There is a large number of plant species distributed throughout the planet earth, most with similar and common characteristics, but in this case we will refer to carnivorous plants, an exotic and striking species, unusual and highly sought after by fans of gardening to develop its cultivation in the gardens and even inside the home. Next we will highlight the Carnivorous plant Care and its main characteristics.
Carnivorous plants
Plants represent living beings that are born on the earth's surface, grow and populate all the continents of planet earth. They are considered plant organisms that have properties such as the cell wall composed of cellulose, chlorophyll that is distributed throughout it, allowing them to carry out photosynthetic activities that provide the necessary oxygen for all living beings. Therefore, they have a very outstanding relevance for the maintenance of life.
There is a great variety of species distributed throughout the planet, granting biodiversity and beauty in our world, among all of them some with unique and particular characteristics such as Carnivorous Plants should be highlighted. It is a plant species totally different from most, because it obtains its nutritional needs by consuming other species such as protozoa (freshwater or saltwater microorganisms), animals (small species) and preferably insects (flies, butterflies, spiders).
Carnivorous plants are considered a striking and fascinating plant species that are present in nature, as predators that react to various external stimuli. They grow in poor soil environments with low nitrogen content such as those regions of acidic land such as swamps and rocky areas. They can become a misunderstood flora due to their difficult cultivation, misunderstood danger and difficult domestic adaptation.
It was discovered in 1875 by Charles Darwin who wrote the first treatise on plants, it is currently considered that the carnivorous habit has evolved constantly and at least eleven types of lineages have been raised representing dozens of genera that are classified in five families. Including approximately 630 species that have carnivorous characteristics, attracting their prey and being able to produce enzymes, digestive bacteria that allow the absorption of resulting nutrients.
Types of Carnivorous Plants
Carnivorous plants are always considered by lovers of the extravagant, which is why they are sought after for cultivation. It is recommended to have knowledge of the types of carnivorous plants that exist, highlighting that they grow easily depending on the type of climate and local environment. There is a generic classification that is quite simple and practical to be considered domestically and will depend on the climate in which it is located:
Tropical Carnivorous Plants
The tropical climate is the one that has the regions located in the tropics, its main characteristic is the high temperatures, as well as the few climatic seasons with regularity, only two (rainy and dry); The latter being a relevant factor since it does not have frost or drastic changes in temperature, offering an ideal environment for the growth of exotic and striking plant species such as carnivorous plants.
The cultivation of carnivorous plants originating in this type of environment is complicated domestically, since they need constant high humidity and warm temperatures, unless the necessary conditions for their growth are recreated. Therefore, having them at home is not highly recommended unless you live in tropical places, they are widely seen in terrariums that are completely adapted to them. The most popular species in this case are the Nepenthes and Caphalotus.
Non-Tropical Carnivorous Plants
The non-tropical areas of the planet earth are those that are exposed to very drastic temperature changes, they are regularly affected by the seasons of the year, so they are exposed to frost in winter or high temperatures in cold weather. Of summer. The carnivorous plants that grow in these places usually go into a time of dormancy during the winter and autumn, in this way they survive these times. They are a class that is widely seen as part of the decoration of aquatic areas and in swamps. The most common are Drosera, Pinguiculas, Utricularia, Sarracenia and Dionaea.
Caring for Carnivorous Plants
Carnivorous plants are very similar to any plant, they do not need a special or different treatment, but some conditions must be considered that make the difference between other plants, allowing success or failure on it. One of the main tips is not to feed the plants, because it can cause intoxication, therefore, it is advisable to place them in an environment that allows them to properly hunt insects in order to live. The essential care for its proper cultivation is highlighted below:
Substratum
Substrates are known as the soil, land or surface on which plants grow or are planted, allowing the development of plant species by providing the necessary nutrients for their effective growth and healthy development. For gardening, the different types of soils should be considered since each one will provide sufficient properties for the development of carnivorous plants.
For the proper care of carnivorous plants, the type of substrate and the pot in which they will be planted must be considered. In the case of pots, they are a type of bucket where a certain amount of soil is added and the plant is planted in it until it maintains constant development; Plastic pots are recommended, because they are more resistant compared to others, porcelain and glass pots can also be used.
There must be enough holes so that the water that circulates in the system can be easily drained, avoiding at all times the accumulation of water that could rot the plant. In addition, there are different forms of pots such as the common ones described above or the hanging ones, in this case the Nepenthes species stands out for its effective development, it needs a hanging pot.
The substrate used for carnivorous plants is one that has few nutrients, so it is not very demanding in this area, in nature it is found in poor and acidic soils. In cases where normal soils are used for common plant species, the carnivorous plants are burned since they have an excess of minerals for them.
In addition, effective drainage must be guaranteed, mainly if there is a lot of moisture in it, allowing it to flow and not stagnate in its roots. The most used substrates for this type of species are the following:
esophagus
It is considered the ideal type of soil for carnivorous plants, it is a substrate rich in moss that is in the process of decomposition, it also has an acidic pH, this fact makes it a soil poor in nutrients and minerals, but with the ability to retain the water necessary to survive, it is recommended that it be used mixed with another substrate such as sand.
Sand
Sand is a substrate that has an essential structure for the circulation of water and air, for carnivorous plants not any type of sand can be used, it is recommended that it is thick with a size up to 4 millimeters, they are sold for fish tanks in aquarium shops.
Perlite
It is a type of mineral that has the shape of white balls, it can be expanded like popcorn, then cooled and sieved at different temperatures. Known for their high capacity to retain water for a certain time, they must be washed and mixed with other substrates for their effectiveness, preferably sludge.
