How to Look After Carnivorous Plants

Gather 2 parts sphagnum peat, 1 part perlite and 1 part sand. Rinse the sand several times until the water runs clear, washing away any salt and chemicals. Wash a container that is at least 18 inches deep with soapy water and rinse with a solution of 1 part bleach mixed with 9 parts water.

Cover the bottom of the container with an inch of washed gravel. Mix the soil components together and fill the plant pot. Plant the carnivorous plant in the container and pour water into the top of the container until water runs out the bottom.

Place the carnivorous plants in a location with direct sunlight. During hot, intense sunlight in the afternoon, provide shade for the plant. Hang 40-watt fluorescent light bulbs 6 inches above the plants in areas with poor lighting.

Keep room temperatures 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer. Drop the temperature down to 55 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit while the carnivorous plant is dormant in the winter.

Water the plant with collected rainwater when the soil begins to dry out. Do not use tap water that contains any chemicals. The best option to rainwater is distilled water. Keep the soil mixture moist so the humidity around the plant stays high.

Feed the carnivorous plant with a mixture of a quarter-strength fish emulsion every two to four weeks during the summer. These plants do not need an abundance of nutrients to grow well.