Carnivorous plants use a variety of methods to capture their prey, including pitchers, sticky leaves, and round cups that close their unsuspecting insect victims.
This makes this plant variety extremely interesting.
While you may not be able to buy a plant that anticipates a four-course meal, typical store-bought strains are just as interesting to look at as they will devour an unsuspecting fly!
What carnivorous plants grow indoors?Carnivorous plants that can be grown indoors include venus flytrap, pitcher plant, sundew, butterwort, hosepipe, and monkey cup. These plants adapt fairly well to indoor growing conditions when provided with the right heat, light, and watering requirements.
If you're new to the world of carnivorous plants, read on to discover the exciting strains available.
List of carnivorous plants growing indoors
With so many different types of carnivorous plants to choose from, it can be a little difficult to choose one!
Use our helpful list to determine which herbivore best suits your home, lifestyle and budget.
1. Venus Flytrap (Dionaea Muscipula)
Each petiole of the Venus flytrap terminates in a two-hinged lobe that forms its trap.
The inner lobe surfaces are covered with fine trichomes (hairs) that trigger the trap when prey comes in contact with them.
- Average size:30 centimeters wide
- Average price: $7-$10
- Key Features:Shell-shaped leaves that smell sweet and attract insects when open
- Light requirement:Direct sunlight for at least 6-10 hours per day
- Growing Tips:Place in direct sunlight during the growing season and water only with rainwater. Do not fertilize or place in a heated greenhouse.
2. Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris)
Butterwort bears blue and purple flowers from May to July. The leaves produce a sticky sap to catch insects.
When an insect lands on the plant's sticky leaves, the leaf edges curl over to digest it.
- Average size:10-20 centimeters tall
- Average price:$15-$70
- Key Features:Flowers appear similar to the violet
- Light requirement: Bright indirect lightto prevent burning of the leaves
- Growing Tips: Place the plant in a drip tray filled with water to keep the soil constantly moist. Let the plant catch its own prey to avoid poisoning the plant or overfeeding.
3. Affenpokal (Nepenthesspp.)
This plant displays reddish dangling bags that resemble cups. These jars contain a mild digestive fluid that attracts and dissolves insects.
- Average size:The stems can reach 3 meters depending on the variety.
- Average price: $25
- Key Features:Reddish, cup-shaped pitchers dangling beneath long, narrow leaves
- Light requirement:Bright indirect light
- Growing Tips:Place the plant in damp areas such as the kitchen or living roombathroomas low humidity will cause the plant to stop producing pitchers.
4. White Trumpet Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia leucophylla)
The white-tipped pitcher plant has slender green leaves and white calyxes with red veins towards the ruffled tips.
Insects become paralyzed by the nectar and fall into the digestive juices at the bottom of the pitcher.
- Average size:20-36 inches tall and 40-90 centimeters wide
- Average price:$10-$25
- Key Features:Colorful, nectar-producing pitchers that attract insects
- Light requirement:full sun
- Growing Tips:Grow in a soil mix of peat moss, leaf mold and grit. Water with rainwater and keep cool and moist in winter.
5. Cape Sundew (Drosera capensis)
This plant gets its name from the tiny droplets that glisten on its leaves. Each delicate green leaf is covered with fine red hairs or stalks that secrete a sticky liquid to trap insects.
- Average size:15 centimeters
- Average price:$7-$36
- Key Features:Mobile leaves covered with fine red hairs suffocate and digest insects.
- Light requirement:Bright indirect light
- Growing Tips:Keep it at room temperature away from drafts and provide some moisture by placing it in the bathroom or kitchen for a short time.
6. Australian Kannenpflanze (Cephalotus follicularis)
This low-growing variety of pitcher plant produces leaves that are dark red in direct sunlight but remain green in shade.
The mouth of each pitcher is cruelly lined with 24 rib-like teeth.
