There are actually five different kinds (or ‘genera’) of pitcher plant - their common and scientific names are listed below. Pitcher plants can grow in soggy soil with the water level in the saucer as deep as 1/2 the pot, but most carnivorous plants prefer damp to wet soil, so keep the water at about 1/4 inch and refill as soon as it is nearly gone. Make sure you get a brand that says something like the coir "is exposed to rain water from at least three monsoon seasons" on the label. Most need good light levels and won’t thrive in shade, however tropical jungle species prefer a partially shaded position.

Small insects are immobilised by the sticky slime and larger victims may struggle to break free, coating themselves further in the mucilage - death is usually indirect, via suffocation. Growing your carnivorous plants is simple - everything you need is inside this gift box including starter growing pots, compost discs, seeds and a booklet containing growing tips. Carnivorous houseplants are available for most of the year, except during their dormant period if they have one – which is usually in winter. For best results, we recommend repotting your carnivorous plants every year – ideally before spring growth.Learn about the specialized adaptations these seeds possess to thrive in their carnivorous habitats. The instructions here are intended for tropical, subtropical, pygmy, woolly, and warm temperate Drosera, Drosera regia, Dionaea, warm temperate Pinguicula, Genlisea, and terrestrial Utricularia with digressions for cold temperate Drosera, Sarracenia, Darlingtonia, Cephalotus, Mexican and cold temperate Pinguicula, epiphytic Utricularia, and Nepenthes.

Carnivorous plants have a range of different mechanisms for catching prey, from tall trumpet-like pitchers, to rounded cups and traps that snap shut, to glistening sticky leaves.In 1875, Charles Darwin published a 400-page monograph on carnivorous plants that shook the scientific establishment. For UK growers, all of these plants - and many more - are available from South West Carnivorous Plants. ICPS FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) -- Barry Rice's sometimes irreverent attempt to answer all your questions.

Carnivorous plants for beginners, from left to right: Drosera capensis, Dionaea muscipula, and Sarracenia purpurea.Cut off dead flowers with scissors – and in the case of Venus flytraps and pitcher plants, cut off the dead traps if they go black – this often happens in autumn and winter. Carnivorous plants don’t like drying out during the growing season, and can be scorched by direct sun in summer when grown under glass. When it comes to caring for temperate carnivorous plants, including sundews and pitcher plants, there are three important things to keep in mind.

Of course, it is fine to demonstrate the unique trapping capabilities of these plants by using a fly carefully placed with tweezers.Putting a mulch of pine bark, or other acidic material, on the compost surface will help to hold in moisture. Water houseplants from below throughout the growing season by standing the container in a saucer of water up to 2. There is only one species - Dionaea muscipula - but dozens of weird and wonderful varieties are available. Most species are able to bend their leaves and tentacles around trapped prey, which allows more digestive enzymes to come into contact with it, speeding digestion.