Sarracenia Care Guide

How to Care for Sarracenia 

Sarracenia, also known as the North American pitcher plant or the trumpet pitcher plant, are easy-to-grow carnivorous bog plants. Follow these simple steps to make your Sarracenia thrive!

Sarracenia Light

Sarracenia thrive in bright, direct sunlight. 

Sarracenia grow natively in bogs, which are typically out in the open with little to no tree cover. This means there is no relief from direct sunshine, but these plants have evolved to use the light to their advantage. The abundance of light gives these plants the energy they need to grow, as well as deepens their stunning colors.

During the growing season (spring to late autumn), it's best to place them outdoors or on a sunny windowsill, preferably south-facing. 

Alternatively, they can be grown under high-intensity fluorescent, LED, or halogen grow lights for at least 14-16 hours a day, ensuring a robust appearance. In winter, if using lights, shorten the photoperiod to 12 hours. 

Insufficient light may result in long, greenish leaves, and weak growth.

To learn more about growing underneath grow lights, check out our guide!

Above from Left to Right: These Sarracenia grow outdoors in pots grouped together in large trays that sit out in the open beneath direct sunlight; This Sarracenia grows happily indoors beneath a grow light.

What is a photoperiod?
A photoperiod is the duration of time that a plant or animal is exposed to light within a 24-hour period.

Sarracenia Temperature and Humidity

During spring and summer, Sarracenia thrive in temperatures of 55-95°F, tolerating up to 110°F if the soil remains moist. In arid desert regions, provide shade during the hottest parts of the day. 

In late autumn and winter, move Sarracenia to cooler areas with reduced light to induce dormancy. Some examples include unheated sheds, garages, and basements, or leaving them outdoors to let nature take over. Sarracenia can actually tolerate temperatures down to 20°F, but if the temperature falls any lower, ensure that the rhizome is protected by bringing it to a sheltered, unheated location.

Sarracenia do not require high humidity, but may struggle in dry, arid climates. 

What is dormancy? 

Dormancy is the state plants go into when the conditions around them are not ideal for growth, so they slow down or die back to conserve energy until ideal conditions resume. 

For example, Venus flytraps, Sarracenia, and some Drosera all undergo winter dormancy. In the winter, there is not enough sunlight or warmth to keep these plants happy, so they pull their energy inward and “rest” until spring. 

These dormancies are necessary for the health of the plant and should be allowed or provided yearly (think: less time under the grow light, put in the garage where it’s cooler, etc.)

Caring for Sarracenia During Dormancy

During dormancy, keep the Sarracenia cool, ideally between 35°F to 55°F at night, to discourage pests. While they can withstand temperatures down to the low 20's, it's best to keep them above freezing. They may appear dormant or almost dead on the surface, but if not dried out or overwatered, they'll thrive again in early Spring when warmer temperatures return.

Slow down on watering them, as well. While they need to remain damp, they do not need to sit in water like they do during the growing season, as this can lead to potential fungal issues. 

Caring for Sarracenia After Dormancy 

As spring ushers in longer days and warmer temperatures, your Sarracenia will begin to wake up from its rejuvenating winter dormancy. 

Signs of dormancy breaking include new green leaves and pitchers growing from the rhizome and tall flowers that start as a little ball on a stalk before blooming into unique, vibrant colors. We encourage Sarracenia growers to enjoy the flowers, instead of cut them! Allowing your Sarracenia to flower will not harm it. 

Above: This is just one of the many vibrant colors that Sarracenia flowers bloom in! Enjoy them! Pollinators love them, too. 

To help the plant along, trim the brown, crispy leaves down to the rhizome to make room for and encourage new pitcher growth. Then resume growing season care (light, watering, etc.)

Above: This is how one of our Sarracenia looked in early spring of 2026, right as it is waking up from its dormancy. These brown leaves are perfectly normal! We trimmed them all back to the rhizome, and they're doing great. 

Watering Sarracenia

Sarracenia need pure water sourced from rainwater, distilled water, or reverse osmosis water.

This is because carnivorous plants thrive in nutrient-poor environments and are sensitive to excess minerals in water and soil. Other water sources, even the cleanest tap water, may contain too many minerals and could harm the plant over time. Note that boiling your water or using pour-through filters do not filter the water adequately enough and should not be considered as viable alternatives. 

To water your Sarracenia, we recommend the tray method. Place the pot in a tray with water about 1 inch deep, allowing it to dry out before adding more water to maintain healthy roots.

Sarracenia Soil

Sarracenia must be in soil that is poor in nutrients and acidic, similar to their native growing conditions. We recommend a mix of 50% pure peat moss and 50% perlite or sand. 

Our bog mix (which is available on our website a la carte) is made of: 

• 1 to 2 parts perlite

• 2 parts peat moss

See our soil mixing guide for more information.

Potting Sarracenia

When you order Sarracenia from us, we typically send them as a bare-root rhizome, which means you will need to pot it upon arrival.

If you are mixing your own soil, it is recommended that you wet it before working with it. This is because peat moss is hydrophobic (repels water) and will struggle to retain water later if not soaked first. 

If you are purchasing our bog mix, you don’t need to worry about that step, as we soak our mixes before packaging them. They are ready to use upon opening, but it would not hurt anything to soak it again.  

Once your soil is ready, place the mix in your pot, create a hole in the center, and set your plant inside. Make sure the roots are buried, but that the rhizome is sitting just at the surface, parallel with the soil level. It’s important not to submerge the rhizome completely.

Repotting Sarracenia 

Sarracenia should be repotted every 2 years or so. If they are growing happily, the rhizome will have outgrown the pot so much that it might fall over or bend the pot.

Follow the above potting instructions for repotting!

Feeding Sarracenia 

For outdoor Sarracenia with fully opened pitchers, they'll catch their own prey. If grown indoors under lights, feed them a dead insect once a month. Alternatively, you can fill their pitchers with a diluted liquid fertilizer such as Maxsea, but be cautious not to overfill, as it may cause bending or breakage. Note: This method is not recommended for beginners.

Attention Holiday Season Buyers: If your Sarracenia arrives during winter and is still actively growing, it's best to let it continue. Young Sarracenia can tolerate missing one dormancy season, but more than that can stress the Sarracenia. Keep in mind that plants skipping dormancy may experience a mild dormancy period in the following spring/summer.

If you follow the above tips, you'll be well on your way to growing healthy and happy Sarracenia! Note: Temperate American sundews and Venus flytraps can be grown alongside Sarracenia under the same conditions.

Need more information? See our growing tips and care guides.

More Resources: 

Shopping: Sarracenia Catalog

Video: Springtime Sarracenia Care (In Texas)

Video: Carnivorous Plant Dormancy 

View the Ultimate Carnivorous Plant Care Guide