Remember that Insectivorous Plants grow all over the World and some plants are summer-growing, others are winter-growing, many don't care about seasons as long as it is the right temperature. Some seeds require a period of damp cold conditions before they will germinate. Other seeds may require treatment with smoke or hormones. Some species like growing in sphagnum moss while others prefer a peat and sand mix. As we need to help maintain our peat lands there many other types of soils we can use please see details on another page.

Here are some general tips about growing Insectivorous (Carnivorous ) Plants from seed. ( see notice below )

 Insectivorous Plants need light.

  Lots of light. I would consider starting seed under fluorescent lights. About sixteen hours of light a day is optimal in most circumstances. The top of the pots should be away from the lamps, so that the soil will not dry out. It may help to put a piece of glass or see though plastic between the lights and the plants to cut down on heat transmission from the fluorescent lights. Make sure there is enough air circulation so the plants don't get too hot.

 Insectivorous Plants need moisture.

  All the planting mediums should be moist but not sopping wet. Too much moisture will encourage water moulds that will kill the seedlings. You may want to put the pots in a plastic bag, or cover with a plastic soft drink bottle with the top cut of and place up side down over the pot, or cover the pot with plastic wrap, or put them in a sealed terrarium if you have one. Once the seedlings have emerged you should put them in place were the new plants can gets more air circulation. Rain water is the best to use in growing Carnivorous Plants. In some place the tap water can be used BUT you will need to check this out with local growers or with your local water company. Most tap water will kill your plants. I have found that if you store the rain water over the wetter times you can grow these great plants without buying or making reverse osmosis, distilled, or deionised water. Water should have less than 70 PPM of dissolved solids is said.

  Remember Carnivorous Plants are very sensitive to soil nutrients and salts in water. Most if not all Carnivorous plants live in low nutrient environments. They can be killed by fertilizer and other nutrients rich systems you may use for your other plants. The typical soils that are written about in books for growing CP are sphagnum peat, long fibered or live sphagnum moss, Silver sand, and other coarse silica sand, and perlite.  Remember to make sure there are no fertilizers added.

  The seeds of most Carnivorous Plants species do best if the seed is not buried. Just sprinkle on the surface of the planting medium and spray lightly with rain water. Bugs would love to eat your Carnivorous Plants sprouts, like any other sprouting plants. So keep look out for your seedlings. Some Fungus gnat larvae love eating the roots of CP seedlings. Try to use a sterile planting medium to combat fungus. Consider using sterilized milled or chopped live sphagnum moss for species that will grow in sphagnum. Otherwise you can use a peat and sand mix. There are fungicides you can also use to combat fungus. I have never needed to use fungicides. Some fungicides can kill seedlings and older Carnivorous Plants. Please ask on our linked forum or other members at meetings on how there use fungicides. Please keep a record of the seeds full name, details and the date of planting. Most species require 3 weeks or more for germination. The germination will seem like an eternity and without the dates to check.

Dionaea muscipula

  Dionaea muscipula, or better known as the Venus Fly Trap ( VFT ), is undoubtedly the most known and grown Carnivorous Plant found on this planet. The seed is easy to get from plants, but I would not let my plants flower and set seed every year. I only do this to give to the seed bank one in every three years as you get a much bigger a better plant if you do not let it flower. The seed is black and as a shine to it, with a point to one end. If you want to grow it from seed, expect to be admiring the plant with a magnifying glass for a few years. If you are not in a hurry to have a mature plant then this can be great fun and a great talking point with your friends. If you are looking for mature size plants then there are the meetings, nurseries or the forum where you may buy a plant. Many are grown in tissue culture these days. They may only be available at certain times of the year.

Subtropical Drosera ( Sundews )

  Many subtropical Drosera species are easy to grow from seed. Some of the easiest species are Drosera capensis, D. dielsiana, D. spatulata, D. binata and D. aliciae. These species should do fine on a 50:50 peat and sand mix. They germinate best with a little warmth, 25°C (80°F) is perfect. For the more difficult sub-tropical's it is best to use a layer of sterilized or live chopped sphagnum moss on top of the peat/sand mix. Some species also prefer to be in pure long fibered sphagnum. Try different growing mediums to see which are best for your plants under the conditions you can give.

Tropical Drosera and Byblis

  Summer-growing tropical Drosera and Byblis are generally found in areas with very hot temperatures and very high rainfall in summer. In winter temperatures are warm but there is very little rainfall. The Drosera petiolaris group species are perennials that become dormant in summer. Drosera indica and related species, Drosera burmannii, and Byblis liniflora and related species are summer annuals that grow very quickly, bloom, set seed, and die.

