Are you a true plant lover or looking for something new? Then a carnivorous plant might be for you! A carnivorous plant, what is that exactly? Is keeping a carnivorous plant difficult, and how do you do it? Logical questions of course, but don't worry you've come to the right place. We will tell you a bit more about carnivorous plants and answer the most frequently asked questions.
Carnivorous plantsare unique plants and a real conversation starter. Did you know that carnivorous plants evolved in such a way that they do not get their nutrition from the soil, but from the air. Now I can already hear you saying, "From the air? There's no nutrition in the air, is there?". That's right, because they don't literally get nutrition from the air, but from the insects that fly in the air.
Carnivorous plants are true Carnivores that eat all kinds of insects. In nature, carnivorous plants grow in swampy areas and jungles. These areas have a nutrient-poor soil, this means that there is no nutrition in the soil. Because of this, the carnivorous plant family has devised another tactic to survive. Namely, luring insects. Carnivorous plants can be found all over the world. In every shape and size, each species has a different appearance and a different lure method. More about this will be explained in this blog.
Most frequently asked questions:
1. What types of carnivorous plants are there?
2. Which carnivorous plants are suitable for beginners?
3. Are carnivorous plants dangerous?
4. Are carnivorous plants toxic to pets?
5. How do you care for carnivorous plants?
6. Should you supplement carnivorous plants?
7. Where do carnivorous plants come from?
8. How old does a carnivorous plant get?
1. What types of carnivorous plants are there?
All over the world there are different species of carnivorous plants. In total the carnivorous plant family knows +/- 630 species. Even today new species are still being discovered. The most well-known carnivorous plants are:
- Dionaea Muscipula, the well-known Venus Flytrap.
- Sarracenia (Trumpet cup plant)
- Nepenthes(Cup plant)
- Drosera (Sundew)
- Utricularia (Bladderwort)
- Pinguicula (Butterbur)
- Cephalotus (Australian pitcher plant)
- Heliamphora(Sun pitcher plant)
2. Which carnivorous plants are suitable for beginners?
There are several carnivorous plants are suitable for beginners. We recommend the following species for beginners.
Difficulty level:
⭐: Very easy
⭐⭐: Easy
⭐⭐: Medium
⭐⭐⭐⭐: Difficult
1. The Venus Fly Trap:
Difficulty: ⭐⭐
This is the most well-known carnivorous plant species. The Venus Flytrapis not very difficult to care for. This is a hardy species and can be left outside all year. It likes lots of direct sunlight and lots of water. This species is best in a swamp container or on a dish of water.
2. The Drosera (Sundew):
Difficulty: ⭐
In particular, the DroseraCapensis, Capensis Alba and Aliciae. These species are very easy to care for. All three of these are tropical plants and are best kept indoors in a bright spot. The Drosera also prefers to be watered from a saucer.
Fact: The Drosera is very good at luring and catching fruit flies, moths and mosquitoes.
3. The Sarracenia (Trumpet Cup Plant):
Difficulty: ⭐⭐
Sarracenias, like Venus Flytraps, are hardy and can survive outside all year. The Sarracenia likes lots of sunlight and lots of water. The Sarracenia is best in a bog tank or on a saucer of water. This species is also extremely suitable to put on a pond.
4. Pinguicula (Fat Plant):
Difficulty: ⭐
Pinguiculasare very easy to care for. The Pinguiculas in our shop are not hardy and are therefore best kept inside at room temperature. Unlike most carnivorous plants, Pinguicula does not need much water. 1 to 2 times a week a dash of water is sufficient.
3. Are carnivorous plants dangerous?
Yes carnivorous plants are dangerous..... for insects... Carnivorous plants are not dangerous to humans or pets. They are simply too small for this. Actually, we are more dangerous to the plants than the other way around. Carnivorous plants generally only catch insects. However, there are carnivorous plants in the world that catch slightly larger animals. Namely Nepentheses. In some jungles, large Nepentheses are found. The traps of these Nepentheses are large enough to 'accidentally' catch birds, rodents, lizards or frogs. The plant does not lure these animals, but the animals accidentally fall or fly into the trap. These plants are generally only found in jungles. The plants from our webshop are therefore safe for your rodents and birds.
4. Are carnivorous plants toxic to pets?
This is a good question! Although carnivorous plants are toxic to insects, they can't do much harm to pets like cats and dogs. Here you can read a little more about pets and carnivorous plants and which species we recommend.
5. How do you care for carnivorous plants?
Every carnivorous plant needs a different care. Below is a list of (general) care tips:
Never give the carnivorous plant plant plant food.
Make sure the carnivorous plant is in a sunny spot.
Carnivorous plants like wet feet, never let the plant dry out: so give them enough water.
Preferably use rain, osmosis or demineralized water.
Use a nutrient free soil, such as a 1:1 mix of blond peat & perlite. Or use our carnivorous plant soil (which is specially developed for carnivorous plants).
Remove dead leaves and traps.
Some carnivorous plants need a winter rest.
Never feed real meat (insects are allowed).
Want to know more about the care tips? Read the full elaboration of the carnivorous plant care per plant here.
6. Do you need to supplement carnivorous plants?
No, generally speaking you do not need to feed carnivorous plants. The plants work with growth and rest periods. The growth period starts in spring (March/April) until autumn (September/October). During this period there is a lot of sun and the most insects can be found. The plants make sure they catch enough insects to make it through the dormant period. The dormant period takes place from the fall to the spring. During the dormant period, the plants do not grow as fast. Some plants even go all the way back into the ground and appear dead. The traps (of for example the Trumpet Cup Plant or Venus Flytrap) die, in this period these species also do not produce new traps. If you have the carnivorous plants inside, it may happen that the plant catches few insects. In this case you could feed the carnivorous plants a little extra with for example dried insects.
7. Where do carnivorous plants come from?
Want to know where carnivorous plants come from? Carnivorous plants can be found all over the world. For example in the Jungles. The Bloody Mary's we offer are all from Borneo. The Drosera Madagascariensis comes from (as the name suggests) Madagascar. The Venus Flytraps are mostly found in North America/Canada. Furthermore, you can find carnivorous plants in Europe, Australia, Asia, Africa, North & South America. Did you know that there are even carnivorous plants in the Netherlands? Namely the Drosera family. The Drosera Rotundifolia can be found in Dutch peat bogs. The Drosera Rotundifolia is a protected plant species in the Netherlands.
8. How old does a carnivorous plant get?
With the right care and living conditions carnivorous plants can become very old. The oldest carnivorous plant we know is a Venus Flytrap from North America. This plant has been growing in the garden of a North American family for a century. The plant is so old because the plant keeps reproducing itself. Generally speaking, carnivorous plants (without you staking or propagating them) can live to be around 20 years old.