Houseplants that Eat Bugs

Posted by Mosquito Squad

November 8, 2024

Plants that eat bugs are known as carnivorous or insectivorous plants. Not only are these plants resourceful and interesting due to their unique mechanisms, but they also help naturally control insects! Some carnivorous plants make great houseplants. This means you can have a standout houseplant that also helps control insects indoors.

Could a carnivorous plant be your roommate? Get to know your options for houseplants that eat insects, and learn how to care for them.

First, Why Do Carnivorous Plants Eat Insects?

Plants that eat bugs do so to supplement the nutrients they can't absorb from their environment. These plants often naturally grow in nutrient-poor habitats like rainwater, snow-melt bogs, and some types of swamps, where their roots can't extract sufficient nitrogen, phosphorus, and other essential elements from the watery soil. They make up for the deficit by capturing and digesting insects.

The Types of Carnivorous Houseplants & Tips to Care for Them

Believe it or not, there are nearly 700 types of carnivorous plants! Some are more well-known due to their viability as insect-controlling houseplants.

Venus Flytrap

This plant’s famous leaves have trap-like structures with hinged lobes lined with sensitive hairs. When an insect brushes against these hairs, the lobes quickly snap shut, trapping the prey inside. The plant then secretes digestive enzymes to break down the insect, absorbing the nutrients.

Venus Flytrap Care:

Venus flytraps are one of the more common indoor carnivorous plants due to their low maintenance. A requirement unique to this plant is its winter dormancy period. For a few months, Venus flytraps must go into a dormant state and rest. This can be achieved by reducing the temperature and light during winter months, which may happen naturally depending on where the plants are placed in your home.

Pitcher Plant

Pitcher plants have long, tubular leaves shaped like pitchers or cups. Insects are lured by the plant's sweet-smelling nectar and colorful patterns. Once the insect enters the pitcher it’s difficult to escape the slippery inner walls. The insect eventually falls into a pool of digestive liquid at the bottom of the leaf where it’s broken down and absorbed by the plant.

Pitcher Plant Care:

Care varies depending on the type of pitcher plant. Sarracenia (North American pitcher plants) need full sun, while Nepenthes (tropical pitcher plants) prefer bright, indirect light or filtered sunlight. Nepenthes require high humidity and do well in a terrarium. Sarracenia can tolerate lower humidity levels.

Sundew

Sundews, or Drosera plants, are covered in glandular hairs that secrete a sticky nectar that attracts and traps insects. Once an insect is caught in the sticky tentacles, the sundew’s leaves slowly curl around it, allowing the plant to secrete digestive enzymes and absorb the nutrients.

Sundew Plant Care:

Sundews need more sunlight than other carnivorous plants: Most species thrive with 12+ hours of light per day. Sundews need high humidity, so consider placing them in a terrarium or using a humidity tray. With the right conditions, Sundews are easy to grow indoors and are a great choice for beginners.

Bladderwort

Bladderworts are aquatic or semi-aquatic carnivorous plants found in fresh water and wet soil. They have small, bladder-like traps on their roots. These bladders have a trapdoor mechanism that snaps shut when tiny aquatic organisms (such as water fleas or larvae) trigger their hair-like sensors. Once inside, the prey is digested by enzymes.

Bladderwort Care:

Aquatic bladderworts should be submerged in water, and they thrive in freshwater indoor aquariums. Terrestrial or semi-aquatic species need damp soil and thrive in high-humidity environments like terrariums.

Butterwort

Butterworts have flat, sticky leaves that lure fruit flies and gnats with their sweet-smelling nectar. Once an insect lands on the leaf, it gets stuck in the mucus-like secretion. The plant then releases digestive enzymes to break down the insect and absorb the nutrients.

Butterwort Care:

Butterworts are compact and fairly easy to grow, with no unique care requirements. They’re a great plant for the windowsill of a kitchen to help control fruit flies.

Related Blog: Plants That Help to Repel Mosquitoes

General Tips for Growing Carnivorous Plants Indoors

While carnivorous plants can be grown as houseplants, they require specific care to thrive, as they’re adapted to unique outdoor ecosystems. To grow carnivorous plants indoors, it's important to re-create those special conditions, such as high humidity, lots of bright light, and (even though this sounds strange …) nutrient-poor soil.

Here’s how to care for carnivorous plants indoors:

Use the right water – Carnivorous plants are sensitive to minerals, so always use distilled water or let your tap water sit in a container for a day before watering your plants. (This will allow some of the chlorine and other chemicals in the water that may be harmful to plants to dissipate.)
Avoid fertilizer – These plants are adapted to nutrient-poor environments and fertilizing them can harm or kill them. Grow these plants in a mix of well-draining peat moss, sand, or perlite.
Provide a humid environment – Carnivorous plants tend to come from humid environments. Because of this, the soil should be kept moist. Many carnivorous plants, particularly tropical species such as sundews and bladderworts require high humidity. Consider placing them in a terrarium or using a humidity tray.
Give them lots of light – Carnivorous plants generally require direct sunlight or light from artificial grow lights for at least four hours every day.

Carnivorous Plants Help Handle Your Indoor Pests; Let Our Pros Handle Your Outside Pests

If you have insects inside (that you’re hoping the plants will eat), chances are you have pests to manage outside, too. Luckily, the professionals at your local Mosquito Squad^® are ready to help with a range of services to control anything from mosquitoes and flies to spiders and scorpions!

We recommend our Squad Home Shield pest package to treat areas around your home where pests might creep inside. This service is the ideal way to deter roaches, spiders, ants, and other sneaky pests. Pair this with our Squad Fly Control package to target areas of your yard that attract flies. Kill flies on contact then deter them for up to 21 days.

To get started, contact your local Squad^® today at (877) 332-2239 or request a quote online.