Carnivorous plants such as pitcher plants (Sarracenia) and venus fly traps (Dionaea) need repotting to provide extra room for the roots to grow and to provide extra nutrients to support plant growth.
Generally, carnivorous plants grow best in an open, ericaceous compost. A potting mix of coarse sand or perlite, with fine pine bark compost works well – as does substituting the pine bark for bracken compost, which you can buy or make.
More on growing carnivorous plants:
- Carnivorous plants to grow
- Caring for carnivorous plants – Golden Rules (video)
- 10 tips for growing carnivorous plants
Follow the easy steps in this guide to repotting your carnivorous plants.
You Will Need
- Coarse sand or perlite
- Pine bark or bracken compost
Step 1
Create your compost by mixing a 2:1 ratio of coarse sand or perlite, and pine bark or bracken compost.
Step 2
Remove the plant carefully from its plastic container, shaking off loose soil and untangling any congested roots.
Step 3
Add some of your compost mix to the bottom of the pot, then position the plant in the centre.
Step 4
Fill in the space around the edges of the pot with compost mix, gently firming the soil around the plant.
Once you’ve finished repotting, ensure the pots stand constantly in rainwater and have lots of sunlight. They’ll grow well outside in summer.