Fertilizing carnivorous plants can enhance their growth and vitality, even though these plants generally get nutrients from their prey. While they don’t rely on insects to survive, careful fertilization can boost their development. It’s crucial to fertilize moderately, as carnivorous plants are sensitive to excess nutrients, which may harm or even kill them. If the plants catch enough insects on their own, additional fertilization is unnecessary. By managing nutrients thoughtfully, growers can ensure healthy growth for their carnivorous plants.
Fertilizing with Live Insects
The most natural method is feeding live insects. For smaller plants, you can catch ants outdoors, and for larger ones, flies. Avoid feeding bugs like stink bugs—they are poorly digestible and often damage the traps. You can feed the plants once or twice a month. For Venus flytraps, the insect must move to activate the plant’s trap mechanism, ensuring it expends energy only on digestible prey.
Fertilizing with Dried Food
Another method of fertilizing carnivorous plants is feeding with dried food for aquarium fish, such as crushed flake food or dried gammarus larvae. This method works for plants that don’t require moving prey, like sundews or pitcher plants, but not Venus flytraps or bladderworts. Dried food should be placed directly on the trapping part of the plant, such as sundew leaves or pitcher traps. A drawback of dried food is its tendency to mold in high humidity.
Using Fertilizers
The least labor-intensive method involves fertilizers. Carnivorous plants are sensitive to fertilizer composition, so strict adherence to recommended doses is necessary to avoid harming the plant. Suitable options include MAXSEA 16-16-16, applied by spraying leaves or directly into traps, or Osmocote Exact granules, added to the substrate during repotting. These methods supply nutrients gradually without overwhelming the plant.
This careful approach can ensure a healthy balance for your carnivorous plants‘ growth.