How To Make A Carnivorous Plant Terrarium

Interested in gardening but don’t have a garden? If you are a garden enthusiast, this article may help you quite a bit. What if I told you that you don’t need to have a garden or a lawn in order to grow plants? Well, it’s true! You can attempt gardening by making terrariums at home. But what are terrariums? Well, they are unique indoor gardening that is wholly or partially closed and is able to have a miniature ecosystem of itself. This means water is circulated in it for minimum maintenance. Light sources can also be controlled as well. However, here we are going to talk about how to make a carnivorous plant terrarium.

This article will explain or discuss:

• Carnivorous Plant Seeds
• Pitcher Plant Seeds
• Things to be aware of when plants a carnivorous plant

Let’s get started. Here are the items you need to build  your Carnivorous Plant Terrarium

• A Container – Depending on  your location and plant
• Mixing Soil  – No nutrient soil
• Moss – to absorb nutrients
• Rainwater Collector – Don’t use normal water
• Led Lighting – Bright, indirect lights

Carnivorous Plant Seeds

If you have decided to make a carnivorous plant terrarium, the first thing you need is to get the carnivorous plant seeds. Without the seeds, making the terrarium would be pointless. But where can you get them?

Carnivorous plant seeds of many varieties can be found in different gardening shops. However, availability may vary depending on your location. Given that carnivorous plants face extinction in recent years with their numbers gradually declining, it is not surprising if you had to look for a few stores just to get a small packet of them. 

Another option you can consider is by looking online. Chances of finding these carnivorous plant seeds are higher as there is a broader network of people who may potentially have a hold on these seeds. However, as mentioned, due to its imitability, you should be aware as there may be fakes or scams. Do buy them from a reputable seller if possible.

There are many carnivorous plants that exist, most famously the Pitcher plant and the Venus fly trap and Cobra Lilies. 

Container

A container is essential when making a carnivorous plant terrarium. Though, if you are making a terrarium for your carnivorous plant, we suggest you choose something smaller. If having your carnivorous plant living with other terrarium plants being one of your options, this may be a party pooper. The living conditions which a carnivorous plant needs are the opposite to other terrarium plants. 

Pitcher Plant Seeds

In a case where you have no idea what seeds to get, try going for pitcher plant seeds. These plants look like the shape of the bowl, and most importantly, they won’t haunt your dreams. The pitcher plant is less scary compared to its other companion, such as the Venus flytrap. Moreover, it does give your terrarium a more overall appealing look.

California Pitcher Plant

One species of the pitcher plant is the California pitcher plant, which is also known as cobra lily. The name cobra lily is obtained due to it growing in the shape of a cobra. The same as any other pitcher plant, it attracts insects with its sweet nectar and traps it inside to digest them. Digestion will take up a week but hey! At least you don’t have to see it slowly die in the mouth of a viper guy trap.

Things To Be Aware Of

Soil

This is one of the significant differences and may decide whether your carnivorous plant appears to be dead or healthy. Unlike other plants which require highly nutrient soil, a carnivorous plant requires the opposite. Do remember that carnivorous plants already have a source of nutrients which is by digesting insects. Hence, if you were to fertilize your carnivorous plant terrarium just like any other terrarium, the chances are that your plant may overdose and wilt.

One way to solve this is by purchasing soil with low or non-fertilizer in their ingredients. If not, you can consider getting mosses to grow together with your carnivorous plant. That way, the nutrient in the soil of your carnivorous plant terrarium will be fought for.

Water

Another deadly fact that you must never neglect is watering. You may think that watering your carnivorous plant terrarium with normal tap water will do the trick. However, our tap water is mineralized. This means that it is the same as giving your carnivorous plant lots of fertilizers as well.

To prevent this, you can choose to demineralize the tap water before watering them. If you feel as if this method is expensive, you could also get water from rain. Rainwater is the purest form of water as it has not gone through anything but its own water cycle. Hence if possible, try to make your carnivorous plant terrarium self-sustainable; that way, the water it receives is of the equivalent amount and low in mineral.

Lighting

Another thing that you have to keep in mind is lighting. Carnivorous plants just love sunlight. If possible, it is recommended that you leave your carnivorous plant terrarium in a direction where sunlight is the strongest. Trust me, they love it!

If you don’t give them enough lighting, don’t worry, it won’t die. However, your carnivorous plant may appear darker than usual. If you are ok with having a dark coloured carnivorous plant, then go for it.

Planting Your Carnivorous Plant

Once you are aware of those, you can proceed to plant your carnivorous plant in your terrarium. Of course, feel free to decorate the carnivorous plant terrarium however you want, as the sky is your limit. Get creative and give your carnivorous plant a blast in its new environment. If you don’t mind, you can always add in little insects for them to breed and be food for your carnivorous plant. That just makes the carnivorous plant terrarium more of an ecosystem. After all, what is an ecosystem without fauna?

Conclusion

There are endless possibilities that you can do to make your carnivorous plant terrarium. We suggest going for pitcher plants; however, you can always consider other types that you are keen with. Feel free to explore the world of terrariums as you wish. Most importantly is to have fun doing it.