How Do You Repot a Carnivorous Plant?

Last updated on October 23rd, 2023 at 08:44 pm

Those who love carnivorous plants, cherish them, give them everything they need. Plenty of water and a few insects. A suitable pot for their roots and a place to feel at home. However, subtropical and tropical carnivores only really feel at home in a humid and warm place. Don’t worry, tropical environments can be easily recreated in a miniature terrarium.

Everything about repotting

Repotting a carnivore is quite easy. About once a year, a new pot is given to it as scheduled. Usually, the old substrate is then also completely replaced with new. The most important thing is to use a suitable pot and soil. Repotting is stressful for the plant, however, so always question the necessity before repotting. Only if repotting brings an advantage, it should be done, otherwise it is better to wait another year.

Substrate for carnivores
If you buy ready-made carnivore soil in stores, you can’t go wrong with it. Its composition is optimally adapted to the needs of carnivorous plants and has proven itself in practice. It is also easier and more practical to buy the soil ready-made. But you can also make your own mixture on peat and sand. It should not be rich in nutrients and should not contain lime.

Suitable pot size

Carnivorous plants do not form as many roots as other plants. Therefore, they do not need too large a pot. The new plant pot should therefore always be only slightly larger than the old plant pot.

Suitable time for repotting

The optimal time for repotting is early spring. In February and March, for example, the winter dormancy of most carnivorous plants ends. If they then get a larger pot and fresh soil at the beginning of the new growing season, these are ideal conditions for new growth. Sometimes, however, there may be a good reason to repot carnivores at a different time.

• the plant is infested with bugs
• the soil has become too enriched with salts and lime

In this case, do not wait until next spring. Then repot the plant when it is necessary.

Repot carnivore only If the current substrate is still in good condition, but the plant needs another pot or is planted out in a different environment, you can repot or transplant it the gentle way. That is, the root ball is transplanted along with the soil. The roots are not messed up and do not have to re-root. They just get more room for their further development.

1. put some soil into the new plant container.
2. gently squeeze the outside of the old plastic pot to help the soil come off.
3. carefully remove the root ball of the carnivore from the old pot. Keep your hand around the root ball to prevent the soil from falling apart.
4. place the root ball with the old soil into the prepared new pot. The top edge of the root ball should be flush with the top edge of the pot. 5.
5. Fill the space in between with new soil.
6. Press the soil only very lightly with your fingers.
7. Water the repotted plant.

Add more soil if the soil has compacted after watering and gaps have formed.

Tip: You can also use a knife along the inside wall of the pot to loosen the root ball from the pot, which will make it easier to remove.

Repot carnivores and replace substrate.

Often with carnivorous plants there is a need to completely replace the old soil. Especially in the following cases:

• the substrate is used up and begins to rot
• rotten substrate allows waterlogging to occur
• there are nematodes in the substrate
• the soil is enriched with lime and salts

When repotting with a complete replacement of the soil, proceed step by step.

1. stop watering a few days before, so that the soil dries. This will loosen the soil and prevent it from sticking to the roots as much.
2. fill the new pot with fresh soil, leaving a hollow for the roots.
3. take the carnivore out of the pot.
4. carefully loosen the old soil from the roots.
5. rinse off any remains with water. If possible, with distilled water.
6. dead or damaged roots can be cut off with a sharp and clean knife at this time.
7. place the plant in the trough.
8. align the roots as they were grown before.
9. carefully refill the soil.
10. water the repotted plant and return it to its optimal location.

Tip: If you discover small offshoots that have roots and leaves while repotting, you can use this opportunity to provide offspring right away. Simply plant the offshoots in their own pot with carnivore soil.

Keeping in the terrarium

Most carnivores in this country are kept in pots and in normal rooms. The problem is regularly to provide the optimal conditions. Especially the necessary high humidity can hardly be achieved this way. Especially the development of subtropical and tropical species suffers from this. Those who want to provide their carnivorous plants with optimal care should therefore consider purchasing a terrarium. Spring, when the plants have finished their winter dormancy and are repotted, is a good opportunity to put them in a terrarium right away. Either with the pot or plant them out in it right away plant them out.

