How to Make a Pitcher Plant Bloom

Maintain moist soil around the pitcher plant to encourage spring blooms. Pitcher plants don’t necessarily have to grow in a bog, but don’t allow the soil to dry out entirely. Soil should remain moist to a depth of 4 inches.

Grow the pitcher plant in a full sun location. Blooms of this specimen require sunlight. Shady growing areas decrease chances of the pitcher plant blooming and may cause the plant to decline. The purple pitcher plant, however, requires afternoon shade.

Maintain acidic soil. Equal combinations of peat moss and sand usually produce the desired pH of 3.0 to 5.0 for the pitcher plant to thrive and bloom.

Avoid fertilization and don't feed meat to your carnivorous pitcher plant. Proteins from the insects eaten by the pitcher plant provide appropriate and adequate nutrients to encourage spring blooms. Even plants grown in poor soil will bloom, though adding organic matter will improve the soil and blooming.

Water with chlorine-free water such as rainwater or distilled water, as the salt content of chlorinated water can damage or even kill the pitcher plant. Avoid water with nutrients added.