Something is eating my pitcher plant. Hes been outside al...
12
Best Answer
First I want to say NEVER ever use peppermint oil or alcohol even dilited on a pitcher plant. You WILL kill it. All carnivorous plants are highly sensitive to most things.
What I see is 2 different things going on. The large chunks missing, I circled them on photo 1. They have serrated edges, that is slug damage when they eat they make serrated shapes along the edges.
Find him and that damage will stop. They can be incredibly hard to find. He may even be hiding in your soil, since he will want moisture and a dark, damp spot to hide. They usually hide right below the surface, they don't dig deep.
In photo 2 I'm seeing very fine webbing and when I zoom in I can make out a few dots. I circled the webs, some of them at least in photo 2. Those are spider mites. And need treatment. The black poo looks like spider mite poo. It looks very tiny.
Often when spider mites are outdoors beneficial insects will find them and feed on the mites. So it could also be ladybug or pirate bug or lacewing poo. These good bugs can keep the population in check. So the mites probably were not obvious outdoors. But when you move them back in with no predators they become obvious very fast.
Now with a pitcher plant since they are sensitive you need to be careful when treating.
What you need is PURE NEEM OIL. Do not get premixed because they often have detergents or soaps added which will hurt your baby.
So pure neem oil and distilled water only.
1 Tablespoon pure neem oil mixed with 4 cups of distilled water.
Most spray bottles are 32 ounces. I just put a tablespoon in there (DO NOT add more than that amount), then I fill it up to the top with distilled water.
Use only distilled. Like I said they are sensitive.
Repeat this treatment every 3 days for 3 weeks. Making sure to spray tops and bottoms of leaves, and stems.
Now the pitchers can be complicated. You don't want to spray inside of the pitcher. Because if the mix pools up in there the plant will lose the ability to eat.
So try to avoid the pitchers. But, don't be paranoid about it if they get a little on. Just try not to get any in the pitchers.
In fact if the infestation is bad. Yours doesn't look too severe, I'm saying this as an example. You can cut the pitcher off and throw them away to help eradicate the mites. The plant will grow new leaves with pitchers.
@DaringColtsfoot @TryYuzutree48 @AthleteTamarack
Thanks for the tag LC. I love pitcher plants, I have 3 of them! 🩷
What I see is 2 different things going on. The large chunks missing, I circled them on photo 1. They have serrated edges, that is slug damage when they eat they make serrated shapes along the edges.
Find him and that damage will stop. They can be incredibly hard to find. He may even be hiding in your soil, since he will want moisture and a dark, damp spot to hide. They usually hide right below the surface, they don't dig deep.
In photo 2 I'm seeing very fine webbing and when I zoom in I can make out a few dots. I circled the webs, some of them at least in photo 2. Those are spider mites. And need treatment. The black poo looks like spider mite poo. It looks very tiny.
Often when spider mites are outdoors beneficial insects will find them and feed on the mites. So it could also be ladybug or pirate bug or lacewing poo. These good bugs can keep the population in check. So the mites probably were not obvious outdoors. But when you move them back in with no predators they become obvious very fast.
Now with a pitcher plant since they are sensitive you need to be careful when treating.
What you need is PURE NEEM OIL. Do not get premixed because they often have detergents or soaps added which will hurt your baby.
So pure neem oil and distilled water only.
1 Tablespoon pure neem oil mixed with 4 cups of distilled water.
Most spray bottles are 32 ounces. I just put a tablespoon in there (DO NOT add more than that amount), then I fill it up to the top with distilled water.
Use only distilled. Like I said they are sensitive.
Repeat this treatment every 3 days for 3 weeks. Making sure to spray tops and bottoms of leaves, and stems.
Now the pitchers can be complicated. You don't want to spray inside of the pitcher. Because if the mix pools up in there the plant will lose the ability to eat.
So try to avoid the pitchers. But, don't be paranoid about it if they get a little on. Just try not to get any in the pitchers.
In fact if the infestation is bad. Yours doesn't look too severe, I'm saying this as an example. You can cut the pitcher off and throw them away to help eradicate the mites. The plant will grow new leaves with pitchers.
@DaringColtsfoot @TryYuzutree48 @AthleteTamarack
Thanks for the tag LC. I love pitcher plants, I have 3 of them! 🩷
Ask @SuperbRaspfern The Plant Dr. 🪴 She will give you a free diagnosis with a thorough care plan..Free!! She's one of us..Just Better ❤️ try asking her. (Shannon) you won't be disappointed. I want some props after she 👀 sees your plant 🪴 and u get a care plan!! That's all I ask!?
She is gorgeous!!!! And yes she would appreciate something to climb since she's matured to her vining stage. The vines get woody in time and then they don't bend well. So if you're going to put her on something to climb do it now while the vine is pliable. Otherwise woody stems can snap.
And yes she could need a bigger pot for sure. They do really take off when happy. And some just grow really fast.
Plants have DNA like we go and when you get one with really good genetics they will grow REALLY fast!
You can propagate her as well through vine cuttings she would be a great one to do that to. When the vine gets too long you can snip off a stem with at least 3 leaves. Place the cutting in sphagnum moss with a node in the moss. Cover with a ziplock of something else that traps in humidity and the cutting will grow root. You can do this is whatever medium you are using for her.
Thanks for sharing her she is so pretty. 🩷
And yes she could need a bigger pot for sure. They do really take off when happy. And some just grow really fast.
Plants have DNA like we go and when you get one with really good genetics they will grow REALLY fast!
You can propagate her as well through vine cuttings she would be a great one to do that to. When the vine gets too long you can snip off a stem with at least 3 leaves. Place the cutting in sphagnum moss with a node in the moss. Cover with a ziplock of something else that traps in humidity and the cutting will grow root. You can do this is whatever medium you are using for her.
Thanks for sharing her she is so pretty. 🩷
Make sure you move the sick one into isolation you don't want her to share spider mites with your happy Pitcher Plant that would suck.
If she was touching her or in the same area as other plants then you are best to treat all the plants in that area. Otherwise you have to repeat the process when another one starts showing signs of spider mites.
I had spider mites a while ago and they kept coming back onto other plants.
It took me treating every single plant for 3 weeks every 3 days to finally be rid of them. I have A LOT of plants so it sucked but was worth it. 🩷
See what I mean....
If she was touching her or in the same area as other plants then you are best to treat all the plants in that area. Otherwise you have to repeat the process when another one starts showing signs of spider mites.
I had spider mites a while ago and they kept coming back onto other plants.
It took me treating every single plant for 3 weeks every 3 days to finally be rid of them. I have A LOT of plants so it sucked but was worth it. 🩷
See what I mean....
@DaringColtsfoot I have to thank you for this information!!!! I stumbled upon it by accident. I'm just learning about my beautiful baby. I just want to be prepared in case anything happens.🩷🩷🩷🩷
Wow , my recommendations from 3 Months ago. I M PROMISE ..no more since you've been back. Catch up on your own pace.