Carnivorous Plants

Pitcher Plants

Purple Pitcher Plant - Sarracenia purpurea
Trumpet Pitcher Plant — Sarracenia rubra
Cobra Lily - Darlingtonia californica

The pitcher plants, with the exception of the tropical pitcher plant, grow very well with the same care given to venus fly traps. They all like bright light to full sun and ample moisture. Keep them sitting in water during the spring, summer, and fall and grow them somewhat drier and cooler during the winter. Their pitchers need to be kept about a third filled with water at all times. Normally, mature plants bloom during the spring and summer with quite unusual and odd looking flowers. They can occasionally be fed a wounded housefly by dropping one down into their pitchers. Do NOT fertilize.

Butterworts can be grown alongside venus fly traps with virtually the same care. They grow best in bright light to part sun with ample moisture and humidity. They tend to be one of the easiest carnivorous plants for many to grow. Their one difficulty is that they have very shallow roots, barely half inch long, and therefore the top inch of soil must be kept continually moist year round. They are not as demanding about a cold winter dormancy like the venus fly traps are but slightly cooler conditions are preferred during the winter. Mature specimens reliably produce delightful flowers in the spring. Butterworts normally catch enough gnats and other insects on their own with their sticky leaves so no feeding is necessary. Do NOT fertilize.

The Sundews

Drosera

Sundews are grown basically with the same care as venus fly traps. They need bright light to part sun, abundant moisture, and a high degree of humidity. They do not need as deep of a winter dormancy as fly traps but slightly cooler conditions are preferred in the winter. They bloom regularly throughout the year once plants are mature. Sundews normally catch enough gnats and other insects on their own with their sticky leaves so feeding is not necessary. Do NOT fertilize.

    Indoors, Venus Fly Traps grow best in bright light with some sun. They need to be grown near a window that receives at least a couple hours of direct sun each day. In general, Venus Fly Traps like warm, humid summer conditions and chilly winters. They must be kept continually moist at all times. They require a cool winter dormancy with night temperatures averaging around 40 degrees. They will also benefit at this time from a shorter day length as found in nature. A sunny window in a cool room or unheated garage will work well during the winter. Most flytraps will eventually die after a few years if never given a true winter dormancy.
    During the spring, summer and fall keep their pots sitting in a half inch of water at all times, especially if you are growing them outside.
    During the winter, plants can go without the saucer of water and be grown somewhat drier.
    All carnivorous plants are sensitive to the hard minerals in tap water and therefore at Mays we use rainwater. Bottled or distilled water also works well. Grow Venus Fly Traps in peat alone or peat mixed with some sand.
    Never use any type or form of fertilizer on your Venus Fly Trap. In nature, they grow in very nutrient poor environments. If they are fertilized they will most likely die. You can occasionally feed your flytrap a housefly or gnat, but they can survive for years without any insects. Never feed them any hard-shelled insects or human food.
    Venus Fly Traps need a high degree of humidity, especially during their growing season. Frequent misting is beneficial if grown indoors. Keep them away from heater/ac vents, which drastically reduce the humidity. The best way to provide adequate humidity to your Venus Fly Trap and other carnivorous plants is to grow them together in a terrarium.

It is easy to replicate the natural environment of most carnivorous plants by growing them in a terrarium. Any glass container, like a fish tank, without drainage holes will work well. Begin by putting a layer of drainage material about an inch thick in the bottom. Any type of rocks or pebbles will work fine. Use peat as your potting medium alone or a mixture of peat and sand. It is easier to work with if it is dampened first. Add large rocks and other decorative features to your terrarium before planting. Normally, having the soil slope upwards towards the back of the terrarium provides the best overall light and viewing of the plants inside. Always keep the soil moist with purified water and place in a bright location near a window. Artificial light can be used alone, but is generally best when used in conjunction with the natural light from a window. A lid will help retain humidity but should be ventilated periodically to allow some fresh air in.