Jacob here with Sarracenia Northwest, and this is
your carnivorous plant care guide for August 2023. Throughout the month, you might see some brown
spots on your Sarracenia. It would occur mostly on Sarracenia oreophila and flava, and their
hybrids. These plants come up early in spring, and by mid-summer, they start to slow down. When
that happens their pitchers will gradually turn brown, or even flop over. This is a completely
normal process for these early season plants. You might also see some brown patches on the sides
of the pitchers, too. That is a sign that your plant is earning its keep. That brown spot is a
result of excess insects decaying in the pitcher, and it’s nothing to worry about. It’s just an
aesthetic issue, not a health issue. The late season plants will slowly come into their
prime when the weather cools down in late August. This would include many varieities of
Sarracenia leucophylla, purpurea venosa, alata, minor,
and their hybrids. These plants will gradually produce more attractive pitchers as
the intense summer heat subsides. Here, with this Sarracenia alata Red Hood, you can see
the difference between early season pitchers and late season pitchers. The early season pitchers
are darkening. However, the late season pitchers that are coming up are brighter and bigger. The
same is true with this Sarracenia leucophylla Lil’ Big Mouth. The early season pitchers are thin,
while the late season pitchers are much stouter. August is also peak time for the Venus
Flytrap. Lots of large traps and bright colors. North American sundews will be in varying states
of growth depending on the variety. Drosera rotundifolia and hybrida slow down significantly
in August since they like cooler temperatures, while intermedia and filiformis will still be
going strong. Caring for outdoor perennials in August is very straight forward. First, give them
as much sunlight as possible. As a rule of thumb, Sarracenia and flytraps require the same
amount of sunlight as tomato plants. So, if the location you’re growing your plants can’t
sustain a tomato plant, move them to a sunnier location. Make sure the soil is also wet. You can
do this by letting the pots sit a shallow tray of water, or top watering them daily. Just be sure to
use mineral-free water. Now if you need to work outside in the sun, make sure to protect yourself.
My mom was worried about me working in the sun, so when I went to visit her in Colorado in
October, she took me to a hat shop for a cowboy hat. This hat was made by Brook Briddle, a very
fine hatter at Powder River Hats in Elizabeth, Colorado, and was custom-made for my head.
So, thank you Brook. And thank you, mom! Tropical sundews will vary in growth this month,
and it all depends on the variety. Some varieties, like the fork leaf sundews, love the summer heat,
so they’re going to grow like crazy and develop lots of color. Other sundews, like the mountainous
species native to South Africa and South America, tend to slow down during the hottest parts of
summer. They’ll perk up when the weather cools in late August and early September. The same
is true with tropical butterworts. To care for these plants, try to position them in a way so
that they can get a few hours of direct sunlight but preventing their pots from overheating. If
necessary, find ways to keep the windowsill cool. Also keep the soil wet at all times. Just like
sundews, Nepenthes will vary in growth depending on the variety. Some of the low land species
and hybrids love the warm days and nights, so they usually grow well during the hottest
parts of summer. Others, grow best when summer nights are very cool, so they tend to grow slower
and produce fewer pitchers in August. Tropical pitcher plants grow best with several hours of
direct sunlight and bright filtered sun during the rest of the day. Keep the soil consistently
moist but not waterlogged. The soil surface should always feel slightly damp to the touch. Top
water with low-mineral water and allow the water to drain through completely. Now, if you need help
with your carnivorous plants, we’re here for you. Visit our website, growcarnivorousplants.com, and
look for “Ask The Growers” link to submit your question. One of our growers will then get back
to you shortly. If you live in the Portland area, we invite you to our open house in September.
It’s our last open house of the year, and many Sarracenia will be in their prime. We will also
be selling many large plants that are too big to ship through the mail. So, these plants are
available only at the open house. Space is limited and reservations are required. You can sign up
on our website, growcarnivorousplants.com. Thank you so much for watching. I look
forward to seeing you in another video.
