Pitcher Plant Care Sheet

Pitcher plants eat insects and can be grown as houseplants.

Pitcher plants (Sarracenia) or monkey cups are carnivorous plants that eat bugs and grow up to 3 feet tall in the right environment. One of the pitcher plant's favorite foods is yellow jackets, according to the My Carnivore website.

Lighting

Bright light is preferred over direct sunlight. Broad spectrum plant lights work well for indoor gardening, but should be kept at a distance to keep from overheating plants. If a pitcher plant is spindly it may not be receiving adequate light.

Growing Conditions

Pitcher plants like moist soil conditions and a humid environment, like you would find in a greenhouse. Plants grown in arid conditions may not develop pitchers. Pitcher plants will do well in part shade outdoors during the warmer, more humid weather. Do not leave your pitcher plant outside if the temperature is expected to drop below 50 degrees.

Feeding

Pitcher plants that are kept indoors need to be fed. Food can be in the form of a water-soluble fertilizer for acid-loving plants mixed at 1/8 tsp. per quart of water added directly to the pitcher, or you can add flies or a couple of cockroaches to the pitcher. Newly purchased pitcher plants or plants that have had their water drained, need to have water added to the pitchers or they will dry out and die.

References

• My Carnivore: Pitcher Plant
• Botanique: Caring for Tropical Pitcher Plants