- Carnivorous plants catch few insects
- Butterwort in small mosquitoes
- Caring for carnivores is expensive
- A good location for carnivorous plants
When mosquitoes get the upper hand in the house in summer, many a garden lover considers growing a carnivorous plant to repel mosquitoes. However, the prospect of success in curbing a mosquito plague by planting carnivores is slim.
Carnivorous plants also "eat" mosquitoes
Carnivorous plants catch few insects
Carnivorous plants catch far fewer insects than most home gardeners realize. For one thing, each trap can only take in and digest one mosquito or other insect at a time.
On the other hand, the digestion process takes several days, during which the trap does not attract any new mosquitoes. It is therefore necessary to breed a large number of carnivorous plants in order to achieve a noticeable effect.
Butterwort in small mosquitoes
In the case of very small mosquitoes, it may be worth trying to keep butterwort in the home. This species is quite easy to keep, even for beginners.
However, butterwort can only deal with very small insects such as mosquitoes or fruit flies. In addition, you would have to place pots with the herb everywhere in the apartment to keep a plague of mosquitoes in check.
Caring for carnivores is expensive
Another thing that speaks against the usefulness of carnivorous plants against mosquito infestations is the fact that most species are not very easy to care for.
Depending on the species, the humidity should be at least between 40 and 60 percent. This is accompanied by an increased risk of mold in the house.
Watering carnivorous plants also requires some finesse. The most suitable method is the accumulation method, in which the saucer is filled with water. Pitcher plants also need regular spraying with water.
A good location for carnivorous plants
In addition to the right care, the location plays a major role in the breeding of carnivorous plants. You cannot keep carnivores on dark windows to catch mosquitoes.
Carnivorous plants need a lot of light, which they only get from a south or west window.
tips
Other plants such as lavender or tomatoes in front of the window are more suitable for repelling mosquitoes. They emit a strong scent that deters mosquitoes from entering the room. These plants are much easier to care for than carnivorous plants.