One of our colleagues here at ThisBlogRules bought a carnivorous plant recently, a Dionaea Muscipula or a Venus Flytrap. He got it in a pot and planted the little seeds himself. The Venus flytrap carnivorous plants are not very difficult to grow as an apartment plant but it has its special demands. If you take good care of them you will get to see them catch their live prey with their little trap leaves. It’s fascinating to watch them eat. Carnivorous plants are one of nature’s freaks and we want to share with you some tips on growing carnivorous plants indoor.

1. Keep them Watered All the Time

Carnivorous plants need to be watered often and have their soil damp all the time. In order to do this you need to use the tray method. Put the pots in a saucer or a tray and keep it with water all the time. Some carnivorous plants like pitcher plants love their soil soggy and you can keep the water in the tray as deep as ½ of the pot. Most carnivorous plants want damp to wet soil so you can keep the water at ¼ inch and make sure you refill it when it’s almost gone. The plants suck the water whenever they need it. Some say that it’s even better to put water in the tray rather than directly on the plant because this way you avoid scaring the flytraps with false alarms. Whenever you water them (when they’re fully grown and the traps are developed) they will think it’s an insect and they will lose energy trying to catch it. So bottom line is that the number one tip for growing carnivorous plants indoor is to give them plenty of water.

2. What Is the Best Water for Carnivorous Plants?

Another important tip for growing carnivorous plants indoor is to know what water to use when watering them. Make sure to always use mineral free water, such as distilled water or rainwater. You must avoid bottled water and never use tap water. There are too many minerals in it and carnivorous plants are used to nutrient poor soils. All the minerals from the above mentioned types of water can kill the plants.

3. The Proper Soil for Carnivorous Plants?

Carnivorous plants grow in nutrient poor soil naturally so you must try to imitate that by getting a soil rich in peat and sand. Try mixing sphagnum peat moss and horticultural clean sand. Avoid mineral rich sand from contractors. Never use lime stone sand or beach sand because it contains too much sand and it will harm your plants.

4. Carnivorous Plants Love Their Light

In their natural habitat carnivorous plants get plenty of sunlight. If you want to grow one in your apartment you must give them light, as a general rule. You need to put them in a spot where they get sun light. Try putting them on a windowsill.

5. Dormancy Period

Another tip for growing carnivorous plants indoor is to respect their dormancy period. Carnivorous plants live in a temperate climate and need their winter sleep. It’s their way of protecting against the harshness of winter. Some plants, like the Venus Flytrap form winter leaves and other shed their leaves during the cold season. You need to allow them to rest, otherwise they will get exhausted and die. During the dormancy period you need to water them less, leaving the soil only slightly damp. Reduce the amount of daylight and keep them in a cooler place for 3 to 6 months. You can put them in a basement where it’s not freezing and it’s pretty dark.

These were some of the most important tips for growing carnivorous plants indoor. Do you have a carnivorous plant in your apartment? Any advice you could give us and our readers?