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Our Maintenance Section
Below we have listed the proper caring and feeding procedures for the carnivorous plants we sell.
If you have questions about something you do not see covered here, please email us.
VENUS FLYTRAP | HOODED PITCHER | PURPLE PITCHER | RED TOPPED TRUMPET | YELLOW TRUMPET
WHITE TRUMPET | ROUND LEAF SUNDEW | CAPE SUNDEW | YELOW BUTTERWORT
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The Venus Flytrap
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
- Direct sun
The compost can be made from pure sphagnum or pure peat or a mixture of the two. The pH must be kept acidic, between 5 and 6. For watering, rainwater is recommend or if not available, distilled water. If you only have access to chlorinated water, allow it to sit out for at least 48 hours. Fertilizers must also be avoided which have disastrous effects. The nitrogen these carnivorous plants need is provided in the digestion of insects. Never supply morsels of meat for it is not a complete meal and will only rot the leaves. The bottom of the container holding the yellow trumpet plant should be immersed in water, approximately ½ inch at all times during the growing season. The Venus flytrap needs as much sunlight as possible to achieve optimum growth. When the day length shortens the plant will go semi-dormant. After this occurs the plant may be stored in a plastic bag in the refrigerator in its container until spring.
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The Hooded Pitcher Plant
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
- Keep soil wet at all times
The hooded pitcher may be cultivated in sphagnum or peat. No fertilizers are necessary and may result in the death of the plant. The medium should remain damp at all times even during dormant periods. Non chlorinated water should be used to avoid damaging the plant. If you have chlorinated water, allow it to sit out for 48 hours before use. If cultivated indoors, a southerly exposure will be necessary for proper plant health. Sarracenia minor is a perennial carnivorous plant and can be grown quite easily outdoors, where it will be easy to capture it own nutrients.
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The Purple Pitcher Plant
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
- Keep soil wet at all times
The Purple Pitcher plants prefer an acidic medium such as sphagnum or peat moss, but will tolerate alkaline soils. The soil must be kept moist at all times during the growing period. Reduce the amount of water in the winter months, but do not allow the soil to dry out. Rain water should be used if possible. If you must use chlorinated water, allow it to sit out for 48 hours before use. Plants are usually difficult to grow indoors because they require large amounts of sunlight, which gives them their desirable red color.
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The Red Topped Trumpet Plant
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
- Keep soil wet at all times
- Full sun
For compost you may use peat, live or dead sphagnum or any combination, thereof. Do not add fertilizer to the soil, or water it with any liquid fertilizers, for the Red Topped Trumpet carnivorous plant will catch anything it needs for nutrients. You may cause serious injury to your Trumpet plant with a fertilizer. Also do not use chlorinated water, because the chemicals will build up in the soil, causing damage or death to your plant. If you only have chlorinated water, allow it to sit out for 48 hours before using. The soil must be kept constantly damp at all times during the growing period, and not allowed to dry out completely when dormant.
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The Yellow Trumpet Plant
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
- Keep soil wet at all times
- Full sun
For compost you may use peat, live or dead sphagnum or any combination, thereof. Do not fertilize the soil, or water it with any liquid fertilizers, for the plant will catch anything it needs for nutrients. You may cause serious injury to your plant with a fertilizer. Also do not use chlorinated water, because the chemicals will build up in the soil, causing damage or death to your plant. If you only have chlorinated water, allow it to sit out for 48 hours before using. The soil must be kept constantly damp at all times during the growing period, and not allowed to dry out completely when dormant.
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The White Trumpet Plant Sarracenia leucophylla
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
- Keep soil wet at all times
- Full sun
These carnivorous plants grow best in a sphagnum-based medium. Peat may also be used. The soil must be kept constantly damp and only slightly drier when dormant. Use non-chlorinated water or allow chlorinated water to sit for 48 hours before use. Sarracenia leucophylla plants prefer full sun, which gives them their vivid colors. Sarracenia leucophylla is perennial carnivorous plant, but in colder climates will go completely dormant.
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The Round Leaf Sundew Plant
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
The round leaf sundew is hardy.
Drosera rotundifolia is a perennial species of carnivorous plant which goes dormant in cooler climates. It's lifespan is indefinite with proper care. The sundew plant may be grown indoors, but requires high amounts of light. The sundew plant also requires high humidity to grow properly. It may be grown in sphagnum moss but must be kept continuously wet. No fertilizers are needed and might cause the sundew plant to die. Rain water is best for watering, but chlorinated may be used if allowed to sit out for 48 hours before using.
When growing conditions are suitable, the sundew plant tentacles are able to capture prey with mucilage which gives the plant it's shiny dew-like appearance. When the prey is captured, neighboring tentacles further enclose the victim bringing it slowly towards the center of the leaf for digestion. The usual prey for the sundew carnivorous plant is generally small, consisting mainly of gnats, whiteflies, mosquitoes, earwigs, and anything smaller than the leaf surface. Larger insects may be trapped by this carnivore momentarily, but usually are able to escape.
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The Cape Sundew Plant
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
The cape sundew is hardy.
Your plant should remain moist at all times and prefers humid conditions, but constant humidity is not a necessity. You can keep your plant wet by simply placing it in a shallow container of water. Rain water is best. If you must use chlorinated water, allow it to sit out for approximately 48 hours before use. Straight sphagnum-moss or peat will maintain the necessary pH level, 5 or 5.5, for your plant.
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Yellow Butterwort And Mexican Butterwort Plant
- No chlorine, no fertilizer
- Feed insects only
- Keep soil wet at all times
- Light shade
Yellow Butterwort and Mexican Butterwort carnivorous plants grow best in acidic soil with a ph of between 5 and 6. Sphagnum is the best medium. The plant must be kept moist at all times and only slightly dryer in dormant periods. Plants prefer light shade. The plant is perennial and can survive outdoors through most winter conditions
Insect Prey is captured by a sticky substance secreted by glands on the surface of the Butterwort leaf, where it is held in place and digested. The principle insect prey of the Butterwort plant is usually very small, such as midges, whiteflies, gnats, etc.
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