Trumpet Pitcher plants are one of the few plants in the world that hybridize themselves.
Combine those varieties with artificially hybridized versions, and the colors and types of
Sarracenia are almost endless. This is excellent news for the home gardener in the UK since
many hybrids are a cross with the S. purpurea. As the most weather resilient of the Sarracenia
genus, hybrids mixed with S. purpurea are more likely to thrive as outdoor plants in the UK or as
indoor plants in conditions other than the perfect sunny southern windowsill.
The variations in color and size found in Trumpet Pitcher plants are almost too long to list. The
same hybridization that allows for so many colors also influences the shape and form of the
“trumpet” part of the plant, leading to more than just color variations. If you’re looking for a
specific color or style or hoping for your plant to grow to a certain height, it’s best to do some
research before purchasing.
Care of hybrid Sarracenia is the same as for non-hybridized species, though as mentioned
earlier, some combinations may be more tolerant of less than ideal conditions. If you’re planting
your hybrid Trumpet Pitchers outdoors, make sure they are in bog-like soil, that you maintain
adequate moisture levels, and that the plant is getting full sun. Some gardeners use the phrase
“wet feet, dry ankles” to remind themselves that the roots of this carnivorous plant species are
what matters. When planted in the ground, the soil should be soggy at least 10cm into the
ground. Outdoor plants will otherwise be able to meet their own needs for feeding and seasonal
dormancy.
If your hybrid Trumpet Pitcher plant is an indoor plant, it will need to be placed in a sunny
windowsill with the potential addition of a grow lamp if it is not consistently getting 12 hours of
direct sunlight. Keep the soil consistently moist. When in doubt, water: carnivorous plants can
rarely be overwatered.
Whether indoors or outdoors, you should avoid watering your plants with tap or garden hose
water. Rain will obviously take care of most of your outdoor plant’s watering needs, but if you go
through a dry spell, make sure to water with distilled water. Indoor plants can be watered using
distilled water, reverse osmosis water, or collected rainwater. Potted Sarracenia plants –
regardless of location – are often best watered by setting the pots in a shallow tray of water and
allowing them to suck the water up through the bottom.
Your indoor hybrid Trumpet Pitcher will need a period of dormancy in the winter months and
should be fed insects at least monthly. You can use freeze-dried bugs if you don’t have enough
“naturally occurring” fruit flies and spiders.