Acclimatization
All living organisms have the ability to adapt physiologically to the environment in which they are developing and growing, in case of moving it or changing its habitat, the process of adaptation to the environment in which it is located, especially to climatic conditions, must be considered, being a factor that is influenced in plants that grow in certain specific regions.
Carnivorous plants that are grown in homes are affected by several aspects, highlighting changes in light, temperature and humidity, they usually suffer a shock that weakens them and they die. In case of considering a good acclimatization, it is recommended to place the plant in a terrarium, the substrate must have sufficient humidity and preferably high temperatures (avoid excess). For this reason, plastic bags are applied around the terrarium.
In case of using the plastic bag, it is preferable to open it from time to time or take the plant out so that it is aired and can get used to the new environment, it is not recommended to expose it directly to the sun but to keep it in semi-shade. This should be done for a full month, then it can be safely removed and placed inside the home as the plant will be used to this change in habitat.
Carnivorous Plant Location
When locating a plant in any sector of the home, several relevant factors must be considered, such as light, temperature and humidity that are present and are necessary for its proper development, each one is described below.
Lighting design
Sunlight is an important factor for the proper growth of plants, most need the necessary contact with it for their proper development. Carnivorous plants only need five hours of direct sunlight but then they should be removed as they could burn, also consider whether it is one of the more resistant species such as Serracenia or Dionaea.
Temperature
It should be borne in mind that they are plants that depend on environmental temperature, some species are tropical so they need high temperatures to stay healthy and strong, but in the case of non-tropical plants they necessarily need to hibernate for at least 3 or 5 months ( depending on the species), all this is seen in temperatures below 5ºC; If they do not hibernate, they will not be able to sprout during the spring or they will hardly be able to do so.
Humidity
Humidity is known as the amount of water, water vapor that can be retained on surfaces, carnivorous plants are a species that need enough moisture for good growth, highlighting in this case the Nepenthes, which is the one that needs the most humidity among all species, otherwise it will dry out.
Irrigation of Carnivorous Plants
Irrigation is a practice carried out for the application of water to crops, where the contribution of the liquid is a fundamental element for the life of plants, water is a vital liquid for both human beings and plant species. For its application in the soil, various techniques can be applied that allow all plants to have the necessary contact with it.
Carnivorous plants can be watered by immersion or also the way known as the tray technique, this consists of placing the plant in a container with water until the soil is completely soaked, normally it takes fifteen minutes for this, but it will depend on the type of soil and the necessary humidity according to the species. This type of irrigation allows you to obtain the amount of useful water and store humidity but avoid waterlogging at all times.
The plant should be placed in a kind of bathtub with enough holes or a large water container that allows the plant to be submerged and cover its base up to five centimeters from the pot. Leaving it in that environment for at least ten minutes so that it can absorb the necessary water. This type of irrigation must be carried out in hot seasons, it is recommended one day yes and one day no; in cold times it can be twice a month.
Irrigation is essential for carnivorous plants but it will depend on the type of species, so enough research should be done on the type of plant you have at home and how to care for it, taking into account all its basic needs.
Feeding of the Carnivorous Plant
Plant species are characterized by choosing environments with nutrient-rich soils that allow them to develop quickly and strengthen their roots, in the case of carnivorous plants they are known to grow in poor environments, where minerals are scarce in the soil, but this is due to that his diet is unusual; carnivorous plants feed preferably on insects and even some animals such as reptiles, amphibians and mammals.
The basic diet of this type of plants are mosquitoes, butterflies, ants, spiders, flies, among others. A main example in this case is the Venus Flytrap (Dionaea), this species hunts its prey, when capturing it it closes its mouth for approximately 1 or 2 weeks, it is able to consume two insects a month and be enough for its nutrition, at open their mouth again, they remove their insect residues that are still present.
They do not consume any type of insects, they usually look for those with the right size, if they are very large, they would hurt the mouth of their leaves and cause their death due to overexertion. In addition, it should be noted that they are a plant that sheds regularly, once they have consumed two or three meals, their mouth leaves die and give rise to new ones; in case of cultivation it is recommended to cut them once they dry and also to avoid the presence of fungi.
Pests and Diseases of Carnivorous Plants
Plants are plant species that are exposed to climatic and environmental conditions that benefit their growth but are also exposed to circumstances that can harm their development and come into contact with bacteria and microorganisms capable of deteriorating them, making them sick and leading to death. Carnivorous plants are exposed to be easily infected by pests, highlighting the following:
red spiders
Also known as two-point mites that are capable of feeding on plants that are located in dry environments with little humidity, it is considered a harmful pest for any plant species.
Aphids
It is a type of tiny insect with a taxonomy similar to fleas, its way of acting is to first settle on the plant, parasitize it and then feed on it and some are even capable of transmitting viruses to the plant, so they spread in crops with ease.
Mushrooms
They are a type of parasite that begins as spores that circulate in the air, until they are deposited in an area until they contaminate it, it is considered a great enemy for crops and in agriculture, affecting the health of plants and their effective reproduction.
Mealybugs
It is a type of plant parasitic insect that acts as a host in the tissues of plant species, feeding on the sap of the plant until it is completely damaged.
There are various methods to combat pests, depending on the type of condition, home remedies or products made with specific characteristics for it will be applied. It should be kept in mind that plant diseases can spread easily and must be treated quickly, so it is recommended to cut affected and wilted areas. In the case of carnivorous plants, pests can be present very easily, so it is recommended to have adequate and controlled care for their healthy growth.
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