Growing Plants Indoors

Insect Eating Plants are mostly found in moist and nutrient deficient soil. These plants want to fulfil their need of nutrient so they lure, catch, kill and digest insects.

Some plants are cold-blooded killers… without having blood.  They trick, they seduce, they trap and they devour- all without a smidgeon of conscience.  Here’s a short list of the cruelest, meanest plants to ever take root.

1. Nepenthes – Tropical Pitcher Plants

The Tropical Pitcher plant, a carnivorous genus of plant, comes in two basic varieties: The first is found at altitudes above 1,000 meters and is fittingly called “highland Nepenthes”.  The second variety flourishes in the tropical lowlands, and mixes or “climbs” above other plants in the area.  Tropical Pitcher plants are as tough as they are beautiful, and grow just as healthily under artificial light as in an enclosed sun room.

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2. Venus Fly Trap

Like the Black Widow spider, the Venus Fly Trap ensnares it’s pray… and then unapologetically devours it. The plant emanates a sweet smell, seducing insects to land in its “mouth”.  Almost immediately, the jaws snap shut and a powerful enzyme dissolves the insect into a digestible liquid.

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3. Cobra Plants

The Cobra Plant uses womanly allure in order to feed.  The leaf coloring commands its prey’s attention and the sensual smell of nectar draws the insect closer.  Once the insect is ensnared, external bacteria set to work breaking the pray down.

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4. Bladderworts

In its fresh water environment, the Bladderwort plant is deprived of certain life-preserving nutrients.  Instead of keeling over and dying they do the smart thing – they eat. A soft touch to the hair of the plant and the “bladder” sucks in the animal, dissolving the trapped meal in turn.

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5. SunDews

The sundew, also known as “the scourge of the bog”, shows no mercy… systematically trapping and eating insects without conscious. The plant’s small hairs serve three purposes; to attract prey with sweet smells, to wrap around unsuspecting insects and to digest the catch.  These aren’t simply joy kills; the sundew doesn’t get certain necessary minerals (such as nitrogen) from the soil and must compensate by consuming insectoid flesh.

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6. Rainbow Plants

The rainbow plant (Byblis liniflora), which sparkles colorfully in sunlight, doesn’t point towards a pot of gold. On the contrary, unsuspecting prey learn that a brush with this “rainbow” leads to death… and digestion. Native only in Australia and New Guinea, the plant also births a beautiful purple flower.

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7. Dewy Pine

The Dewy Pine (Drosophyllum lusitanicum) wafts the pleasant smell of honey into the air.  This is just a farce to convince insects to land on the leaves. Tentacles on the leaves smear a thick “glue” on the insect, suffocating it in the process. Once it’s dead, digestion enzymes leave nothing behind but the insect’s exoskeleton.

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8. Butterworts

Don’t let the name fool you; the Butterwort plant family isn’t nearly as “sweet” as it sounds.  Insects that land on the sticky leaves are unable to extract themselves.  Before long, that same slime digests the insect giving the plant valuable nutrients.

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9. Waterwheel Plant

The waterwheel (Aldovanda vesiculosa) operates similarly to the Venus Fly Trap – with a benefit.  Where the Venus Fly Trap is land locked, the waterwheel floats freely in of water. And, just like the Fly Trap, it’s “mouth” snaps shut on any prey that lands on it.

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10. Stinking Passion Flower

Passion doesn’t have to have a reason; take the stinking passion flower (passiflora foetida) for instance. The plant’s leaves capture insects, similar to other carnivorous plants.  However, scientists have yet to validate if the plant can even eat the catch or if the plant traps insects “just because”.

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