Nematodes on Sarracenia roots?

[sdjames]

I'm curious about whether sarracenia can have problems with nematodes on their roots. I've seen scant mention out on the web and I'd never noticed it in my collection until possibly today.

The attached photo shows some of the roots of a S. flava that I pulled out of one of my bog buckets after I suspected it of rhizome rot. It did have some rot, which I cleaned up; but I noticed that many of the roots looked strange. Those to the left of the photo appear basically healthy, but the big root on the right is swollen up considerably. They look an awful lot like nematodes of the sort I find on tomato roots, for instance.

Do they look like nematodes to the rest of you? And if so, are there ways to cure or at least lessen their impact?

Some background information: This was a new plant from another grower about a year ago that sputtered along and never really found its groove. It was potted in a sand/sphagnum peat mix and grown fairly dry, more "moist" than "wet." I'm wondering, for one thing, if the occasional submersion that many plants experience in collections, growing in pans of water and the like, keeps down nematodes. Or should I just trash the plant before it goes on to infect others?

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[JimHouse]

Hi James,

I'm absolutely certain I've read about sarracenia specific nematodes. I just checked D'Amato's book, thinking it may have been that one, but it wasn't. Must have been another book. I'll keep looking for it.

At any rate, I'd suggest flooding. Remember, most sarrs can grow as emergent plants for short periods of time, and the psittacinas can actually grow underwater!

I'd imagine that would work, especially if you changed your system to be truly wet. if you're growing indoors, don't forget to flush after they've been in standing water for a while, just to avoid accumulation.

if that doesn't work after a while, you could always go with the chemical route, although I've seen no info as far as the nematode specific ones. I'd start with one of the safe systemics, like orthene or malathion. I'm totally just spit-balling here, because I can only assume they'll kill nematodes, but at least the chemistry won't kill your plant!

Jim

[sdjames]

Thanks for the help, Jim. Living in Southern California we don't get half of the rainfall of the Dust Bowl--and almost never in summer--so I'm always eager to find the limits of how dry I can grow plants and still keep them happy. I may have just found the natural limits for sarracenia. The rescued flava pieces are now standing in water, hopefully drowning out at least some of the nematodes...