CARNIVOROUS PLANT CARE SELECTION SUNLIGHT TEMPERATURE BEGINNER PLANTS Plants need at least 3–4 Hardy carnivorous plants hours of direct sunlight daily. require 3–4 months of ΅ Sundews (Drosera capensis, dormancy triggered by temperatures Drosera binata) Outdoor Plants: 4–6+ hours of sun below 50°F and shorter daylight ΅ Pitcher plants (Sarracenia flava) Indoor plants: bright, sunny window hours. During dormancy, they: ΅ Butterworts (Pinguicula grandiflora, facing east, west, or south Pinguicula moranensis) ΅ Slow in growth and leaves begin to Flytraps and Sarracenia are not turn brown around the edges INTERMEDIATE PLANTS recommended for indoor growing; ΅ Must remain sitting in some standing ΅ Venus flytraps often perish from lack of sunlight. water to prevent soil from drying out ΅ Asian pitchers ΅ Can tolerate overnight frosts with ΅ Cobra lilies little protection; container plants are very vulnerable to freeze damage INDOOR GROWING WATER To avoid frost burn, protect plants ΅ Tropical sundews (Drosera Keep soil consistently moist; during extended periods below 20°F capensis, Drosera spatulata) not wet (bog-like conditions). or during freezing temps and wind. ΅ Asian pitchers (Nepenthes) ΅ Mexican butterworts (Pinguicula) ΅ High humidity is ideal ΅ Cover plants with black plastic/tarp ΅ Best grown in a container with large or move into unheated garage/shed OUTDOOR GROWING tray under the pot filled with water ΅ When temperatures go above 35°F, ΅ Venus flytraps ΅ Use water with no chlorine and low uncover plants and return outdoors ΅ Pitcher plants mineral content; for best results, use ΅ In early spring when plants start to ΅ Cold-hardy sundews (Drocera distilled/filtered water or rainwater regrow, remove old foliage filiformis), cobra lilies ΅ Some plants (cobra lilies) prefer Carnivorous plants are extremely moving water; if growing in a pond heat-tolerant, but it is best to: OTHER DECIDING FACTORS or fountain, keep water level below ΅ Avoid prolonged soil temperatures ΅ Sarracenia/pitcher plants are expert plant’s crown (halfway up the pot) above 100°F yellow-jacket catchers! ΅ Cool roots in containers during ΅ Sundews are great in bright kitchen extreme heat; water plants 1–2 windowsills to trap and eat fruit flies times daily with cool water and/or around composts and fruit bowls! FEEDING move into more mild location Carnivorous plants are sensitive to fertilizers and minerals; generally prefer to get SOIL nutrients from the bugs they eat. PESTS Use equal parts peat moss Outdoor plants: feed only if needed; Plants can be prone to: they usually catch plenty of insects and pearlite (can use pumice ΅ Aphids, scale, mealybugs or washed river sand instead). Indoor plants: occasional fertilizer ΅ Slugs (outdoor plants) ΅ Never use potting soil or garden okay; urea-free formula for orchids or ΅ Fungal diseases (mainly grey mold) dirt; sensitive to fertilizers/minerals bromeliads diluted to half strength from poor air circulation ΅ Best to repot in late winter or early Do not feed meat to plants, only Use neem oil for insects and fungus; spring with proper soil mix freshly caught insects if needed. use Slug Magic for slugs. COPYRIGHT © 2020 DENNIS’ 7 DEES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED..