PURPLE PITCHER PLANT: Sarracenia Purpurea ssp. Purpurea

• Species:  Sarracenia
• Sarracenia purpurea, commonly known as the purple pitcher plant, northern pitcher plant, turtle socks, or side-saddle flower, is a carnivorous plant in the family Sarraceniaceae
• Sarracenia purpurea var purpurea grows fat stocky clumping pitchers, which turns deep pink to red later in the growing season
• Purple pitcher plants use a pitfall trap to obtain nutrients.  The pitfall trap is exactly what you are thinking - the pitcher forms a pit into which prey fall, and once inside, the insect cannot escape. The bottom of the pit is often filled with water which causes insects to drown, which then sinks to the bottom.  Insects are then digested by enzymes, bacterial action or other small organisms
• In general, purple pitcher plants are some of the easiest carnivorous plants to grow and will be a fantastic addition to any carnivore plant enthusiast's ultimate collection

• Whether you prefer starting off with a younger plant and watch it grow into full majestic glory over the years or jumping in with more munch, right from the get go, we've got you covered!  Cultivo is all about choices and our plants are available in various sizes and options to suit your every need.  These are 3 year old (3-5cm across) to 6+ years (near-flowering size) plants, already potted in our deluxe carnivorous plant soil to take the hassle out of repotting.  Simply unwrap, add water and enjoy! 

• Winter dormancy:
• During the autumn and winter months, purple pitcher plants are sold as dormant rhizomes with cut pitchers
• New summer pitchers (in sizes indicated) are expected during springtime
• Should you be unfamiliar with this plant species, head over to our FAQ section for more information on what to expect when ordering plants in the sarracenia genus during the colder months >> Temperate plants and winter dormancy:  What to expect   

Purple pitcher plants will thrive if their basic needs (sun and water) are met and are excellent candidates for beginner carnivorous plant enthusiasts

• Generally, plants in the sarracenia family will thrive outdoors.  Grow your plant in a sunny spot, year round, for strong growth and ultimate colouration
• In Gauteng, we recommend growing purple pitchers in full sun (or at the very least) 6 hours morning sun.  Note that during summertime soil may become very hot and plants may overheat during heatwaves.  During these spells, protect your plant from the harsh afternoon sun

WATER:

• Purple pitcher plants are native to wetland areas, for this reason soil are to be kept moist all the time. Top-watering is fine too and because of the open pitcher design, rain water often collect in pitchers
• Low-mineral water is highly recommended and we use distilled- or reverse osmosis water, when rainwater is scarce
• Fluctuate the water level to air the roots by letting the tray dry in between waterings, but never let the plant itself dry out completely

FEEDING:

• Carnivorous plants are self-sufficient hunters and have adapted to catch and digest their own food.  Purple pitchers are plants, therefor their growing energy is derived from the sun via photosynthesis (Your plant will not die due to starvation)
• During the growing season they will lure, catch and digest their own insects which acts as a type of fertiliser. Never feed your pitcher plant hamburger meat, viennas, biltong, braaivleis, milk or vegetables (Let me know if I left something out 😂 )

SOIL:

• Do not fertilise your plant and only use sphagnum-peat based plant soil, which is low in minerals. Compost, coco peat, palm peat and regular garden variety potting soil contain salts and minerals that will kill your plant
• We recommend repotting purple pitcher plants yearly, into fresh carnivorous plant soil, at the end of winter dormancy

WINTER DORMANCY:

• Plants of the sarracenia family, which include purple pitcher plants, are sun-loving temperate plants which means they grow actively during summertime, and die back significantly during the winter months when the daylight period is shorter
  • If you are new to carnivorous plants, see our FAQ section on what to expect from your plant during dormancy
• Please note that in order to display individual characteristics, images mostly represent mature plants in full summer growth cultivated in optimal conditions
• During winter dormancy pitchers usually die off partially (halfway) or in some cases entirely.  Plants will appear smaller and present with dry (dying) pitchers during and a couple of weeks after the dormancy period in the colder months of the year (Usually May to October)
• New growth will sprout during springtime, once your plant has settled into its new environment 

QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE:

• This is a lot to digest, but following this guide we trust that your plant will thrive in your care.  Below is a quick reference guide on growing a happy and healthy purple pitcher plant