Deep planting

[richardhole]

Hello

Could it cause Sarracenia any problems or slow growth much if they are repotted and planted slightly deeper than they were growing?
Normally they grow with about half the crown above the soil and half below. However, sometimes my workers pot them a bit deeper so that the entire crown is below the surface or so the level of the soil may be about half an inch higher than it was before they were potted. Some of them were potted about 4 weeks ago. If there is a problem with them being planted a bit deep, is it still best to remove some of the soil so that about half of the crown is above the soil.

Deep planting could be worth researching because with some trees they grow a lot better and faster if they are planted much deeper than they normally grow but it would probably not benefit Sarracenias because they have a crown at about the level of the soil.

Also would it worry sundews or Venus fly traps if they are planted a bit deeper than normal?

Regards Richard.

[Not a Number]

I normally repot my Sarracenia just before the growing season begins.

I've never noticed any difference between those planted "deep" or with more of the crown exposed but then I wasn't looking for any. By the end of the growing season the crown gets more exposure both from settling of the media and growth. How much is due to growth or media settling/compacting/eroding I couldn't say.

Erosion and compacting occurs in nature and flooding can move layers of soil to cover the crowns. In growing upwards the plants can seek their own level.

As far as Drosera and Dionaea go exposing too much of the Dionaea "bulb" that was previously covered can lead to sunburn with a negative impact on growth. I try to repot them to the same level as before.

With Drosera it doesn't seem to matter too much. However tubers are probably better to replant at the same depth or slightly less - too deep and it may run out of reserves before the stolon emerges and can begin photosynthesis. With skirt/column forming species (most of the South African rosetted species for example) I will cut off the skirt of dead leaves and repot covering the resulting stem. This stem isn't sturdy enough to support the rosette without the skirt.

[Aidan]

Plant Sarracenia at the level they like to be which is generally at or near the surface. If potted at depth, plants will grow weedy, pipecleaner-like rhizome in order to return to the surface. S. minor and S. oreophila are the exceptions and if planted at the surface will head downward and bury themselves quite deeply over time.