Sarracenia brought out of dormancy too fast?

[unstuckintime]

Hey everyone,

I have something of a newbie question. This spring, my Sarracenia Purpurea died, and a lot of my S. Leucophyll died (the main crown, and all but one of the off-shoots). At first, i was bumming, but brushed it off... but i suppose not entirely. Its been kicking around in my head, "why did the one die, and the other almost die?" I think now that maybe i brought them out of dormancy too fast, that is too say, put them in the sun and gave them too much water too soon. Has anyone else made this rookie mistake and been able to identify it as such? I'm willing to bet it was too much water too soon more so than the light, but, thats just me.

(By "bringing them out of dormancy," i mean i put them out in the sun, as opposed to the basement, once the temp's outside reached above 40 degrees F during the day, and the snow melts on a regular basis. At night, though, i'd bring them back inside to the warmish house... maybe that was the problem....)

[Adammmm]

I bring mine out beginning of April, when the first signs of life come. You should be good, just keep them out, it may not be dead

[brokken]

I think that the constant movement of moving from one location to another coupled with erratic temperature changes probably did them in. Once you decide to take your sarras outdoors, there'd better be a good reason for you to want to bring them indoors again.

As a general rule: A hands-off approach is the best way to deal with ANY plant.

[unstuckintime]

May 20, 2009 22:47:16 GMT brokken said:

As a general rule: A hands-off approach is the best way to deal with ANY plant.

Thats very true. The second I stopped paying attention to my Utricularia Sandersonii, it started blooming, and hasn't stopped since, so....

I'm pretty sure that is what did them in, the constant temp fluctuations. I probably got ahead of myself, wanting to bring them out too early. Thanks for everyone's input!

[Bert]

I don't think giving too much water is possible. Although i have read many times that sarracenia's should be kept drier when in dormancy, i wonder if it is really necessary. I have been growing S. flava outdoors for 25 years now; in winter they are just as soaked as in summer, there is always water in the trays. During those 25 years i have never lost 1 plant.

[Aidan]

There is a big difference between growing plants indoors and out. In winter and under cover, plants are particularly susceptible to fungal infection. Hence the advice to reduce watering in winter.