One might think that any insects that get near the plant will become food and good riddance. As with any plant, diseases of pitcher plant may occur and should be dealt with immediately. If you’re watering with tap water, this could be causing problems as well. Keep the plant moist to avoid injury to the plant from their sucking habits. Sign up for our newsletter. In this case, fertilize with a half dilution of liquid plant food directly into a pitcher that has water in it. The new leaves that come out and grow then turn brown on the ends. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! We live in Northwest Florida, and it is outside on a … When your Pitcher Plant has dry or brown pitchers, it is likely not getting enough water, in an area of low humidity, or a combination of both. Remove pitcher plant flowers as they die back. Spider mites attach when a plant is dry and the weather is hot. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. We bought a Nepenthes pitcher plant 3 months ago. Follow the directions carefully when using any pesticide and spray outdoors. You cannot see these teeny little insects well but deformed leaves will signal their presence. If you see tiny black spots that move, you have thrips. Pitcher plants should not be fertilized. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. Either way, the damage seriously affects the health of the plant. How to Cut the Brown From Pitcher Plants. To verify that they are in residence, hold a white piece of paper under the leaves and shake the foliage gently. Pitcher plant diseases such as these can enter through the roots, destroying the vascular system of the plant or just affect the foliage. Chemical drift from sprayed pesticides or herbicides is also a danger to the plant. More obvious in their damage are thrips. The most common pitcher plant problems lie in cultivation and environmental issues. If you’re unsure about pitcher plant care and the pitcher plant turning brown or yellow is discolored all over, you may have bigger problems. Neem oil is also effective. Pitcher Plants require consistent moisture and high humidity in order to thrive. Aphids, leafhoppers and mealybugs will also make a meal of your pitcher plant. As a bog plant engineered to harvesting its own nutrients, it is adaptable to low nutrient soils. 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Pitcher plants make interesting indoor plants, especially the tender, tropical Nepenthes varieties. It is growing beautifully but not producing any new pitchers (it has two small ones from when we bought it). This is true for many flying and creeping species, but some smaller foes exist that are too numerous and persistent for the plant to handle. Sarracenia varieties are native to North America and can survive outside in many zones. There are also some common pests of pitcher plants that can chew away the modified pitcher shaped leaf, preventing the plant from harvesting its food. Clean and sterilize clippers or scissors before making pruning cuts on the pitcher plants. Aphids, leafhoppers and mealybugs will also make a meal of your pitcher plant. That said, there are a few pitcher plant diseases and pests that may affect them as well. Although pitcher plants are bog natives, they don’t tolerate standing water like their carnivorous contemporaries, immediately reduce watering to dry out the soil around the plant’s crown. Dig up the plant and check for any firm, white rhizomes and replant these, discarding the mushy discolored sections. Pitcher plants are bog plants but they can also drown in solid clay soils, so be careful to ensure proper drainage. They do this because traditionally, these bog plants live in low nitrogen areas and must get nutrients in other ways. However, the freezing temperatures before the plant is fully dormant may kill the rhizomes. Control them using water rinses and an application of a product called Orthene applied as a spray. Fertilizing promotes the formation of these spores to multiply rapidly and they can wreak havoc on your pitcher plant. Pitcher plants are fascinating carnivorous plants that harvest insects and feed on their juices. Direct fertilization of the soil can encourage natural soil borne spores from Rhizoctonia and Fusarium, which are very common fungal diseases of pitcher plants. Control them using water rinses and an application of a product called Orthene applied as a spray. If you see tiny black spots that move, you have thrips. If they experience periods of dry soil or low humidity, their pitchers will die off as a … Outdoor plants can survive some freezing temperatures with a thick blanket of mulch around the rhizome area. To verify that they are in residence, hold a white piece of paper under the leaves and shake the foliage gently.