How Often Should You Water a Carnivorous Plant?
Carnivorous plants aren’t just for Instagram – they require proper care to thrive. From Venus fly traps to Sundews, Butterworts, and Nepenthes, there are so many fascinating varieties of these odd-but-fun plants. They’re a great way to add an unexpected element of surprise to your garden. But do you know how often to water a carnivorous plant?
The answer is largely determined by the type of soil your carnivorous plants grow in and their sensitivity to minerals. This is because a lot of these plants evolved in soils with very low nutrient levels. As a result, they are very sensitive to excess minerals, which can cause root burn and even death.
Some carnivorous plants like lots of moisture, while others tolerate a lot less. Some tropical pitcher plants, for example, like to sit in bog-like conditions with only an inch or two of water. Other plants, including Venus flytraps and some Sundews, don’t need as much water or can be drought-tolerant.
Pots are key: Choose a pot that allows for adequate root growth space and is sized proportional to the size of the plant you’re growing. Most Venus flytraps do well in 3″ pots, but some larger or extra-large plants might need a 4″ or 6″ pot.
Rainwater is the best option for watering most carnivorous plants. However, it’s important to remember that rainwater is not 100% pure and may contain chlorine, salts, or chemicals. Therefore, it’s always best to use distilled or purified water for carnivorous plants.
Water is essential for carnivorous plants, as it provides the nutrients they need to grow healthy. Distilled water, filtered water, or rainwater are all good options for this purpose.
If you’re using distilled or filtered water, make sure you give it time to hydrate the roots before placing the plant in a container. This will help the filtration process and reduce the amount of minerals that get into your pots.
Pitchers are sensitive to high amounts of dissolved minerals in the water, which can lead to root rot or other problems. As such, you’ll want to make sure the water you use for your pitchers is very low in dissolved minerals, as measured by parts per million or total dissolved solids (t.d.s.).
A little research is all it takes to determine the right water for your carnivorous plants. Luckily, there are plenty of great resources out there for learning how to make the right decisions.
Ideally, your plants should be grown in an indoor environment with regular but not excessive air circulation and humidity. This can be achieved by misting the plants regularly or placing them near a room humidifier.
You can also bring your carnivorous plants outside in the spring, when it’s warm and dry. This can be done by putting them in a covered back porch or screened in porch. It’s not a good idea to put them in direct sunlight as this can damage their leaves.
