{"product_id":"velvet-pitcher-plant-sarracenia-hybrid-velvet","title":"Velvet Pitcher Plant - Sarracenia hybrid 'Velvet'","description":"\u003cp\u003eVelvet Pitcher Plant (\u003cem\u003eSarracenia\u003c\/em\u003e hybrid 'Velvet') is a carnivorous plant with a low rosette of hooded green tubes, shading to pale green white at the top and veined heavily with blood red. It stays 15 to 30cm high, and its colour deepens in autumn. Insects that slip into a pitcher cannot climb back out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy you'll love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGreen tubes, red veins.\u003c\/strong\u003e Green pitchers fade to pale green white at the hood, and the heavy red veining gives them a velvety, bloodshot look.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMore colour with autumn.\u003c\/strong\u003e The veining deepens as the weather cools, which makes it a fine plant for the end of the year.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA self feeding plant.\u003c\/strong\u003e Hairs inside each tube stop insects from escaping, so it feeds itself and needs no fertiliser.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenuinely cold hardy.\u003c\/strong\u003e It needs a cool winter rest, and it can survive snow and ice without harm.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA plant with a story.\u003c\/strong\u003e Few plants start a conversation like one that eats ants, and children are fascinated by it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhere it works best\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePots in a saucer of rainwater.\u003c\/strong\u003e The easiest way to grow it is a single pot standing in a saucer on a sunny step or table.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBog gardens.\u003c\/strong\u003e Plant 20cm apart in a shared bog tub or wetland garden with other bog plants.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCool climate courtyards.\u003c\/strong\u003e It is a wetland plant for areas with a real winter, and it makes a feature on a sunny balcony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eGrowing Velvet Pitcher Plant in Australia\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePosition and climate.\u003c\/strong\u003e Full sun and a cool winter. The plant needs at least a month of low single digit temperatures, so it does best in cool temperate and cooler warm temperate districts. Frost free subtropical gardens do not give it the winter rest it needs. It can survive snow and ice.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSoil.\u003c\/strong\u003e Use an acid mix, ideally equal parts sphagnum or peat moss, horticultural sand and perlite. In nature this soil is called pocosin. The mix must be extremely low in phosphorus and nitrogen, so never use a fertilised potting mix.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWater and feed.\u003c\/strong\u003e Keep the soil wet through the growing seasons by standing the pot in a saucer of rainwater. Do not fertilise. In mid autumn, drain the saucer and keep the soil damp until spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePruning.\u003c\/strong\u003e There is no pruning to do. Remove pitchers that have turned brown and dry, and new ones will replace them.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat to expect when it arrives\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe sell Velvet Pitcher Plant as tube stock, a young plant in an 80mm deep tube that establishes quickly. A young plant produces small pitchers first, and it takes a few seasons to reach full size. Tube stock comes from our grower and is not always available. When the grower has none, the tube shows as sold out on this page, and the notify button emails you the day it is back.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants travel upright and settle fast. Pot up soon after delivery in a bog mix of sphagnum or peat moss, sand and perlite, then stand the pot in rainwater.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants are delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003ePlant care guides and related reading\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/exotic-and-rare-plants\"\u003eExotic and rare plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-pots\"\u003ePlants for pots and containers\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/plants-for-full-sun\"\u003eMore plants for full sun\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/tubestock\"\u003eBrowse tubestock plants\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eCommon questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDoes Velvet Pitcher Plant need a cold winter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes, at least one month of low single digit temperatures. It can survive snow and ice, so cool temperate gardens suit it. Keep it outside for winter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat soil does it need?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn acid, boggy mix of equal parts sphagnum or peat moss, horticultural sand and perlite, extremely low in phosphorus and nitrogen. Do not add fertiliser.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow do I water it?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eStand the pot in a saucer of rainwater through the growing seasons. In mid autumn drain the saucer and keep the soil damp until spring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n","brand":"Nursery Near Me","offers":[{"title":"Tube (Backorder)","offer_id":67790878277951,"sku":"SAR-HYB-VELVET-tube","price":24.95,"currency_code":"AUD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0691\/2917\/5359\/files\/velvet-pitcher-plant-sarracenia-hybrid-velvet.jpg?v=1792210983","url":"https:\/\/nurserynearme.com.au\/products\/velvet-pitcher-plant-sarracenia-hybrid-velvet","provider":"Nursery Near Me","version":"1.0","type":"link"}