Image – Wikimedia/Citron
Can carnivorous plants be kept at home? The answer is yes, but it is important that the basic needs of this type of plant being are taken into account. And it is that, for example, you have to think that if they are carnivorous it is because they feed on the insects that fall into their traps; and of course, in a house, the last thing we want to have are precisely insects.
In addition, they have a very great need for light; depending on the variety, some want direct sun, but others grow more in sheltered areas but where there is plenty of light. For it, you need to learn how to care for carnivorous plants indoors if you want to decorate your home with them.
Contents
Where to plant a carnivorous plant at home?
Carnivores are herbaceous plants that do not grow very large, but if placed in a dimly lit room, they will find it difficult not only to grow, but simply to live. Its need for light is such that when it is scarce, its leaves and stems stretch out towards the most powerful light in the house, which may be just a simple reflection.
But of course by doing this we will see that yes, they are growing, but they will not have a normal or healthy development, because these stems and these leaves lose strength and end up falling because there comes a time when they are unable to support their own weight.
So the room where we have our carnivores must meet these characteristics:
- it must be very clear. If there are windows through which sunlight enters, perfect; if it is rare, we will have to buy a grow light for the plants.
- It is important that the air humidity is high. Carnivores usually grow in swampy areas, where the humidity is very high. If you don’t know what the one you have at home looks like, we recommend buying a basic weather station. This way you can see if it is below 50%, in which case you should spray them with distilled water every day.
- There should be no drafts, or at least they should be placed as far as possible from the fan, air conditioner, etc. so that they do not dry out. If a light breeze enters through the window, it’s not a problem: so much the better, since the air is renewed better.
What pot do you need?
We may be tempted to buy a terracotta pot for our carnivorous plants, but this is a mistake. The best pot for this type of plant is the plastic one., since it’s the only material that doesn’t break down (not as fast, at least, as mud). In addition, in its chemical composition there are no substances that can damage the roots.
Likewise, it is important that it has holes in its base, to prevent the soil from remaining waterlogged and the root system from drowning. In fact, for this same reason, if we are going to have them at home, we will have to empty the dish that we put under them.
What substrate for carnivores should be put?
The standard mix is as follows: uncomposted blond peat (like the one marketed by Flower) mixed with perlite (on sale here) in equal parts. With this, you can already have beautiful, well-watered carnivorous plants, as peat holds a lot of moisture, but perlite makes drainage excellent for them.
Related article:
How to choose the substrate for carnivorous plants?
How should they be watered?
These plants are watered using the tray/plate method; This is said tray or tray is filled with distilled water so that the earth absorbs it. It can also be carried out from above, that is to say by wetting the substrate. But in any case, if they are going to be inside the house, it is important that after watering, the plate or whatever has been placed under the pot is emptied, otherwise we risk damaging them. lose due to excess water in its roots.
How often should you water? Depends. It is convenient to keep the substrate moist, but not waterlogged. If we also take into account that the soil takes longer to dry indoors, they will need to be moisturized about 3 times a week, less in winter, i.e. 1 or 2 times a week.
Do indoor carnivorous plants need to be fertilized?
No, neither inside nor outside. Fertilizers are deadly for them, as they grow on nutrient-poor land. In fact, this is one of the reasons why they must feed on insects; they are his “food”. For this reason, it is interesting to open the window of the house and let in a fly, for example.
Obviously, I’m not saying that you have to have a house full of insects, but if you enter for example, you can hunt it and give it to our carnivore as long as you haven’t killed it with insecticide . You have more information on this subject in this article:
Related article:
Curiosities of carnivorous plants
Do you have carnivorous plants indoors?