Floppy pitchers

[aprilh]

I apologise if this subject has been addressed previously..but I could find no mention of it, or I'm going blind, which is possible.

I received an un-named pitcher plant as a gift from someone who got out of the business.

It is flowering, and sending up new pitchers, so in that respect it seems like a normal plant. My judgement on this plant is that it needs re-potting, which I will do in the next couple of days. The problem is...even the new, un-opened pitchers flop over..they don't seem to be able to stand up to anything but the mildest breeze. The pitchers flop, then they start browning from the top down. The new pitchers on the other pitcher plants I have stand up to wind just fine.

What can I do to solve this problem? I have been staking them thus far..but I'd prefer to figure out what the problem is here, and fix it.

Also...I have read with interest the idea of giving pitchers diluted 2% milk or bits of egg white for a protein boost. What dilution rate for the milk? Thanking you all in advance! AprilH

 

[seedjar]

Hmm... I'm still pretty new, and I've never had a plant with pitchers that flopped before opening. But, everyone seems to have good things to say about repotting Sarracenia, so that probably couldn't hurt. What immediately comes to mind for me is light - has this plant been deprived of adaquate sunlight? My first pitcher plant came to me looking more like a trailing plant because the nursery had left it in a dark corner where it had become etoliated and too lanky to support itself. I got it as it was going into dormancy, so I just clipped those leaves off and have had it in a nice, bright spot all winter, and it's made a full recovery.
As for the milk, I don't remember exactly, but there's a post - I think it's in the Neps forum - on feeding that mentions this and probably has more relevant links. I think that one part milk to three parts water is good, but I also seem to remember people just saying to put a few drops in each pitcher, so I don't know if that's a few drops of the dilution or what... In any case, it shouldn't be hard to find, and a lot of people who tried it reported success.
Best luck,
~Joe

 

[aprilh]

Thanks, Joe. This plant was in a greenhouse previous to my getting it. Full sun, southern exposure. It's getting a full sun southern exposure now.

 

[seedjar]

Hmm, strange. Perhaps one of the vets will have a better answer. As for the feeding thread, it's here. There may be other threads that discuss milk - you should try using the forum search feature on the top-right corner of the page.
~Joe

 

[Clint]

you mean as if there is no cell wall?

 

[aprilh]

JustLike, yeah, kinda, I guess? there was one mature pitcher on this plant when I got it, and it was very floppy. the pitchers look like leggy plants that have had not enough light, or been over fertilised, though I know this one had tons of light, and no fertiliser. The cell wall thing makes sense. I'm thinking re-potting might help, as it looks very crowed in it's 6 inch pot. I'll continue to stake the pitchers, if only to send pictures of it so someone may be able to identify it.

 

[SarraceniaScott]

The rhizome may be buried too deeply. I've seen that happen once before, and I think it was because the rhizome was buried too deeply.

Bare-root the rhizome. Repot it in pure, long-fiber sphagnum, and make sure the growth points are protruding above the surface.

 

[sarracenia]

a couple of possibilities:
the plant has a root rot of some sort. i'd inspect the rhizome and make sure it appears healthy.

another possibility: it could be a hybrid with purp or psitt, making the pitchers lanky. although that wouldn't explain the browning.

 

[Slurm]

Floppy Pitchers?

Maybe your plant needs

NATURAL PITCHER ENHANCEMENT!!!!!

GET SARRALIS, no more pitcher envy,
no more "compensating" with bright colors and big flowers,
just BIG, STRAIGHT, STIFF traps the SARRALIS way!

If trap stiffening lasts more than 4 hours, please consult a horticulturalist immediatly, or get the offending trap pruned off.

Side effects were generally mild and may include lack of pitcher fluid, root disturbance, and lack of anthocyan pigment.

This has been a paid advertisement of pharmasarrcorp. industries.


Sorry, It had to be done...
ROTFLMAO

 

[Bugweed]

I feel fortunate to always have real stiff traps and not have to rely on sarralis for hardening of the traps. Seems to me spontaniety would be lacking in a limp pitcher! Aprilh, kick it to the curb, and work on it until you are completely satisfied. No need to suffer "Limp Pitcher Syndrome". Good Lord!!!! The side effects are KILLER!!!! I am sooooo proud of my stiff pitcher!

 

[aprilh]

You know, I was thinking those same thoughts...but didn't go that way, because I thought it might not be proper. Beavis & Butthead Live!

 

[SarraceniaScott]

Won't somebody please think of the children!

 

[Bugweed]

Already thought of the children. Had two. Don't want anymore, so I don't think about'em.

 

[gardenofeden]

maybe it is a rubra of some sort, they often have floppy spring pitchers...

 

[aprilh]

I had a boston fern I used to give birth control pills to...biggest, healthiest plant I ever had..but every 28 days it would have a hissy fit and start throwing stuff at me........

 

[LauraZ5]

Thanks for making my day.  The comments were suggestive and nothing that a younger child would pick up on so I personally see no harm other than good old fashioned adult humor at work here.  I am going to have to save this and show it to my husband.  Pretty funny.  By the way, I have a kid humming the music to the viagra commercials he sees on tv.  Adults about fall over and he is absolutely clueless.

 

[jimscott]

Je ne comprends pas! ROFL!

 

[schloaty]

Quote[/b] ]Already thought of the children. Had two. Don't want anymore, so I don't think about'em.

Then why are you so proud of your big, stiff pitcher? Sounds like it may have caught its last prey....


Anyhow, I've had the floppy pitcher problem with plants that were grown in a sheltered area, and didn't have to cope with wind. Once placed outside, their new pitchers were more robust to compensate.

 

[aprilh]

Well....truth be known, I don't give a flying darn about children, or their wants, or their needs, nor warping their little minds, nor offending their sensibilities...but I just thought I'd be polite, for a change.

 

[LauraZ5]

Say April, you know what happened over at the Illinois State Beach Park today right? The ash is still drifting.