Fertilize: Purple pitcherplant thrives in nutrient-poor, moisture-retaining soil, having adapted to catch insects. Fertilizer is unnecessary unless specific minerals are lacking. Extended outdoor exposure during summer aids in self-feeding. Avoid feeding purple pitcherplant meat; instead, use Venus flytrap supplements or dried crickets for additional nutrition.

Pruning: To promote healthy growth in purple pitcherplant, prune dead or damaged leaves in early spring and remove withered pitchers for hygiene. Avoid over-pruning to minimize stress. Proper pruning enhances aesthetics and supports vigorous development, contributing to purple pitcherplant's overall health and garden appeal.

Propagation: Purple pitcherplant requires pollinators or hand pollination for fertilization, ideally in fall. Mature plants can be propagated through rhizome division during winter dormancy, promoting new crown growth by notching rhizomes. This method can help stimulate growth in rhizomes not yet producing pitchers.

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