Carnivorous plants are notoriously “difficult” for complete beginners because they are different from how someone might treat a leafy, non-carnivorous houseplant. The basic fact that the plant makes a habit of consuming small mammals and insects tends to throw the new caretaker for a loop.
The type of climate the plant thrives in will change the difficulty as well – if you’re trying to raise a tropical plant in a temperate zone, for example, it can be more of a challenge than you thought you were signing up for.
A good way to think about the environment of any plant, not just carnivorous plants, is that it will always thrive in conditions similar to its native environment.
For example, Cape Sundews, named after their native environment along the Cape in South Africa, will thrive in conditions that closely mimic this Mediterranean climate, while Venus Flytraps will thrive best in conditions that mimic their native region of the humid, coastal bogs of North Carolina, US.
Beginner Plants – Tropical Region:
Drosera capensis, the Cape Sundew, is an ideal tropical plant with sticky tendrils that emerge from the base like hairy octopus tentacles. These tentacles capture flies and other insects that happen to buzz by and curl up over the insect once they’ve been caught to begin digesting them.
Another tropical choice is Nepenthes rafflesiana, which is known as Raffles’ pitcher plant. This pitcher plant sports a green, upright trap hung from long stems, with deep red spackling and cilia along the sides of the trap.
Beginner Plants – Temperate Region:
Dionaea muscipula is the most well-known carnivorous plant, also called the Venus flytrap for reasons you might find surprising. This plant has flat, ribbed leaves that end in a two-lobed trap with eyelash-like cilia on each side. This trap snaps closed when an insect lands inside, and the cilia interlock to cage it inside the trap.
Sarracenia Leucophylla is another gorgeous temperate plant, commonly known as the Crimson pitcher plant. These can grow quite tall, and the green trap emerges directly from the base, fading to white with deep red spackling. Sometimes, the red spackling is not present.
You might have seen some carnivorous plants in retail or department stores, but buyer beware: these plants won’t be in great condition. These department store nurseries often keep these plants in conditions that are not ideal for growth, and they typically get thrown out once they enter dormancy.
Unless you are able to snag these plants the day they come into the store, they are more prone to become weak and sickly based on how they were cared for at the nurseries.
If you can, shop for carnivorous plants at local nurseries, or orchid nurseries. These shops are more likely to have carnivorous plants that are well-maintained and in good health.
With enough due diligence, Etsy is a good choice as well. If you are purchasing carnivorous plants online, make sure to follow the seller’s advice for potting, or, if possible, purchase them already potted.
The Importance of Carnivorous Plant Conservation
Today, there are many threats to carnivorous plants, a quarter of which are considered in a vulnerable, near extinct, or endangered status. There are several factors impacting their likelihood of survival in the coming years:
- Habitat Loss
- Poaching
- Climate Change
- Fertilizer Run-off
- Pesticide Pollution
- Suppression of Natural Habitat Functions
- Wetland Drainage
To make matters worse, a quarter of all carnivorous plant species are considered at high risk of extinction in the coming years due to human disturbance and development and changes in the local climate. (1)
Many of the world’s 860 species of CPs are found in wetland habitats, which represent some of the most cleared and heavily degraded ecosystems on Earth.
Adam T. Cross
It is possible for carnivorous plant keepers at home to help keep these species alive over the coming years by growing healthy, hardier plants that can grow in increasingly varied environmental conditions.
If you are interested in aiding the conservation of carnivorous plants, there are many ways you can help.
- Purchase Land
The most straightforward option is to, when possible, purchase and protect land where at-risk carnivorous plant species are confirmed to inhabit. While this option might not be practical for many people, it is one of the best ways to protect at-risk species and ecosystems.
- Avoid Contact
If you come across wild carnivorous plants, avoid touching these plants as it can close traps and weaken the plant by activating the trap without food inside.
- Keep Ethical, Nursery Grown Plants
By keeping nursery-grown plants, you can help develop hardier, healthier plants while supporting other growers.
- Get Involved
By educating yourself on the current conservation efforts and learning about where these plants grow in the wild, you can help support these efforts through donation or volunteer work as well. The International Carnivorous Plants Society, or ICPS, is heading a large amount of conservation effort for carnivorous plants across the world currently.
