While many carnivorous plants can be hard to grow, if you keep some basic rules in mind, you should be able to maintain a few popular varieties with no more effort than it takes to keep your pet goldfish happy.

Sometimes it’s best to go for drama. When growing houseplants, there is nothing more dramatic than a carnivorous plant, each species of which has evolved its own particular insect snatching method.

While many carnivorous plants can be hard to grow, if you keep some basic rules in mind, you should be able to maintain a few popular varieties with no more effort than it takes to keep your pet goldfish happy. Venus flytrap, sundew and pitcher plants are recommended for beginners, and these species have similar requirements.

Begin with a shallow tray and small pebbles. Line the shallow tray evenly with the pebbles, then add distilled water to the tray, so that the rocks are not quite covered. Put the tray in an area that receives bright sunlight for the majority of the day.

Distilled water must be used – it is inexpensive and can be bought by the jug at any grocery store. Because of their unique growing environments, carnivorous plants are particularly sensitive to nutrients.

Next, place the small containers of your new plants in the gravel so the water touches the bottom of the pot, but not so that the pot touches the tray. When you start, it is perfectly acceptable to keep the plants in the same small container they were purchased in – these plants have very unique soil requirements. If for some reason you need more soil, use a mixture of peat and sphagnum moss. Never ever add fertilizer – it will kill a carnivorous plant.

Once you have this system set up, it is not too difficult to take care of. Check the water levels every other day. Do not forget to add some water to the pots themselves as well – they should have drainage holes in the bottom. It is very important that the soil always stays damp, but never sopping wet. Without the proper drainage and moisture level, your plant may rot.

Other than checking the water and occasionally cleaning the tray, your plants should be perfectly content. They do require a winter dormancy period, but my plants have survived on the sill, just pulled back a bit – this way they experience the colder temperature without being exposed to an extreme. If a leaf starts to die, simply cut it off and do not panic.

Now for the fun part – feeding your plant. Unfortunately, the moat system prescribed by the above rules out ants, but your plants may catch a fly or two. The main thing to remember is that contrary to what popular culture would have you believe, plants do not eat hamburger.

It is not even important that you feed your plant – although you may want to drop a small bug in there no more than twice a month, just for entertainment. The sweet fragrance emitted and clever trap designs guarantee that your Venus flytrap will snag a meal every once in a while.

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