Carnivorous-plant expert and author Peter D'Amato discusses his favorite subject:
Q: Can I replace my citronella candles with carnivorous plants?
A: Definitely not. Carnivorous plants might catch a few mosquitoes, but not enough to make a difference. If you're plagued by flies, though, a pot or two of the American pitcher plant (Sarracenia) might come in handy.
Q: What are the most crucial things to remember if I want to grow a carnivorous plant at home?
A: If you want to grow them outdoors, research their hardiness. Carnivorous plants need lots of sun and warm summers--some species will survive light frosts, but it's best to bring them in if you experience cold winters. Make sure each plant sits in a saucer of distilled water or other low-mineral water. And if they're indoors, you'll want to make sure there are a few insects for them to catch.
Q: Will I need to fertilize my plant?
A: We fertilize Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plant) and Mexican butterworts year-round with an epiphytic fertilizer--we sprinkle it on the foliage, but it can be put into the soil if the water is purified or if the plants are growing outdoors and getting a lot of rain. You can fertilize American pitcher plants and sundews by spraying the leaves with epiphytic fertilizer, but fertilize those species only during the growth period (spring to early autumn).
Q: Is one time of year better than another for dividing carnivorous plants?
A: You want to divide the plants toward the tail end of the dormant period just before new leaves and roots start to grow. This is true with transplanting as well.
Q: Do carnivorous plants bloom?
A: All carnivorous plants flower. American pitcher plants flower in spring, then the pitchers follow. Venus flytraps flower in the spring as well, but they can be tiny because they're using so much energy to flower: I recommend cutting the flower off when it's young so that the larger summer traps appear more quickly.
Q: Have any insects developed a defense against carnivorous plants?
A: There are none that can specifically defend themselves--regular garden insects, the same ones that attack other plants can attack and kill carnivorous plants, but none have developed a way to defend against them.
Q: Does the narcotic in pitcher plants work on all insects?
A: Any nectar-feeding insect--ants, flies, some moths--that drink it will be affected.
Q: You said that a sundew "drools over chocolate." Was that just an expression or do the plants actually salivate?
A: It's true. Sundews produce so much digestive juice that they will literally drool over their food.
Q: In your book The Savage Garden, you tell a funny story about a couple who had been to Malaysia--they told you they had seen baby monkeys being removed from a huge Nepenthes. What is the largest animal you have seen a carnivorous plant devour?
A: The largest one I've witnessed has been a mouse--we generally rescue frogs and things if we see them getting caught. In the wild, rats are a surprisingly common prey of at least two species of Nepenthes. The rats look for water during dry spells and they think the digestive juices are water; then they fall in and drown.
Q: What do you feel is most misunderstood about carnivorous plants?
A: Many people think of them as ghoulish, but that's not their main attraction--they're actually grown because they're beautiful. The other big confusion is that many people automatically think that all these plants are tropical and so are surprised to learn that they grow in North America.
)
