Carnivorous Plants for Home Gardeners

Pitcher plants, sun dews, Venus flytraps — there are some very interesting "meat-eating" plants that, given the right conditions, can become a fascinating gardening hobby. These incredible living decorations are more than your typical houseplants. They are a wonder of nature because of their unusual foliage and flowers, their survival techniques and how they capture their prey. So, whether you’re looking for a plant with unique scientific traits, or want to go a little dark and goth with your plant decor, check out these exotic beauties.

A mixture of peat moss and either sand or perlite will help these plants stay moist but not wet. They require full sun and humidity to thrive.

Like other carnivorous plants, Venus flytrap typically slows growth before going dormant in the fall and winter, but perks back up in the spring — just like in nature. Protect them from hard freezes.

The two lobes of the snap-trap shut in an eyeblink, then slowly tighten around their prey. Because individual traps get worn out after just a few feedings, feed only every few weeks.