Carnivorous plants are very popular as eye-catchers in the home - unfortunately, mistakes are often made when caring for them. Find out here which 5 blunders you should avoid when caring for carnivores.
Carnivores are the dream of many gardeners - the carnivorous houseplants are a real eye-catcher in the apartment with their exotic appearance and almost mystical reputation and are also great to watch. Unfortunately, many people have bad experiences with their first carnivore, because it often begins to get sick after a short time or even dies completely. The reason for this is not the difficult nature of carnivores, but the fact that carnivorous plants require special care, different from the care more common Houseplants are different. So that you can take care of your carnivorous plants right from the start, we have selected the most common mistakes when caring for carnivores.
1. The wrong soil for carnivorous plants
You want to do something good for your freshly bought carnivores and therefore repot them in a new container with fresh potting soil. The thought is good, but unfortunately this action can already lead to the exotic plant soon beginning to get sick. One of the most important points to consider when caring for carnivorous plants is choice the right soil - the insectivorous plants tolerate normal flower or houseplant soil not. Since carnivorous plants are particularly common in nutrient-poor moor regions, they need a substrate that is precisely tailored to their needs. Special carnivore soils, such as those, are particularly suitable Floragard special soil for carnivorous plants. These have a low pH value and are particularly low in nutrients, which is very beneficial for the exotic plants. Carnivore soils also have a high water storage capacity, which also has a positive effect on carnivorous plants. Beginners in particular are advised not to mix carnivore soil themselves - even advanced gardeners often do it difficult to find a balance between the individual components and to give your plants the best possible basis Offer.
2. Incorrectly overwinter carnivorous plants
That many plants have special needs when hibernate have is known to most gardeners. The situation is no different when caring for carnivorous plants: some tolerate them Carnivores in the garden, like the hardy Sarracenia purpurea, also sub-zero temperatures, but the majority of the plants should be overwintered separately. A common mistake that is made is that all carnivorous plants are overwintered the same way. In fact, however, one must differentiate between carnivores from temperate zones and carnivores of tropical origin. Tropical species like that pitcher plant (Nepenthes) should experience the same conditions and care in winter as in summer. The light is often a big problem, as it quickly becomes too dark for the plants, even in sunny places. You can remedy this with a special plant lamp. On the other hand, if you have carnivorous plants from temperate regions – such as the sundew (Drosera) – these should be overwintered in a cool place. A bright room with around 12 °C is ideal for giving the carnivores a break. During this time, the carnivorous plants need less water, which is why the watering intervals can be extended.
3. feeding carnivores
Arguably one of the most fascinating aspects of carnivores is the fact that they hunt prey. The complicated catching mechanisms of the insectivorous plants inspire young and old and always amaze. Anyone who tends carnivorous plants is therefore quickly tempted to actively feed their plants in order to observe the spectacular spectacle. However, this is not always beneficial for the health of the plants: on the one hand, enough insects live in the apartment, so that additional feeding is not necessary. On the other hand, excessive irritation of the catching leaves can damage the plant in the long term. So the catch sheet snaps venus flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) usually only increases five times before it dies. Feeders that are too large can also pose a problem for the plant, as the extra enzyme production can unbalance the plant's digestion. If you still don't want to go without feeding, you should only do so at longer intervals and make sure that the animals to be fed are of an appropriate size.
4. Humidity too low
A nice, warm place above the heater on the window sill? What at first sounds like a good idea for exotic carnivores often turns out to be a big mistake. In fact, you have to be meticulous about the humidity if you want to properly care for carnivorous plants. Some pitcher plant species require a humidity of 80 to 100%, which is why they are only kept in special plant terrariums or a large one bottle garden can be held successfully. Sundew and Venus flytraps are much more robust in this regard, but again the humidity should not fall below 40%. You should therefore take care to protect the plant as much as possible, especially if the heating air is dry in winter Do not place it near heaters and give it a place with higher humidity (e.g as Plant for the bathroom) to offer. Another trick to increase the humidity is to put a water bowl filled with expanded clay under the actual plant pot. Due to the evaporation of the water, the humidity in the vicinity of the carnivore increases and it feels very comfortable.
5. Water and fertilize carnivorous plants properly
When a normal indoor plant is in trouble, many gardeners resort to fertilizer or a watering can. But if you take care of carnivorous plants, the additional fertilization is a cardinal mistake. Since the plants usually grow in very nutrient-poor substrates, an increased dose of nutrients can even have a toxic effect on them. In fact, the insectivorous plants usually do not need any additional nutrients in the form of fertilizer. Instead, carnivorous plants should be planted once a year in a container with fresh carnivore soil, such as Floragard special soil for carnivorous plants. repot. The sparingly dosed nutrients in it are sufficient for the frugal plant for the entire year. Caution is also required when watering: Although the carnivores like it when their substrate is always kept moist, they are very sensitive to limescale in the water. If you want to properly care for your carnivorous plants, it is best to use rainwater that is low in lime.
Many thanks to Floragard for the support!