- Average size:Height 0.5-1 meter, width 0.1-0.5 meters
- Average price:$25-$90
- Key Features:Insects are digested in the pitcher tuber, which contains digestive enzymes.
- Light requirement:Full sun - partial shade
- Growing Tips:It enjoys temperatures between 41℉ and 90℉ (5℃ – 32℃). It requires no pruning or fertilizing and prefers moist soil, partial sun and 60-80% humidity.
7. Purple pitcher plant (Sarracenia purpurea)
The crimson pitchers grow close to the ground and collect rainwater. This water is home to tadpoles, mosquito larvae and bacteria that feed on drowned insects.
Once they've digested the insect, their waste product (poop) provides the nutrients that the plant can then easily absorb!
- Average size:6 inch blade length
- Average price:$10-$25
- Key Features:The plant absorbs nutrients provided by its symbiotic relationship with other microorganisms.
- Light requirement:At least 6-8 hours of bright sunlight per day
- Growing Tips:This plant enjoys temperatures of 60-70℉ but can survive in temperatures below 40℉. Place the container on aSaucer filled with waterto constantly moisturize the soil and roots.
8. Yellow pitcher plant (Sarracenia flava)
This carnivorous beauty features yellow-green pitchers with upright lids. Insects that land on the colorful leaves are paralyzed by the nectar.
The insects fall into the jar, which contains a digestive enzyme. Once the insect decomposes, the plant absorbs the nutrients.
- Average size:18-36 inches high, 17-35 inches wide
- Average price:$8-$25
- Key Features:Tall, upright yellow pitchers with red veining at the neck of the pitcher
- Light requirement:full sun
- Growing Tips:Place them by a south or east facing window with access to bright sun. Irrigate with rainwater or lime-free water. Protect from cold temperatures as this plant is not frost hardy.
9. Spoon Leaf Sundew (Drosera spatulata)
Little Spoonleaf Sundew's leaves resemble tiny green teaspoons covered with red tentacle hairs that secrete a sticky liquid.
Insects attach to this liquid and allow the plant to digest it!
- Average size:1-3 inches wide
- Average price:$5-$15
- Key Features:Leaves resemble teaspoons covered with tiny red hairs that exude droplets of liquid.
- Light requirement:Full sun / partial shade
- Growing Tips:Place it on a windowsill with access to plenty of natural light. They also thrive in a greenhouse or terrarium.
10. Water hose (Utriculariaspp.)
The water hose floats on ponds and lakes under the water surface. Tiny bubbles on plant roots use water and decompression to suck up unsuspecting prey!
Once the prey is sucked into the bladder, the digestive enzymes break it down and the plant enjoys a healthy snack.
- Average size:5-8.5 inches wide
- Average price:$20-$50
- Key Features:This aquatic plant uses bubbles on its roots to pick up unsuspecting insects.
- Light requirement:Full sun for at least four hours
- Growing Tips:Indoor water hose plants can be grown in equal parts perlite and peat. Place the container over a drip tray filled with water to provide extra moisture.
Care tips for carnivorous houseplants
- Keep the soil moist
- Use rainwater/filtered water
- Provide sufficient heat and light
- In the heat of the day, shift to a cooler position
- Place the plant in a cool place when it is dormant
- Don't fertilize
Related Questions:
Can carnivorous plants live without insects?
Carnivorous plants feed best on insects, but they can absorb nutrients through their leaves and roots and use photosynthesis to survive.
Carnivorous plants grown indoors benefit from an occasional feeding of small insects.
How fast does a pitcher plant grow?
The slow-growing pitcher plant takes 5-10 years to mature. Some species grow less than 1 inch per year.
Growth can be encouraged by providing ideal growing conditions, including nutrient-poor soil, adequate light, and an appropriate diet of small insects.
Diploma
A carnivorous plant lurking on the windowsill is sure to add the wow factor to any houseplant environment.
Use the guide above to choose the perfect carnivorous plant that suits the plant monster in you!