Carnivorous Plants

Carnivorous plants are not only very handy plants, but also pleasant plants for your home. Are you bothered by insects such as fruit flies or flies? Carnivorous plants are happy to help you with this. Carnivorous plants have evolved over the years to become masters at attracting, catching and eating various insects. There are many different species within the carnivorous plant family. Each species has its own speciality. Would you like to know more about this plant family before buying a carnivorous plant? Read more about the origin, characters, species and care of this special plant species here.

Origin of carnivorous plants:

Carnivorous plants can be found all over the world. Did you know that carnivorous plants even occur in the Europe? Cool, isn't it? Carnivorous plants are found in swampy areas or areas with very high humidity, such as jungles. In these areas there is a nutrient-poor soil or a soil in which the nutrients are difficult to extract. This has forced the plant to adapt itself in order to get nutrition in a different way... and so it did: the plant has learned to capture its own nutrition. This is very unique within the plant world... a plant that catches insects... strange, isn't it?

Carnivorous plants are found almost everywhere. You can find them in various jungles around the world and continents such as Europe, Africa, Asia, America and Australia.

The carnivorous plant family and the different species:

The carnivorous plants are a large family with many different relatives. Throughout the world, carnivorous plants have evolved differently, depending on the living conditions in that area. The trap and trapping method differs per species. The species we offer in our carnivorous plant webshop are: Sundew, Bucketplant, Greasewood, Trumpetplant, Venus flytrap, the Australian Bucketplant, Bladderwort and the Sundew Plant.

The traps:

As explained above, each species within the carnivorous plant family has a different baiting method.

The clap trap:

This trap is used by the best known carnivorous plant, the Venus flytrap. The Venus flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula) is the only plant species that can count. The Venus flytrap expresses itself in the form of a mouth. In this mouth there are three to nine hairs. When an insect lands in this mouth and touches one of these hairs twice within 20 seconds, the trap closes. The insect has successfully stepped into the trap and will not be able to escape.

The cup trap:

This trap is used by the Nepenthes, among others. The cup has an attractive colour and produces a wonderful smell that attracts insects. When the insect enters the cup, it does not come out again. The cup contains enzymes that slowly digest the insect.

The Trumpeter's Trap:

This trap is used by, among others, the Sarracenia. This trap got its name from its beautiful appearance. This trap looks like a trumpet. Just like the trumpet trap, this trap produces a wonderful smell and colour that attracts insects. Inside the trap there are small vertical slits that ensure that the insect cannot escape. At the bottom of the trap, there is a watery secretion that digests the prey and converts it into food.

Sticky trap:

This trap is used by, among others Drosera  and Pinguicula. The trap consists of a leaf covered with sticky droplets that smell delicious. This smell attracts insects. Once the insect lands on the trap, it sticks to it. The prey can no longer move. These species are ideal for controlling fruit flies and mourning flies.

Care of the carnivorous plant:

Each carnivorous plant species requires its own care. Read more about the extensive carnivorous plant care per species here. Below, the general care of carnivorous plants is described.

Water:

It is best not to give carnivorous plants tap water. Because carnivorous plants cannot extract substances from the soil properly, it is difficult to separate the substances (which can cause the roots to rot). As a result, the carnivorous plant absorbs all substances from the soil. The lime in tap water is bad for carnivorous plants and in the long term can cause a lime build-up. Rainwater, osmosis water or distilled water are preferable. Most carnivorous plant species require a lot of water. Read more about how much water each species needs on our general care page.

Light:

Carnivorous plants generally need a lot of sunlight. A lot of light gives them a beautiful colour and allows the carnivorous plants to attract more insects. Read how much light each species needs on our general care page for carnivorous plants.

Ground:

In nature, carnivorous plants stand on nutrient-poor soil. Therefore, they need special carnivorous plant soil. Preferably do not use normal potting soil. Recommended: We sell the right carnivorous plant soil in our webshop.

Pruning:

The traps of carnivorous plants can be seen as flowers. After a while, the traps wither and make room for new traps. Old traps are best removed. Remove the traps carefully without damaging the plant. Some carnivorous plants grow flowers (stems). The flowering of the flower costs a lot of energy for a carnivorous plant. Therefore, the traps will not grow as fast. For this reason, it is best to remove the flowers (unless, of course, you find the flowers extra beautiful). The flowers of Pinguicula are an exception to this rule. The purpose of these flowers is to attract more insects and they can therefore continue to bloom.

Repot:

Carnivorous plants work with a growth and a rest period. The growth period starts in spring and ends in autumn (around April to about August). During this period, it is best to repot carnivorous plants. Preferably use special carnivorous plant soil. You can also make your own earth mix with blond peat and perlite.

Learn more about carnivorous plants?

Would you like to learn more about carnivorous plants? Then read our blogs. Here, we tell you more about carnivorous plants and your most frequently asked questions. Do you have a question that is not answered in our webshop? Then feel free to contact us. We will be happy to help you.

Buy carnivorous plant

Now that you know everything there is to know about carnivorous plants, you can buy your favourite carnivorous plant. Go to our web shop and order your own carnivorous plant. With your order, we will send you the care for each plant typed out, so you can enjoy your own carnivorous plant for a long time.