Carnivorous Plants/Insect control

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Expert: - 7/16/2007


Question
We are just now beginning to plan for a whole new landscape.  We are in a neighborhood, and have a back yard with pool.  This summer we have had horrible mosquito, fly and insect in general problems.  I don't like pesticides, but wondered whether I could plant (enough) carnivorous plants to make a difference -- so we could sit out without getting eaten ourselves by bugs.  How many, and in what kind of configuration would let us go from buggy to pleasant??

Lauren
Austin, TX

Answer
Hello Lauren,

Growing carnivorous plants is more a hobby of enjoyment of the plants themselves rather than as a means of controlling insect populations. Sundews can capture mosquitos, Sarracenias make good fly and ant trappers, however; such plants are just as likely to draw more insects to your yard in search of the nectar produced by the plants as to eat the insects already there. In short, you are not likely to find buying a large number of carnivorous plants for your yard to aid in reducing the insect population by a noticable level. Even indoors, there will always be a few insects that are lucky or somehow bright or skilled enough to escape being captured by carnivorous plants.

I hope this helps you in deciding how to control your insect population.

Christopher

Carnivorous Plants

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Christopher Littrell

Expertise

I am capable of answering questions about the most common carnivorous plants found in cultivation. I have no personal experience with Byblis, Drosophyllum, Aldrovanda, and Heliamphora. I have not cultivated gemmae forming pygmy sundews nor tuberous sundews. For information regarding those aforementioned species, I would suggest contacting other experts. I can answer questions regarding most species of Nepenthes, tropical and temperate Drosera, Mexican Pinguicula, Sarracenias, and Dionaea. I have some limited experience with growing Utricularia, Cephalotus, and Darlingtonia.

Experience

I have grown carnivorous plants off and on for about 27 years. I have made the same mistakes and suffered the same mishaps that many growers make as they attempt to separate the myths from the realities of growing these plants. Currently, I am successfully growing a variety of tropical sundews, a Nepenthes, several Venus Flytraps of varying ages, and Sarracenias. I have been successful in stratifying Sarracenia seeds and providing artificial dormancy requirements for my temperate plants when needed.

Education/Credentials
I hold a Master's degree in Educational Psychology. Over my lifetime, I have constantly read books involving the growing conditions of carnivorous plants. I hope to incorporate the educational aspects involved in psychology with teaching other people how to cultivate carnivorous plants.

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