by Bonnie Burton

Created on: February 02, 2007   Last Updated: May 15, 2007

Why bother is boring old houseplants when you can go a plant worthy of a horror film? Pitcher Plants, Sundews, Cobra Lilies, and Venus Flytraps can offer an unusual approach to indoor gardening by not only giving your plant collection a bit of personality, but will get rid of those nasty houseflies at the same time.

Those of you venturing into the world of carnivorous plants for the first time may want to try raising pitcher and cobra plants. Here are a few growing tips to get you started.

PITCHER PLANTS

The suggested planting medium is live long-fibered Sphagnum. Or you can try a mix of one part peat to one part perlite.

Plastic pots with drainage holes are best.

Use the tray method of watering (from bottom) to keep the soil permanently damp to very wet.

These plants prefer warm summers and chilly winters, so place them in full to mostly sunny spots make them happiest.

They require 3 to 4 months of winter dormancy with reduced temperatures.

Great for bog gardens and Mediterranean-like climates.

Superb housefly catchers. Outdoors they eat ants, flies, wasps, beetles and moths.

Primary pests are aphids, scale and mealybug.

Potted specimens should be divided and transplanted every 3 to 5 years during dormancy.

COBRA PLANTS:

Plant in one part long-fibered Sphagnum moss to one part perlite as well.

Plastic pots with drainage holes are fine, but avoid dark colors like black which could warm the soil too much in the sunlight. Try using a pale-colored pot or even a terra cotta pot instead.

Water with cool water only using the tray method. "Ice cubes of purified water placed on the soil on a very hot day, can save a cobra's life."

Likes full sun to partially shaded areas.

Cool summer nights are prefered. Cobras are frost tolerant!

Great as bog garden plants and can grow well under lights in basements.

Place in east-facing or even sunless north windowsills.

Likes crickets and dried insects.

Can use an orchid or epiphytic fertilzer twice a month during growing season only.

Pests include scale, mealybug, thrips, aphids and caterpillars!

This plant is NOT deer proof. They like to eats its puffy heads. These plants are often called "deer licks" by the natives.

Divide plants in the winter. Use overhead watering until plants establish themselves.

Can also propagate through stolon (long runners) cuttings.

I highly suggest if you plan on growing ANY carnivorous plants to check out
Peter D'Amato's amazing book "The Savage Garden: Cultivating Carnivorous Plants." Knowing the origin and growth habits of your plant can save you plenty of money, time and heartache in the end.

Other carnivorous plant books I suggest adding to your collection:

Carnivorous Plants by Adrian Slack

Gardening With Carnivores: Sarracenia Pitcher Plants in Cultivation & in the Wild by Nick Romanowski

Carnivorous Plants of the United States and Canada by Donald Schnell

Good luck!

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