What Is Carnivorous Pitcher Plant?

By Author: Vikram Kumar
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The pitcher plant is a carnivorous type of plant, but it only eats insects so there is nothing to worry about. It can attract its prey through its color and once an insect is already trapped, then the slippery cavity will start to eat them. An insect that is trap inside has no way of escaping from this plant. Inside its deep cavity, there is small body of water that can drown the insect inside. Insects will dissolve inside using bacterial action and enzymes that this plant produces. The carnivorous pitcher plant can get minerals as well as nutrients that it needs from eating insects that they cannot get from its soil. This is the reason why pitcher plant grows healthy and strong.

There are two species of pitcher plants such as Nepenthaceae and the Sarraceniaceae. Nepenthaceae are commonly seen in climbing plants or vines because they are attached to it as a host plant. Another specie is Sarraceniaceae and it is very different from its sister plant as they grown on central rhizome. The whole leaf of the plant serves as the trap. There are various kinds of this specie of this carnivorous pitcher plant such as trumpet pitcher, ...
... Sarracenia purpurea and cobra plant. These types have strange looking flowers especially the purple pitcher plant. It has long leathery read petals that look like an upside down umbrella. Pollen is on the anthers close to the standing platform where insect crawls going to the umbrella where there is more pollen.

The truth is that this plant is not carnivorous in nature and it takes a lot of time before it emerges as carnivorous. It is a mysterious plant for many and nature is the reason why it evolved as being carnivorous. The plant discovers that eating insects will give them protein, nitrogen as well as other minerals that they cannot get from soil, water and sun. Carnivorous pitcher plant trap insects by attracting them with their pollen that is located within its stigma. Cobra lily plant is an interesting type of pitcher plant that uses its long hooded upper portion as false windows that can trick insects thinking that it is a way to escape when it will only lead the to the trap.

If you want to grow a pitcher plant like Sarracenia Purpurea, then you can choose to buy from animals kits at nature gifts online and get the type of pitcher plan that you want. It is important that you plant them in place with good drainage soil like mixture of sphagnum moss with sand and charcoal, and always keep it moist. During summer season, it is important that you place the plant in an area where it can receive 6 straight hours of sun exposure. Actually, you can grow it indoor for as long as it receives its needed sunlight every day. Stores that sell animals kits at nature gifts also offer pitcher plants. During winter months if you have developing pitcher plant, then you can choose to leave it alone or cover tem using thick mulch. There is a need to re-pot the plant for several times during its growing phase because they will outgrow their pot in case it is well fed by your neighbor especially curious kids.

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You can buy kids animals kits at nature gifts - http://www.nature-gifts.com/ - and get the carnivorous pitcher plant that you want for your kid.