When and How to Repot Pitcher Plants

Pitcher vegetation are so cool, there’s nothing fairly like these fascinating carnivorous species with their odd traps and attention-grabbing foliage.

However they aren’t precisely the best houseplant specimens to develop. Pitcher vegetation have distinctive cultural necessities and generally is a little fussy.

There are two predominant sort of pitcher vegetation cultivated as houseplants: species within the Sarracenia genus, which might be native to North America, and tropicals within the Nepethes genus.

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If you happen to want a refresher, learn our information to rising tropical nepenthes or our article about caring for Sarracenia pitcher vegetation.

When they’re grown in containers, inevitably there comes a time when these carnivorous specimens will must be repotted. And it’s not fairly as simple as, say, repotting a vigorous philodendron.

Pitcher vegetation are a bit fragile. It’s simple to interrupt the leaves, pitchers, and roots. Plus, they don’t wish to be disturbed. 

No matter what species you might be rising, they are often repotted in the identical means. And that’s what we’ll go over on this information.

Right here’s what I’ll cowl:

When to Repot

This work ought to be completed within the springtime, but when you must do it at a unique time of yr, for instance if you buy a brand new specimen within the mistaken sort of container, that’s wonderful.

You’ll comprehend it’s time to repot when the roots begin creeping out of the drainage holes or out of the highest of the potting medium.

It’s necessary to repot when the potting medium turns into compacted, decomposes, or if the specimen is just too massive for the present container.

Preparation

Earlier than you are able to do the precise work of transferring your specimen from one pot to the following, you must put together.

Step one is to know one of the best potting substrate on your explicit species. Species within the Nepenthes genus want an equal mixture of sphagnum moss, perlite, and orchid bark.

Sarracenia species do greatest in a specifically formulated carnivorous plant soil or a combination made out of equal components coconut coir and perlite.

If you happen to want a shovel that will help you take away the specimen from its present container, ensure it’s good and clear. Similar with any pruners that you just use to scrub up the roots.

Wipe them with isopropyl alcohol or wash them in sizzling, soapy water. If you happen to’re reusing a pot, sanitize that, too.

You’ll be able to place a display over the drainage holes to stop the medium from operating out, however don’t put any “drainage” supplies on the backside.

Rocks or damaged pottery on the backside of a container received’t enhance the drainage. It truly holds water near the roots, defeating the aim.

Take away the Plant

Gently take away the specimen from its present container.

You would possibly want to make use of a butter knife to softly loosen the soil or roots from the edges of the pot. It could possibly additionally assist to roll the pot on its aspect to loosen up the roots and medium.

Some gardeners suggest that you just keep away from tilting pitcher vegetation as a result of a number of the liquid contained in the pitchers will inevitably be misplaced.

I’m extra involved about eradicating the basis ball in a means that doesn’t injury the roots and foliage. The pitchers can refill themselves or you possibly can present them with a little bit of liquid to assist them out.

However if you wish to retain the liquid, don’t roll the container on its aspect. If the specimen is tough to take away you would possibly need to enlist a helper who can assist the leaves and pitchers as you’re employed.

I’ll typically use a fork to insert into the aspect of the soil to tug the entire root ball out. You don’t need to seize the leaves as a result of they’re fragile, so if the pitcher plant doesn’t come out, a fork or small shovel is perhaps crucial.

If the soil or moss across the roots is fluffy and unfastened, you possibly can hold it and add it to the brand new pot. But when it’s compacted or damaged down, you’ll want to exchange it utterly.

Gently brush away as a lot of the prevailing soil from the basis ball as you possibly can and look at the roots, however use excessive care.

The roots are delicate and very delicate. Fastidiously snip off any which might be damaged or rotten.

If you wish to propagate by way of division, now could be the proper time. Gently tease a number of stems and roots aside from the mum or dad and repot these in their very own containers.

Repotting

Gently set the specimen within the new pot and fill across the roots with the chosen medium. Add water and prime off with extra medium if it has settled.

You probably did it! If the pitchers misplaced their liquid in the course of the transfer, add a little bit of distilled water till they’re a few quarter full.

A Profitable Switch

You are able to do this! I do know pitcher vegetation generally is a problem, however that’s a part of the enjoyable of cultivating these distinctive carnivorous species.

Now you’ve got the data to place your pitcher plant in a brand new container; you simply have to seize the bull by the horns and do it.

In fact, not the whole lot will all the time go in accordance with plan and you probably have any questions or run into any bother, please be at liberty to hit us up within the feedback part beneath!

And should you’d wish to be taught extra about cultivating pitcher vegetation, we’ve obtained you lined! Have a learn of those guides subsequent:

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