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September 2015: Carnivorous are Houseplants of the month

31 December 2014

In September 2015, there are a number of plants which are Houseplant of the month, which are the Carnivorous plants. Why don’t you give Carnivorous plants some extra attention this month in your shop? That is really easy with our free to download POS material, which you can find underneath

The story of Carnivorous plants

Carnivorous plants lure creatures, mainly insects, to slowly catch and digest. The different carnivorous plants lure their prey into the traps in their own particular way. There are plants with pitcher (cup) traps, snap traps, sticky traps, bladder (suction) traps and lobster-pot traps. There are 630 different types of Carnivorous plants which come from five different families. 

Carnivorous plant production

Most Carnivorous plants come from cuttings (tissue culture), but the Dionaea is mainly grown from seed. The plants develop the nicest colours when given lots of sunlight, so place them in a sunny position.
The Venus fly trap (Dionaea muscipula) grows in the marshlands of North and South Carolina in the USA. The Sarracenia is part of a group of plants which are mainly found in the south east of the USA. The Nepenthes grows in the hot, humid jungles of the Far East, near Borneo. The sundews are found in many parts of the world, including Europe.

What do you need to look out for when buying Carnivorous plants?

•    Pot size and plant shape. The pot size is the main aspect which determines the price. The colour, the length of the pitchers (Nepenthes) or trumpets (Sarracenia) and the number of leaves (Dioneae) can also determine the price.
•    Moisture. Make sure that the plants are damp enough when you buy them. At a wholesaler, for example, Carnivorous plants need to be in a watertight container with a layer of water in it. This way, the marsh plants won’t dry out. So it’s a good idea to look for signs of dehydration.
•    Because the Nepenthes is sleeved, all the moisture drips out of the pitchers. It is recommended to fill 1/3 of each pitcher with rain water, after purchase. You don’t have to fill any of the other Carnivorous plants with water.

Range of Carnivorous plants

The four most important types of Carnivorous plants are: Nepenthes, Dionaea, Drosera and Sarracenia. There are also many other types. Many Carnivorous plants are sold in mixed trays so that you immediately have a nice range of plants.

Care tips for consumers

It is important to create an environment in which Carnivorous plants can grow well. The plants like damp soil, prefer rainwater and love high humidity. It is a good idea to place a bowl of water under the plant and to ensure that this never dries up. A light position is also recommended as the Carnivorous plant gets its lovely colours through exposure to sunlight. Don’t give Carnivorous plants plant food, as they can’t cope with it. Plants from a nursery come from a controlled environment with measured nourishment in the soil. Because of this, the plant survives happily just on water (preferably rainwater). Carnivorous plants live in nutrient deficient soil.

Creative tips for Carnivorous plants

Carnivorous plants will love a micro climate in a glass ball. The plants will flourish because of the high humidity. Some types, such as Nepenthes and Sarracenia, are also sold as cut flowers or decorative material. Their colours and shapes are well suited for special bridal or funeral flower arrangements. Children also adore these plants and so do specific plant lovers.

You can download the images and poster (link) below for free:

09_2015_poster_carnivorous_plants.pdf