Requirements for the terrarium

A glass terrarium is great for tropical and subtropical plant hunters. Likewise, an aquarium can be converted into a plant terrarium. A terrarium should provide at least the following:

• sufficient space for all carnivores
• good ventilation to prevent mold and mildew
• components to increase humidity
• lighting lamps for sufficient light

Necessary elements for a terrarium

Setting up a terrarium initially costs money and time. But once it is ready, it can be used for a long time. However, the best part is, subtropical and tropical plants will thrive much better in it.

• Glass terrarium or aquarium
• Expanded clay
• water-permeable fleece
• special peat substrate for carnivorous plants
• optional indoor fountain, stream or waterfall
• sprinkler system or ultrasonic sprayer for larger terrarium
• spray bottle for smaller terrarium
• lighting lamps
• hygrometer to measure humidity
• Thermometer for measuring air temperature
• Sphagnum moss (keeps humidity well)
• optional: natural materials for landscaping:, stones, dry branches, etc.

The right location

Before you set up the terrarium, you should first find a suitable place where it can best stay all year round. It should stand brightly, but nevertheless not too sunny. Especially in summer, the glass terrarium can heat up strongly due to strong sunlight. The temperature can quickly climb to values that are too high even for the heat-loving plants.

Terrarium setup

The terrarium should be planned accurately so that the final result matches the ideas.

1. first place the water fountain or similar, if you have decided to do so.
2. install the ultrasonic atomizer. (if planned)
3. fill the bottom of the terrarium evenly with expanded clay. The layer should be about 3 to 5 cm high.
4. place the water-permeable fleece on top of it. This prevents the soil and the expanded clay from mixing later.
5. Water the carnivore soil so that it is moist. Then spread a 15 cm layer of it on the fleece.
6. put a layer of Sphagnum moss over the soil.
7. when the soil is moist and the water level in the terrarium is about 1 cm high, planting can begin.
8. a beautiful landscape can be modeled with natural materials.

Tip: The expanded clay should be thoroughly washed out beforehand to remove any salts and foreign matter that may be present.

Planting the terrarium

There are two ways to carry out the planting.

1. the carnivore remains in its pot and is placed with it in the terrarium.
2. the carnivore is removed from its pot and planted directly into the carnivore soil in the terrarium.

If the plant remains in the pot, it is buried in the soil so that it is no longer visible. This has a more visually appealing effect. The advantage of keeping plants in pots is that each plant can be removed more easily if needed. For example, if it is diseased. Some plants also grow so fast in the terrarium that they can overgrow each other. In that case, corrections may have to be made later. A few rules should be followed when planting the terrarium.

• plant larger plants in the back, smaller plants in the front
• plants that do not like waterlogging are planted higher up
• leave enough space between the plants, because they spread quickly

Which plants may go in?

The terrarium is mainly due to the requirements of tropical and subtropical species. However, it is also possible to keep hardy species in it. It is important not to put plants with different requirements together in one terrarium. Since living conditions of both species cannot prevail at the same time, one species will inevitably lose out. Also some subtropical and tropical species are only conditionally suitable for a closed terrarium, because they need more air circulation.

Find out exactly what the requirements of your carnivores are before moving them to the terrarium. Also observe at the beginning how the individual plants develop in the terrarium. This will help you know if the move was right for them. If a plant weakens, it should perhaps be taken out again.

Wintering in the terrarium

All carnivorous plants in the terrarium can remain in it year round. It is not necessary to take them out in winter and overwinter them in another place. Only sufficient lighting must be additionally provided during this cold season. Lowering the temperature may also be necessary for some species.

Care in the terrarium

• Humidity and temperature should always be kept in mind, so that both values are in the optimal range.
• Humidity approx. 80 to 90%.
• Temperature at least 25 degrees Celsius

The expanded clay is a good watering indicator. As soon as it turns light in color, it is time to water. Used soil should be replaced about once a year. To prevent mold from forming in the terrarium, it must be well ventilated. Plant lamps, which are most easily controlled with a timer, provide sufficient light. Diseased plants must be removed from the terrarium so that they do not infect other plants.

Note: Watering should always be done with distilled water or rainwater only, because carnivorous plants tolerate calcareous water very poorly.