As of: January 30, 2024, 9:24 a.m
By: Ines Alms
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Carnivorous plants are fascinating inhabitants.
But caring for them involves risks.
The wrong snack can harm the predatory plants.
The Venus flytrap snaps with its leaves, the pitcher plant has a stomach-like trap.
Carnivorous plants like these are very special houseplants.
They usually look unusual with their catching devices in the form of pitchers, flaps or sticky tentacles and are not satisfied with water and light like other plants - they do not spurn passing insects as a snack.
The plants therefore also require specific care and it is important to have some knowledge about them.
If you are too generous with them when it comes to nutrients, you risk early plant death.
Carnivorous plants only need food on poor substrate
You shouldn't play with the leaves of the Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) too much - otherwise they will die.
© blickwinkel/Imago
Of course, it is fascinating to watch a carnivorous plant in its trapping process when a fungus gnat or fruit fly falls into its trap.
But you should leave the specimens on the windowsill in the natural course of things and not feed the plant with houseflies or spiders.
Sooner or later this leads to the catching organ dying - if things go badly, even the first time.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter from our partner 24garten.de.
The catch leaf of a Venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula), for example, naturally turns black and dies after about five closing processes, explains
Carniflor.de
.
This also applies if you trigger the process simply like that, for example with a stick.
If you want to accept this, you should use live food such as crickets or mealworms, whose movements enable the plant to digest the animals.
Pitcher plants (Nepenthes spec.) prefer fish food.
Therefore, find out in advance which food is right for which species.
Carnivorous plants have developed their trapping organs in order to survive in very acidic and nutrient-poor soils.
In the jungle they can sometimes digest a mouse or bird, but there is nothing to fear from houseplants in this regard.
Instead, they need a suitable substrate that has been specially developed for carnivorous plants.
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From location to fertilizer – what carnivorous plants need
With the right care, you can enjoy perennial houseplants for a long time.
You should consider each species individually and find out about their individual needs.
Essentially, there are the following recommendations for carnivorous plants:
Location: bright place, sunny depending on the species, but without direct midday sun;
On frost-free days they can also be left outside.
Substrate: rather acidic azalea soil or special carnivore soil.
Watering: The soil should always be slightly moist for the marsh plants.
Rainwater is more suitable.
If using tap water, repot once a year, advises
Carnivory.eu
.
Fertilizing: No additional fertilizer necessary, if possible do not feed.
Since carnivorous plants also like high humidity of up to 80 percent, they can be kept well in a terrarium or in a bottle garden.
Some specimens, such as the Venus flytrap, also go into a hibernation phase.