Soil Scoop: Carnivorous Plants

Az Cavanaugh - Junior | Columns

Of all the plants in the world, there is one variety that isn’t quite like the others. In fact, this variety almost defies the natural order itself by taking the concept that animals eat plants and flipping it around. That’s right, I’m talking about carnivorous plants. If you’re bold enough, you can purchase one for yourself -- however, they can be quite tricky to maintain and require near-daily attention. Furthermore, while you’re reading this, bear in mind that different types of carnivorous plants have slightly different needs and you should be careful to adjust any of the advice here to your specific plant.

First and foremost, your plant needs a pot. In general, you can get away with a smaller pot as long as it drains well. Carnivorous plants require a lot of water, and if the soil does not drain, the roots could rot.

Once you’ve selected your pot, you need to buy soil. It is very important that you get mineral-free soil. Extra minerals in soil or water can over fertilize and kill carnivorous plants very easily. Make sure that any soil you buy for your plant is clearly labeled as such. As soon as you have your pot and soil, you can go ahead and plant your carnivorous plant. Remember to break up the root system during the transfer so that your plant can take to the soil more quickly.

Finding a place for your plant may be tricky for a few reasons. First and foremost, while they can withstand a wide range of temperatures, they’re not very well suited to the erratic weather of Putnam County, so they’re best kept inside. Carnivorous plants also require large amounts of sunlight, which can be difficult to achieve with indoor plants. The best possible solution to this would be to simply buy a growing light.

Placing your plant by a window is acceptable, but I wouldn’t recommend it. I would also recommend that you keep your plant in a place that you don’t mind getting wet, because carnivorous plants' soil should be at least damp at all times. On top of that, carnivorous plants should not be watered with tap water unless it’s an absolute emergency. They should instead be watered with rainwater or distilled water. Of these, distilled water is the best option. It can be purchased by the gallon at your local grocery store.

Before we move on to the proper feeding of a carnivorous plant, there is something that I would like to say. No matter how tempting it may be, do not trigger venus flytraps unless you are feeding them. If they activate when no actual food is present, then they’ll digest themselves and die.

As far as actual food requirements go, carnivorous plants aren’t too needy. They don’t require fertilizer, and they only really need about two insects a month in order to survive. During the summer months, they can feast upon the intruders that you can’t get with your flyswatter, and for the rest of the year, you can simply purchase freeze-dried flies or similar insects and feed your plant manually. Be careful not to overfeed them. Please remember that carnivorous plants are only to be fed insects. Pieces of meat or cheese could very easily kill them.

Ultimately, as long as you pay your plant the necessary amount of attention and treat it with care and respect, you’ll soon have a beautiful carnivorous plant -- and a solution to any summer fly problems. As always, good luck and stay safe.