How to Propagate Sarracenia

Overview

There are eight species included in the Sarracenia genus, seven endemic to the southeastern United States. Sarracenias, also called pitcher plants, are perennial carnivorous plants whose enzyme-producing leaves form a pitcher. Insects become trapped in the pitcher and leaves secrete the enzyme to aid in digestion. Division is the easiest method of propagation with sarracenias. Propagate in the spring when it starts producing new growth.

Step 1

Lay newspapers on a flat work surface.

Step 2

Combine 4 parts of peat moss, 2 parts of perlite and 1 part silica sand in a plastic dishpan. Pour water over it and mix until it is evenly moist. Fill the planting pot with the moist growing medium.

Step 3

Tip the pot holding the sarracenia on its side and gently slide out the plant.

Step 4

Brush away the soil until the you have a clear view of the rhizome and any small plants growing from it.

Step 5

Gently pull the young plants from the mother plant. This can usually done by hand, but if necessary, you can cut the small plants from the mother plant, taking the attached root system. Although serracenia babies without a root system can survive, it will take them longer to establish. If you leave the unrooted young plants on the mother plant's rhizome for another year, they will develop their own root systems.

Step 6

Plant the young sarracenia in the new pot and return the mother plant to its pot. Place the young sarracenia in a sunny location in a shallow tray of water. Do not allow the tray to dry out.