  Most of these species are found in sandy or lateritic soils. They grow best in a mix of 1 part Sphagnum peat 2 parts silver sand or Sphagnum peat 1 part, Silver sand 1 part & 1 part perlite or 1 part chopped sphagnum 2 parts Silver sand and/or perlite or similar mix that is very "light". Drosera burmannii is an exception and will grow well in just about anything usual for carnivorous plants. Warm temperatures at or above 25°C (80°F) are generally required for the seed of these species to germinate well and for the plants to grow well. Some of the species are fire adapted and require "help" to germinate. The fire adapted species require a Gibberellin A3 treatment of the seeds to germinate well. Smoke water or smoke treated sphagnum may substitute for the GA3 ( see note below ). Drosera burmannii can become a weed in some CP collections like others e.g.. Drosera capensis, D. dielsiana, D. spatulata, D. binata D. aliciae and some Utricularia .

Note: See my page on how to use GA3 page << Click here

GA3 is sold by www.plants-a-float.co.uk and others

Tuberous Drosera

  Tuberous Drosera live in an area of Australia. The Summers are warm and dry while winters are cool and very rainy. The tubers sprout in early Autumn and begin vigorous growth with the first rains. By late spring the plants have bloomed and they die back to the underground tubers. The tubers over-summer in warm barely damp soil. The tuberous Drosera seed must be planted in mid to late summer since these species are winter growing. If you have a cool basement, you can grow them any time. Use a 4 part Sphagnum peat and 6 part sand and a tall pot with some sphagnum moss in the bottom. In mild winter areas of the World you may leave the pots outside and let nature takes its course. In other areas and the UK you may start the seeds in a greenhouse that allows the temperature to get down to a few degrees above freezing at night. The seeds will germinate at the warm to cool transition of the seasons. If the seeds don't germinate the first winter, never throw out the pot! Let it dry out during the summer and try again the next fall. As I have said above remember where in the world your seed / plant grows and give them the same conditions.

Temperate Drosera

  Temperate Drosera grow in areas with a winter with cold, wet, snow and lower light levels. To survive this type of winter the plants form a winter bud over the winter, so you should consider growing them outside year round if you live within their natural range e.g.. UK, North Europe, some parts USA and others. Here in the UK we have Drosera. anglica, D. intermedia, and D. rotundifolia that grow native. I grow them in my bog garden which I made for some of my Carnivorous Plants.(see How to build a C P's bog on this site) Seeds of the temperate Drosera need a "winter" to germinate. Drosera filiformis ( two types and hybrid ), D. anglica, D. intermedia, and D. rotundifolia require a few weeks of damp cold stratification. Any hybrids from these plants require the same growing conditions. I would put the seed into a plastic bag with some live moss or some damp peat into the refrigerator for 2 to 4 weeks. I then put the moss or damp peat on to the top of soil which in the pot I want to grow the plants / seed . You could just sow the seed and put the pot into the refrigerator. If you can be put the pots outside in the early spring and allow the seeds to sprout naturally, but I would cover the pots with net to stop animals or birds from digging around your pots. A 1 parts of peat and 1 part sand usually works well although D. rotundifolia is commonly found growing naturally in live sphagnum. Adrian Slack in his book Carnivorous Plants as written that, D. filiformis appreciates a tall pot, D. anglica and D. rotundifolia like short pots, while D. intermedia can be grown as an aquatic during the summer.

Temperate Pinguicula

  The seed of temperate Pinguicula like Pinguicula alpina, P. vulgaris, P. macroceras, and P. grandiflora need to experience a winter before they will germinate, like temperate Drosera above. Warm temperate Pinguicula like P. lusitanica (an annual), P. pumila, and P. lutea will not require stratification and will germinate without stratification. Seeds of temperate Pinguicula need a damp cold stratification for 8 weeks before they will germinate. A good soil mix for these Pinguicula is two parts peat, one part silica sand, one part perlite and one part vermiculite.

Mexican Pinguicula

  Seeds of Mexican Pinguicula such as Pinguicula moranensis, P. moctezumae, and P. agnata need temperatures between 22°C and 25°C (70°F to 80°F) to germinate. Here in the UK I sow indoors anytime and out in the cool greenhouse in the spring or summer. The pot is fill it most of the way with one part peat, 1 part sand, 1 part perlite, and 1 part vermiculite and I cover that with a thin layer of the same mix sifted to remove all the large pieces. You can use dolomite or limestone sand if you can find it. Then sow the seed on the surface of the medium and don't bury it. The soil should be damp but not sopping wet. You may want to put the pot in a plastic bag to give a good and steady conditions . Seeds should germinate in 4 to 8 weeks.

