The best carnivorous plants for indoors or out will be those that adjust well to environments that differ from their natural habitat. There are quite a few to choose from!
Whichever insect infestation you’d like to prevent, there’s a carnivorous plant that can help you. From fly-eating traps to sweet nectar drops, you can choose the ones that are the easiest for you to stomach.
In this article, I explain whether all carnivorous plants are suited for indoor growth and list the 5 best ones to choose from.
Carnivorous Plants For Home Use: Are They All Suitable?
All carnivorous plants can survive indoors. However, they’re fragile and much harder to keep alive than a typical houseplant. Each carnivorous species has different needs. Some need bright, indirect sunlight, while others prefer dark spots with high humidity.
I suggest doing in-depth research about the specific carnivorous plant you’d like to home. Caring for them can be challenging, and you need the best knowledge on your side to help them thrive!
Also, ensure you have access to a pet shop if your house doesn’t regularly get bugs. Carnivorous plants die if they don’t get enough food.
Carnivorous Plant Care: Indoor And Out
There isn’t much difference in the needs of carnivorous plants indoors and out. You should place indoor plants in a sunny spot that gets indirect light. They need strong sun rays during most parts of the day.
The same goes for carnivorous plants placed outdoors. If you live in a particularly hot region, ensure your plant gets some shade during the day to keep it cool.
Access to rainwater and many bugs is important for in- and outdoor plants.
Growing Carnivorous Plants Indoors: What You Need To Know!
Many people prefer growing carnivorous plants indoors. This is typically where hugs are a bother, and these plants can help keep them to a minimum.
Some carnivorous plants require acidified soil. If you grow yours in a pot, ensure the potting mix is acidic. You should research which bugs your carnivorous plant enjoys and ensure it has access to enough of them. Insects give these plants nutrients and are vital for their survival.
It’s also essential to use natural water. Rivers, fountains, and ponds are excellent sources! Minerals in tap water could make your carnivorous plants sick.
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Easy Carnivorous Plants To Grow Indoors
Not all carnivorous plants are hard to keep alive. There are some types that even a beginner can try to grow indoors. Here’s my top choices!
- Venus Flytraps
- Butterworts
- Cobra Lily
- Pitcher Plants
- Bladderworts
Carnivorous Plant Beginner Collection – Sundew, Venus Flytrap, Pitcher Plant
The 5 Best Carnivorous Plants For Indoors
#1 The Venus Flytraps
The venus flytrap is probably the most popular carnivorous plant and does precisely what its name suggests. It attracts and captures flies with nectar inside its head. The sweet smell lures flies in, and when they’re comfortable, the venus flytrap shuts to prevent an escape.
A downside of this plant is its longevity. Having one of them in the corner of your house won’t solve all your fly problems! It can take up to 10 days for a single fly to dissect in this plant’s juice, and once the venus fly trap shuts a few times, it never opens again.
#2 Bladderworts – Best Carnivorous Plants For Indoors
The Bladderwort is a freshwater carnivorous plant. They grow without soil and produce little yellow flowers that protrude above the water on thin stems.
They have tiny hairs that trigger the plant when prey touches it. The “bladder” opens up and catches its target with a stream of water. These carnivorous plants mostly eat crustaceans like ostracods and lice or fleas. You can feed them small worms or tadpoles.
They need a lot of water and sunlight to stay alive. You may need to take your plants outside during the day or place them in a well-lit spot. Rain or spring water would work best for this carnivorous plant. You can also use deionized water.
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#3 Butterworts
Butterworts had trouble getting enough nutrients from the soil in their natural habitat and evolved to catch prey for survival.
They have broad leaves that form a rose-like pattern. These leaves have sticky nectar that traps the prey and dissects it for the plant to consume. Butterworts enjoy a diet consisting of gnats and fruit flies. You can also feed them bloodworms or house flies.
Your butterworts shouldn’t go without water. If their soil dries up completely, they’ll die. Like other carnivorous plants, butterworts do best when given mineral-free water.
#4 Pitcher Plants – Best Carnivorous Plants For Indoors
There are many subspecies of pitcher plants, but all stand tall with leaves. Their leaves have a nectar-type liquid that traps prey as soon as they enter.
These plants can be any color, from a shade of pink to purple and even yellow! They’re typically found in rainforests, and monkeys often drink rainwater from some of them.
You might have challenges growing these plants outside, but taking care of them is easy. If you have their sunlight and watering needs sorted, the only thing left to worry about is prey. Feed them insects if you don’t have much around.
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#5 Sundews
Sundew carnivorous plants have small sticky drops of nectar at the end of their flowers. This resembles morning dew, which is where sundews get their name.
Their stems bend inwards when an insect is caught to prevent it from escaping. It can take up to 6 days for insects to digest before the sundew is ready to catch another.
These carnivorous plants thrive in hot, humid conditions. If you place your sundew in a bright, warm spot and ensure they always have water and most soil, they’ll be thrilled.
In Ending – Best Carnivorous Plants For Indoors
Carnivorous plants are an act to see! If you keep them where guests can view them in action, they’re sure to spark conversations. You can choose one species or color your house with a few different ones.
I hope you learned what you wanted in this article and enjoyed reading it. If you have more questions about carnivorous plants, ask them in the comments!
