Indoor plants a great variety. But among them a separate niche is occupied by predator plants. This is an amazing phenomenon, you can watch it for a long time, without losing interest. These are exotic plants, but keeping them at home is not at all difficult. In addition, they perform the role of "sanitation", destroying flies, mosquitoes, spiders and even cockroaches in the apartment. On what predatory plants included in the red book are suitable for growing at home and will be discussed below.
The first thing that pays special attention to carnivorous plants is the desire to decipher the mechanism of their action. Everyone who first sees these plants, I want to know how they are arranged and what they know how to "do." The legendary scientist Charles Darwin in his treatise on carnivorous plants for the first time wrote that carnivorous plants eat insects to get their nutrients necessary for life. They, unlike other plants, do not derive their basic strength from the soil and the environment, but from food.
Predatory plants capture only moving objects in order to preserve their energy and prevent the consumption of stale meat. Charles Darwin concluded that different predator plants have different mechanisms for absorbing insects. Some have traps (in the manner of a trap), while others have a leaf surface with an attractive viscous substance from which the insect can not escape.
Of the 300 known carnivorous plants for growing in room conditions, only six are suitable. They are considered especially rare and in the wildlife are listed in the Red Book. Growing carnivorous plants at home has some features, but in general they are not much different from other types of houseplants.
Features of growing carnivorous plants at home
- Predatory plants grow best in a humid environment, on acidic soils rich in nitrogen, nutrients and minerals. In the soil there should be a mixture of moss (which gives acidity to the soil), peat or raw river sand (strained several times).
- Predatory plants, unlike other indoor flowers, should not be grown in clay pots, as clay retains salts harmful to carnivorous plants. It is extremely important that plastic pots have holes for draining the water, because for all their love for moisture, the plants still should not "swim".
- If in your house there is not enough live food for predatory plants, special liquid fertilizers are sprayed onto their leaves. Do this regularly, so that the plant does not die.
- Predatory plants need a lot of light. If you can not provide them with it - will have to equip the artificial lighting. And, incandescent lamps are not suitable - you need fluorescent lights.
- Make sure that the temperature in the room during the day does not exceed 30 degrees. Never place plants near a battery or other heaters.
Popular types of domestic carnivorous plants
1. Venus flytrap
Named after the goddess of love of Venus. The fact is that the leaves of the plant resemble female genitalia. These are rare plants included in the red book. The leaves consist of two oval valves with denticles at the edges, which look like a small trap or trap. On the inside, the valves are covered with red hairs and glands that secrete enzymes and attract insects. When the insect sits on the leaf, it irritates the hairs, and the trap closes at an incredible speed. Then the process of digestion begins. One fly is enough for 1-3 weeks. Then the flaps open, and on the leaves remain solid undigested parts of the insect - head, wings, remains of the trunk. This mechanism takes place only a few times, then the leaf dies.
In May and June, the venus flytrap flowers bloom white, and in winter rest during rest. At this time the plant feeds too little. For good growth and development, the plant needs soil from a slightly moist mixture of peat and sand. In summer, a lot of light is needed. The plant loves direct sunlight - so it is saturated with infrared light. It is recommended to keep a saucer with water constantly under the vase and add it as it evaporates. The amount of food affects the size and color of the leaves of the venus flytrap, but 2-3 flies per month is enough. If the leaves begin to turn black and fall, then the plant does not have enough nutrition. This is worth watching.
2. Nepent
Named after the grass of oblivion in ancient Greek mythology - nepenfa. It is a mountain plant with bright green leaves, the edges of which form jugs with a membrane-lid. He needs a sufficient amount of moisture and light. It is these jugs that are the secret "weapons" of insectivorous plants that help them catch prey. As the jugs grow, the jugs are filled with a special liquid, and only when they reach maturity, the lid is opened and the plant is ready to catch its victims. Nepent can feed on any small living creatures. These can be flies, mosquitoes, wasps, bees, birds and even rats. Attracted by the color and smell of the liquid, they slip along the edge of the jug down, then the lid closes - there's no turning back. Inside the plant there is a liquid aggressive environment in which the animal mass is digested.
To grow well and even blossom the plant needs bright sunlight. It loves moisture, especially seawater. Can grow at a temperature of 13 to 35 degrees, it feels better in terrariums, but can also grow in suspended pots. Fertilize it is best liquid manure, you can even spray them, dissolved in water. The main thing in growing nepenta - to monitor the level of moisture. The plant likes swampiness and does not tolerate drying out.
3. Rosycele
The most common type of carnivorous plants included in the red book, suitable for keeping the house. Its leaves are located as an outlet on tall, thin stems, usually painted in red. They are covered with glandular hairs that emit a strong aroma and are covered with a sweet liquid that shines like drops of dew to attract victims. As soon as the insect sits on the leaf - the hairs entangle it and squeeze it until the resistance stops completely. Then the sheet starts to fold slowly, until it rolls into a tube. Inside, the process of isolating enzymes for digesting food begins. The process of digestion lasts for several days.
In July-August, the sundew blooms with white, pink or yellow flowers that develop in the stems. She loves water, so the pot must always be in a pallet with water, and in winter the soil should be only slightly damp. This plant is used in medicine and homeopathy.
4. Petlyuga
With its blue-violet flowers, it resembles a violet. But these flowers are just a bait for insects, located around the trunk. They are covered with numerous hairs and glands with sticky slime, which allows you to quickly paralyze the victim. The leaves twist around it and the digestion process begins, which lasts one day. Then the plant "spits out" the solid remains of the insect. Petlyuga loves light, it can not often be transplanted because of a bad root system. New leaves appear at the end of summer, there is practically no rest period.
5. Flower-pitcher
Its hunting organs are jars covered with hairs. The victim flies in there, attracted by the smell, and can not get back out. Inside are sour juices, which accelerate the decomposition and digestion of nutrients. Growing these plants at home is very easy - preferably at a lower temperature, with moderate natural light, with constant water pouring in the summer and once a month in winter. But be careful when watering - do not allow water to enter the jug. This can lead to the death of the plant.
6. Mehurka-vial
It is mainly used on farms or in fish farms. There, the plant acts as a natural cleaner. Its capture mechanism - among the bright green leaves are located small bubbles with a valve, covered with hairs. The victim sits down, touches the hairs, the valve opens, and then sucks the insect inside the bubble. The captured creature dies of hunger, and its body decomposes with the help of special substances inside the bubble. The whole process takes about 15 minutes. It is better to keep in terrariums, because the plant constantly needs water. You do not need to feed especially, just make sure that the plant feeds at least once a week.