Winter Mold on Carnivorous Plants: Treatment and Prevention

Celia in NE Ohio overwintered American pitcher plants, flytraps, sundews in basement stairwell under hay. Mild winter. Found thick white cottony mold on leaves (worst on Sarracenia). Cut affected leaves.

Expert Emergency Steps

Jeff Dallas:

1. Unpot all plants; check rhizomes/bulbs. If tops colored and firm, may survive. Brown/mushy rhizomes, black roots = dead. Mold may be only on soil.
2. Send photo if unsure.
3. Repot survivors in fresh media.
4. Spray heavily with fungicide. Podcast on fungicides.
5. Spray unaffected plants too (fungus present).
6. Move outside as soon as severe frost passes.

Future Prevention

• Spray sulfur fungicide (excellent preventative) before covering.
• Saturate thoroughly.
• Check every 2 weeks; reapply if mold appears.

Follow-Up: Safer Brand 3-in-1 Safety

Celia asks about Safer Brand 5452 (potassium salts of fatty acids 0.75% + sulfur 0.4%). Jeff says potassium salts = insecticidal soap, damages many CPs. Save for veg garden. Find Safer's sulfur-only product or wettable sulfur powder.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
www.cobraplant.com