Sarracenia (Sarracenia) is an unusual representative of indoor plants. It is a carnivorous plant from the Sarracene family, originating from the humid peatlands of the Americas.
Sarracenia is a herbaceous perennial. Its leaves are made in swirling water lily traps. The leaves are narrow, slightly expanding upward, forming a water lily with a lid. The diameter of each leaf is about 8 cm. Each leaf has a bright color, usually red streaks. Inside, such a water lily is covered with coarse hair that grows downward, which does not allow insects to crawl out.
Each water lily is filled with a special digestive fluid, with the help of which the sarracenia assimilates the trapped prey, which becomes food for it. To attract insects, sarracenia water lilies emit a sweetish alluring aroma. Many predatory plants close the traps after they catch the insect. But Sarracenia does not. An insect that has got inside simply drowns in the digestive fluid, gradually decomposing in it. It blooms as single flowers on a long peduncle. The diameter of each flower reaches about 10 cm. Shades of flowers are purple, yellow or purple.
Caring for sarraceny at home
Location and lighting
Sarracenia loves bright sunlight, tolerates direct rays well. It is very important not to change the position of the plant in relation to the light source. This means that for sarracenia it categorically does not tolerate it when it is rearranged or rotated.
Temperature
Sarracenia grows at almost any temperature above zero. In winter, he prefers to be at 10 degrees Celsius.
Air humidity
Sarracenia does not need high humidity. It will be sufficient to provide humidity at a level of about 35-40%.
Watering
The earthy lump in which the sarracenia grows must be constantly moist. To do this, in the summer and spring, the sump is regularly filled with water and maintained at a level of about 1 cm. In winter, water is not poured into the sump, but the soil is still regularly moistened. For irrigation, it is better to use warm, settled water.
The soil
For planting and growing sarracenia, a light nutritious soil with an acidity level of about 4.5-5.5 pH is suitable. The mixture can be prepared independently by taking high-moor peat, sphagnum moss and coarse sand in a ratio of 4: 2: 2. It is advisable to add charcoal to the substrate.
Top dressing and fertilizers
You do not need to fertilize sarracenia. She receives all the nutrients she needs from the caught insects.
Transfer
Sarracenia needs a transplant once every two years. Be sure to put a good drainage layer on the bottom of the pot.
Reproduction of sarracenia
Sarracenia can be propagated by seeds, daughter rosettes, or by dividing an adult bush.
Seeds must be planted in a nutritious substrate, moistened and maintained in greenhouse conditions.When propagating by dividing a bush or daughter rosettes, parts of the plant are planted in separate containers. It is very convenient to do this during plant transplantation.
Diseases and pests
Among the pests that infect sarracenia, spider mites and aphids are often found. The plant is usually not affected by fungal diseases.
