- This is how butterwort catches fruit flies and other insects
- Butterwort in the kitchen to combat fruit flies
- Keep butterwort in the herb bed
Even grandmothers used carnivorous plants such as butterwort (Pinguicula) to rid the kitchen of annoying fruit flies or fungus gnats. A complete expulsion cannot be achieved, but the butterwort helps to keep the infestation within limits.
Butterwort can help control fruit flies
This is how butterwort catches fruit flies and other insects
Butterwort forms leaves that are arranged in a rosette. There are small glands on the leaves that secrete a sticky liquid. Insects such as fruit flies and fungus gnats stick to this secretion.
The visitors caught in this way are digested by enzymes so that after a few days only the chitinous shells remain. The nutrients Pinguicula gets from food are stored in the leaves.
In summer, fruit flies can often be found on herbs and fruit stored in the kitchen, so that butterwort has a good supply of meat. Although there are few insects in winter, the nutrients stored during the summer will easily last until next year.
Butterwort in the kitchen to combat fruit flies
Fruit flies are particularly common in the kitchen near fruits, vegetables and herbs. Setting out pots of butterwort is a non-toxic way to keep the pests at bay.
- Set up bright but not sunny
- Keep substrate moist
- do not fertilize
The biggest problem is the lighting conditions in the kitchen. Butterwort needs a lot of light, but does not like direct sunlight on the window. Place the potties near the window. You will achieve the greatest success if you place the butterwort between the fruit and vegetables.
The substrate must always be moist, especially in summer. In the worst case, this can lead to the formation of mold in the kitchen.
Keep butterwort in the herb bed
Pests also often spread in the herb bed in the garden. Butterwort is also a good solution to combat here.
Do not plant butterwort directly in the ground so that you can better estimate Pinguicula's moisture requirements. Most herbs need a rather dry soil, which the butterwort does not like.
tips
Unlike many other carnivorous plants, Pinguicula is very easy to care for. Butterwort can also be grown in pots in places that are not too dry and do not need a wet biotope to thrive properly.