Vegetables such as beans, peas, corn, squash, sweet potatoes and carrots do not need much more than adequate moisture, warmth and the right amount of nutrition, which is why many people choose to grow all carnivorous plants under these conditions. However, as nice as these vegetables are, it’s important to learn about the best ways of caring for them properly to ensure that they live a long and healthy life. Many plants don’t do well in growing conditions that lack one or more of these four things.
Most carnivorous plants are found in low moisture areas so they very well adapted to these circumstances by capturing insects for the nutrients they require. They tend to eat small insects and worms but some rare species may also eat large rodents, frogs and even lizards. The best way to provide the best conditions for your plants is to use a combination of organic potting soil, organic fertiliser and good soil care, such as ensuring that the potting media is drained regularly.
A mixture of bark, peat moss, perlite soil and a medium grade bonsai fertilizer should be fine for most plants. However, some rarer species will need a special diet to cope with the requirements of their environment. For example, African Violets needs a partial shade for best results and they’re also very sensitive to high levels of humidity. Other plants may need to have their roots treed to stop them getting too hot and this should be done in summer only. On full sun, they’ll still be fine so don’t be afraid of a few sunny days either. Good quality Bonsai soil mixed with a good quality potting mix will also give good results when growing carnivorous plants.
As plants grow up from the lower to upper stages of dormancy, they’re likely to lose some of their hardiness, becoming less robust. Some species of Shasta daisy and Slipperjack can survive in a lower dormancy stage but others will do well if they’re moving into a warmer climate. Some favourites at this point are Morning Glory, Hollyhocks and Stocks. It’s important to know which species of plants you’re growing so that you can choose the best conditions for them when they’re ready to bloom. There are some other plants that can do quite well on almost any lawn and some of them don’t really need much encouragement to thrive.
The main requirement for most plants is moderate to high humidity. The best thing to provide is to give them a humidifier or set up a water feature in your terrarium. If your plants are growing well in a terrarium but they seem to be suffering from dry conditions, just move them into a new tank and add some additional water. You may need to add more water than suggested here as some plants can actually do better in an overcrowded environment.
Plants rely on a whole host of nutrients to grow well and survive. Beneficial insects can provide some of these nutrients to your plants. If you can attract a good number of these types of insects into your garden then you’ll find that your plants will flourish. The best way to attract these beneficial is to grow herbs such as chives, basil, oregano, sage and tarragon. You can also feed your plants a natural blend of vegetables including spinach, mustard greens and lettuce.
One of the worst things that can happen to a carnivorous plant is to have its leaves turn black or brown in the winter. This is due to a phenomenon known as a winter leaf spot. It is caused by cold temperatures and is very normal during the colder months.
If at all possible, you should try to avoid planting any carnivorous plants indoors in the winter. One thing that you can do is to move them outdoors when temperatures drop. They should however be kept warm at night so that they can still survive. One thing that you should never do is to leave them in a greenhouse or any other container where they can freeze.