Sarracenia

  Sarracenia seeds needs a damp cold stratification for 4 weeks before they will germinate. You may sow these seed at any time, but remember the plants need a winter rest. For UK I would plant the seed in a cold frame or cool greenhouse, sow them from the Autumn to early Summer. It would be a good idea to keep the seedlings under lights the first Winter or plant in late winter if they will be put outside in late spring. If you live in the USA where Sarracenia or Darlingtonia ( see below ) grow naturally, consider starting the seed in pots outside during the winter.

  I sow the seed on the surface of live sphagnum moss which is put on top of a mix peat, silver sand and perlite. Live sphagnum does works best but will needs to be trimmed back regularly. Some sow on chopped sphagnum moss. Please don't bury the seed. Try place seed about 1/2 cm apart. Put the pot in a plastic bag and store in a refrigerator, cold frame, or other location that stays between a few to 10 degrees above freezing for 4 weeks. The seeds may also be put in a plastic bag with a few strands of finely chopped damp sphagnum moss and placed in a refrigerator for 4 weeks. Try and use sterilized items when sowing seed and taking cuttings e.g. pots, soils, moss and also sow in sterilized place / area.

  After stratification, move the pots to a bright, warm location. Leave the pots in the plastic bags until the seeds start to germinate or I place a soft drink bottle over the pot. When the seed starts to germinate, remove the soft drink bottle that cover the pots or at least put holes in the bottle and put the pots in a sunny location or under lights

Darlingtonia californica ( Cobra lily )

  These plants like to keep its roots cool all the time. I have found that you can grow from seed in the same way as Sarracenia. The seed will take some years to get to full size, but like all Carnivorous Plants I find this part of the fun of growing from seed. Like Sarracenia, Darlingtonia grow well outside in the UK. The seed can be grown on live sphagnum moss, but you will have cut the moss away from your baby plants at times. Your germinate seed will look a bit like baby green worms, and note that the fangs or the fork tongue is pointing at the end of the leaf.

Nepenthes

  Nepenthes seed can and are a lot harder to get hold of due to the fact that it takes a male and female plants to flower for seed. As soon as your plant flowers place a advert on the forums that you have plant coming into flower and try and tell details of plant and sex. The seeds need to be started on chopped sphagnum moss in very damp but not wet conditions. The live sphagnum works best but you have to trim it to keep it from overgrowing the little plants. Sprinkle the seed on the surface of the sphagnum and put the pot in a plastic bag or other sealed container under bright light. Temperatures that are above 25°C (80°F) are usually required for seed to germinate. Germination may take 6 weeks or longer. When the seed germinates, give the seedlings some air circulation to help combat any mould that may generate.

Utricularia

  Currently there are over 200 named species of Utricularia. The genus of Utricularia can be found most types of locations in the World. The species commonly found in cultivation will fall into two groups: The terrestrial species from bogs and shallow water and the epiphytic species from fog forests and wet, mossy hillsides.

  The terrestrial Utricularia can be grown like subtropical Drosera. Scatter seed on the surface of a mix consisting of one part peat & 1 part sand. Place the pot in water in a plastic zip-lock bag. The bags should go under florescent lights but be careful not to have them too close or you will cook the seedlings. After the seeds germinate, remove the pots from the plastic bags and put the pot in a terrarium.

  For epiphytic Utricularia, the easiest way to start the seed is to follow the same procedure as terrestrials but use a pot with 4 part long fibered sphagnum & 6 parts perlite topped with finely chopped sphagnum.

Cephalotus follicularis

  Cephalotus follicularis is very easy to grow from seed if you can get hold of it. You need to stratifying fresh seeds in the refrigerator for 8 weeks . I use the same soil mix as I use for the big plants, which is a mix of 1 part peat to 2 parts sand and 2 parts perlite. I have also sown seed on live sphagnum and then I transplant to their regular mix after the seedlings are a few months old. The seeds can take two months to germinate. The small plants can be over watered when small and die from mould. It will take one year to get a plant with 1/2 cm high pitchers on it. Like all small plants it best to water from the bottom.

NOTE.
  As new plants come into collections, the number of type of seed that can be got will be increase.
Please see Adverts page for links to where you can buy your seeds and plants.

Text by Alan Haines ©