Brown Leaves on a Pitcher Plant

The North American pitcher plant is native to the eastern U.S. and parts of Canada.

The pitcher plant has pitcher-shaped leaves that produce nectar to lure insects. Pitcher plant leaves are generally bright green. Brown leaves are not necessarily an unfavorable sign, but there are times that brown leaves show that the plant needs help.

Drought Stress

Brown leaves can indicate drought stress. The pitcher plant can tolerate temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. In its habitat, however, the soil temperature remains moderate because of natural spring water in the environment. Gardeners must pay close attention to soil in container gardens to avoid overheated roots. Watering the plant from the top might be necessary if the soil temperature rises to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Frost Burn

Frost burn turns a pitcher plant's leaves brown if the temperature falls below 32 degrees Fahrenheit for longer than a week. This happens in areas like USDA zone 7. To protect the pitcher plant from frost burn, the gardener should cover it with black plastic until temperatures rise above 35 degrees F.

Dormancy

Shorter daylight hours and temperatures below 50 degrees F trigger a pitcher plant's dormancy period. Some varieties produce non-carnivorous leaves for winter months, and the main pitcher turns brown around the edges. The browning is normal for the dormancy period.

References

• "Grow Carnivorous Plants"; Carnivorous Plant Care for September 2009; September 4th, 2009
• Georgia Nature Center: Pitcher Plant
• Sarracenia Northwest: Sarracenia; North American Pitcher Plants