Q: What can I grow on my windowsill?


Drosera capensis
× aliciae


Byblis liniflora


Pinguicula moranensis A: Lots of things, but I doubt any of them are carnivorous plants. Here is the cruel truth: carnivorous plants are not easy to grow. If you buy a plant and put it on your windowsill, it will probably die.

But you are willing to try anyway, aren't you. Fine---try it! The worst that will happen is that a delicate, beautiful life-form will wither and perish merely because you have a meddlesome curiosity. (And you wonder how it can be that we live on a mad planet with transgenic organisms and "smart bombs"!)

You will have the highest probability of success growing windowsill carnivorous plants if you observe the following guidelines:

• Move to a place with plenty of light and a humid climate. Windowsill growing will not work in Alaska (long dark winters) or Arizona (too dry). If you live in coastal California, the southeastern US, or places with comparable climates in Europe, Australia, etc., you might have a chance.
  
  
• Turn off the air conditioning. Air conditioned houses are usually too dry for carnivorous plants. Bathrooms often are the most humid rooms in the house. (But see the lighting requirement, below.)
  
  
• Give the plants plenty of sunlight. Choose the sunniest window you can find. Bathrooms are often the most poorly lit rooms in the house (the windows are often frosted or pebbled, so not much light enters the room), which is too bad since they are often the most humid. In my experience, "sun rooms" or atriums may get enough light, but are usually too dry.
  
  
• Try the easily grown plants that I recommend such as tolerant sundews (i.e. Drosera capensis) or Mexican butterworts (i.e., Pinguicula moranensis). Venus flytraps are harder plants.
  
  
• Try Drosera capensis. (Didn't I just say that? Yes, but I want to make sure you read it.) This carnivorous plant is the most resilient to blundering human attempts at cultivation.
  
  
• Follow the general FAQ guidelines. Use appropriate soil, water, and no fertilizers. Don't poke the plants. Don't let the cat eat or wee on them.

Page citations: Rice, B.A. 2006a.