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Trimming Old Baby Pitchers on Sarracenia: Necessary or Optional?

A grower had a Sarracenia with 4 large pitchers and 7 tiny brown-tipped pitchers from last season. Asked if they should trim them to redirect energy.

Expert Advice

Jacob Farin said baby pitchers are from last season; trimming is fine but not necessary. They'll dry up and fall off naturally as new growth emerges. His rule: "Cut off a leaf when you can't stand looking at it anymore." Video podcast episode 5 covers this.

Carnivorous Plants: Identifying a Vigorous Nepenthes: Likely N. sanguinea Hybrid; Cephalotus Sudden Collapse: Seasonal Change or Care Error?; Separating a Pinguicula 'Aphrodite' Offset: Wait for Size; New Nepenthes Losing Pitchers/Leaves: Normal Acclimation; Nepenthes alata Loses Last Pitcher: No Problem—Focus on Light; Normal Pitcher Loss on Young Cephalotus During Acclimation; Mold in Nepenthes Pitchers After Feeding Fish Food—Terrarium Humidity Is the Culprit; Baby Pitchers on Sarracenia purpurea: Rhizome Divisions, Not Energy Drain; Nepenthes Ventrata Pitchers Shriveling After Shipping: Acclimation Explained; Baby's Tears (Soleirolia): Delicate Carpet of Tiny Leaves for Terrariums

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