Carnivorous Plant Nursery

All plants that were previously known as insectivorous are now commonly termed carnivorous plants. In sensu stricto, any plant which attracts, traps, and kills tiny living forms (predominantly insects) so as to digest and absorb them for nutrition purposes is reckoned as carnivorous.

These plants mostly grow in wet peat lands which are deficient in nutrients that commonly nurture plants growing in soil. Insect eating is thus an evolutionary adaptation to make up for this deficiency. The number of known species and subspecies of carnivorous plants exceeds six hundred.

Venus Flytrap is a representative species of carnivorous plants. Rainbow Plant, Pitcher Plant, Waterwheel Plant etc. are other famous plants of a carnivorous nature. All carnivorous plants are angiosperms i.e. flowering plants and most of them are of a dicotyledonous type.

Why a Carnivorous Plant Nursery?

Not only do many carnivorous plants bear brightly colored blooms but also, several of these, are used in preparing a number of traditional medicines and mixtures. Asians use fluid from young Monkey Pitchers (Nepenthes) for drinking, antiseptic for wounds, treating incontinence, and relieving pain or distress.

Butterworts have been used for preparing cheese and yogurt from milk and also for treating sores. Sundew plant has medicinal importance for its use in expectorants. Research is underway in discovering anti-cancer properties of Venus Flytrap extract. A carnivorous plant nursery, therefore, provides more than one benefit for humans.

Water Conditions

Carnivorous plants thrive in soggy conditions; that means they require lots of water all the time. Setting a simple carnivorous plant nursery requires simply placing pots of the carnivorous plant in a tray and adding water to it a depth of ¼ of an inch. It is important to add water to the tray instead of directly watering the plant. Another crucial point in watering carnivorous plants is that these grow well only in mineral-free water and therefore, it is best to use rainwater or distilled water for these plants.

Light

A carnivorous plant nursery is ideally set in place that receives lots of sunshine. They flourish outdoor, most species do well indoors provided it is brightly lit. At least twelve hours of artificial light, preferably fluorescent tubes, supports their growth well.

Soil

Carnivorous plants are naturally accustomed to growing in soil with few nutrients and minerals and more sand and peat. While using a soil mixture of sphagnum peat moss and horticultural sand (usually 50-50) is recommended for carnivorous members of a plant nursery, the sand should be free of clay, silt, or minerals of any kind. Beach sand should not be used on account of its salt content.

Humidity

While too much of direct watering may harm a carnivorous plant, growing in an open terrarium yields best results. Alternatively, a modifier can be used to compensate for the humidity deficit.

Fertilizers

Do not fertilize your carnivorous plants. They make enough nitrogenous compounds out of their insect quota.