Repotting Pitcher Plants: How To Repot Pitcher Plants

(Image credit: WadeMachin)

last updated 20 July 2022

Every healthy houseplant eventually needs repotting and your exotic pitcher plants are no different. The soilless mix that your plant lives in will eventually compact and shrink, leaving little room for the roots to grow. If you're wondering, “When do I repot a pitcher plant,” every one to two years is the best interval. Learn how to repot pitcher plants and your carnivorous collection will enjoy roomy new homes.

When Do I Repot a Pitcher Plant?

Pitcher plants, like other plants, do best when you repot them early in the spring before they have a chance to produce new growth. When your plant is still dormant, right before the spring arrives, remove it from its pot and gently remove as much planting medium as you can using a chopstick or other small object. Make a new potting mixture of ½ cup (118 ml.) of sand, ½ cup (118 ml.) of washed charcoal, 1 cup (236 ml.) of sphagnum moss and 1 cup (236 ml.) of peat moss. Mix the ingredients together thoroughly. Stand the pitcher plant in a new plastic planter and gently drop planting mix into the pot to cover the roots. Tap the planter on the table to settle the mix, then add more on top. Water the mix to remove any air pockets and top off the mix if needed.

Pitcher Plant Care

Pitcher plant care is relatively simple if you give them the right growing conditions. Always use plastic planters, as terra cotta ones will absorb salts too quickly. Once you have repotted the plants, place them in dappled sunlight or behind sheer curtains. Keep the potting mix moist at all times, but never let the pot stand in water or the plant may develop root rot. Pitcher plants only need one or two insects a month, but if your plant hasn't been lucky lately, give it a small, freshly killed bug once a month to add nutrients.