How to repot a carnivorous plant

BBC Gardeners' World Magazine

Published: Monday, 1 July 2019 at 11:45 am

Find out how to repot carnivorous plants, such as venus fly traps and sarracenias, in this step-by-step guide.

Save

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.

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 the compost mix of ericaceous bracken and coarse sand

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 from its pot and untangle congested roots

Remove the plant carefully from its plastic container, shaking off loose soil and untangling any congested roots.

Step 3

Add some compost to the pot and position the plant

Add some of your compost mix to the bottom of the pot, then position the plant in the centre.

Step 4

Fill around the plant with compost

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.

Don't miss out this Winter

Enjoy expert advice on what to plant and grow this winter, and how to prepare your plot for the year ahead. Enjoy, 6 months for just £31.99

Subscribe now

Great gardening savings - straight to your inbox

Sign up to the BBC Gardeners’ World offers newsletter for exclusive deals, seasonal savings, and early access to special promotions.