Image – Wikimedia Commons / Lemon
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, we must 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, bugs.
Also, they have a very high need for light; depending on the variety, some want direct sun, but others instead grow in sheltered areas but where there is a lot of light. That’s why, you need to learn how to care for carnivorous plants indoors if you want to decorate your home with them.
Where to locate a carnivorous plant at home?
Carnivores are herbaceous plants that do not grow very large, but if they are placed in a room with little light, they will have a hard time not only growing, but simply living. Its need for light is such that when it is scarce, its leaves and stems stretch towards the most powerful light in the house, which may simply be a reflection.
But of course, when doing so we will see that yes, they are growing, but they will not have a normal or healthy development, since those stems and those leaves lose strength and in the end they fall because there comes a time when they are not able to support their own weight.
So the room where we have our carnivores has to meet these characteristics:
- must be very clear. If there are windows through which sunlight enters, perfect; if it is scarce, then we will have to buy a grow lamp for plants.
- It is important that the air humidity is high. Carnivores usually grow in swampy areas, where humidity is very high. If you are not sure what the one you have at home is like, we recommend you buy a basic weather station. In this way, you will be able to see if it is less than 50%, in which case you will have to spray them with distilled water every day.
- There should be no draftsor at least, they should be placed as far away as possible from the fan, air conditioner, etc. so that they do not dry out. If a light breeze enters through the window, it is not a problem: that is good, 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 that’s a mistake. The best pot for this type of plants is the plastic onesince it is the only material that does not decompose (not as fast, at least, as mud). In addition, in its chemical composition there are no substances that can cause damage to the roots.
Likewise, it is important that it has holes in its baseto 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 drain the dish that we put under them.
What substrate for carnivores should be put?
The standard mix is as follows: uncomposted blond peat (such as the one that sells Flower) mixed with perlite (for sale here!) in equal parts. With this you can already have beautiful and well-watered carnivorous plants, since peat retains a lot of moisture, but perlite makes drainage excellent for them.
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How do you have to water them?
These plants are watered by the tray/plate method; that is said tray or plate is filled with distilled water so that the earth absorbs it. It can also be done from above, that is, 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 drained, since otherwise we would risk losing them as a result of excess water in its roots.
How many times do you have to water? Depends. It is convenient to keep the substrate moistbut not waterlogged. If we also take into account that the soil takes longer to dry indoors, we will have to hydrate them about 3 times a week, less in winter, which will be 1 or 2 times a week.
Do indoor carnivorous plants have to be fertilized?
No, neither indoors nor outdoors. Fertilizers are lethal for them, since they grow on land poor in nutrients. In fact, that is one of the reasons why they need to feed on insects; they are his “food.” For this reason, it is interesting to open the window of the house and let a fly enter, for example.
Obviously, I am not saying that you have to have a house full of insects, but if one enters, for example, we can hunt it down and give it to our carnivore as long as we have not killed it with insecticide. You have more information on this topic in this article:
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Do you have any carnivorous plants indoors?
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