Carnivores are very popular as exotic houseplants. But did you know that carnivorous plants can also be grown outside? We clarify all questions about the cultivation of carnivores in the garden.
Whether mosquitoes, flies or ants - carnivorous plants, also called carnivores or insectivores, have always fascinated people with their unusual menu. In contrast to other plants, they not only rely on nutrients from the soil, but also get their extra portion of food by catching small insects. The exotic carnivores are particularly popular as indoor plants because they have their very own extravagant charm and are also exciting to watch. But did you know that carnivorous plants can also be grown in the garden? We'll tell you here which species are suitable for a life in the garden and what you have to pay attention to.
Which carnivorous plants are suitable for outdoors?
When thinking of the home of insectivorous plants, the image of a tropical rainforest surely comes to mind. In fact, carnivorous plants can be found in many regions of the world, even in Germany there are native species. Here you can find, for example, the round-leaved sundew (
Drosera rotundifolia), the long-leaved sundew (Drosera anglica) and the mean sundew (Drosera intermedia), which secrete a sticky secretion on their mobile tentacles, to which insects then adhere. The wild plants are on the red list and must therefore not be taken from nature. You can usually find them in specialist shops without any problems. Since the sundew occurs naturally in our country, the carnivorous plant is hardy and can be kept in this country without any problems. But be careful: There are also tropical sundew species that cannot stand the German winter.
In addition to some types of sundew, some pitcher plants are also suitable (Sarracenia) for growing in the garden. Originally the genus comes from the southeastern and eastern parts of the USA, which is why they are used to a moderately tempered environment. With the help of fragrances and a striking color, the pitcher plants attract insects to their long tubular leaves, into which the animals fall and cannot break free again. The red pitcher plant is particularly suitable for our garden (Sarracenia purpurea), whose habitat stretches from North America to Canada, as it is considered to be very hardy and can be cultivated in the garden without much maintenance. In fact, the red pitcher plant feels so at home in Germany that it also thrives here in some bog areas and is now on the black list as a neophyte invasive species is listed.
Location and soil for carnivorous plants in the garden
The right location is essential if you want to cultivate carnivorous plants in the garden. Since both of the above-mentioned species occur naturally in nutrient-poor bog areas, they are dissatisfied with normal potting soil, because it does not meet their requirements. In fact, a nutrient-rich potting soil is not beneficial for them and in the worst case leads to an oversupply or even has a toxic effect. In addition, the carnivores in the garden prefer an acidic substrate and a good water storage capacity in the soil. These conditions are optimally fulfilled when one is on a carnivore soil - like that Floragard special soil for carnivorous plants - fall back. Alternatively, you can put the carnivorous plants outside in an existing bog bed. However, it is important to ensure that the substrate remains acidic and poor in nutrients over time. A sunny spot is perfect as a location in the garden, which ideally also offers some protection from the weather.
Plant carnivores outside
Growing carnivorous plants in the garden is not that difficult if you know a few tricks. However, planting is a crucial moment that decides on the success of the project - because the Carnivorous plants are very picky about their substrate and should not simply be planted in the bed will. Instead, a hole about 80 centimeters deep is dug in a suitable place and lined with pond liner. Alternatively, you can also embed a suitable waterproof planter in the ground. A few upside-down plastic flower pots are spread out on the floor - this not only saves volume on the Earth, but also serves as a natural water reservoir in the event of a prolonged dry phase comes. Now the hole is filled with the carnivore soil. Then the carnivores can move to their new place. You should make sure that smaller species are arranged in front so that they also receive enough sunlight. After planting, it is advisable to water the bed thoroughly once.
Caring for carnivorous plants in the garden
Even if you think of exotic species that require a lot of care when you think of insectivorous plants in the garden, the carnivores actually require relatively little attention. They should be watered regularly during prolonged dry periods so that they do not dry out. If possible, you should use water with little lime in order not to lower the pH value of the earth - captured rainwater is ideal for this purpose. Fertilizer is taboo for carnivores, however, as the carnivorous plants feel most comfortable in a nutrient-poor environment. Even if the sundew and the red pitcher plant are usually hardy, fir branches cannot do any damage to the bed as protection from the weather at sub-zero temperatures without snowfall. Since sundew is very blooming, the dead inflorescences should be removed regularly: this encourages the formation of new inflorescences.
An alternative to carnivorous plants outside in the garden is a so-called bottle garden. This article shows you how to get a Create a bottle garden and plant properly.
Many thanks to Floragard for their support!
