Q: What can I easily grow in a terrarium?


Sarracenia purpurea


Drosera capillaris


Pinguicula moranensis A: Let's throw caution to the wind, shall we, and discuss growing carnivorous plants with a minimum of effort. You will improve your chances over "windowsill cultivation" if you have your planties in some kind of little terrarium. Especially if you provide them distilled water. Especially if you keep the humidity high, but crack the lid of the terrarium a little so it gets some circulation. (Really, the plants will probably die, but we're being reckless.)

The plants that have the greatest chance of surviving in typical low-light windowsill or terrarium conditions are listed below. When you talk to your favorite on-line nursery, these are the plants you should concentrate on trying to buy.

Pitcher plants:
Sarracenia rosea
Sarracenia purpurea subsp. venosa
Sarracenia psittacina
Nepenthes gracilis--it is heat resistant, and small

Bladderworts:
Any terrestrial species like Utricularia longifolia

Sundews:
Drosera capensis
Drosera aliciae
Drosera capillaris
Drosera adelae (if you give it lots of humidity)

Butterworts:
Pinguicula moranensis
Pinguicula lusitanica

Now, buy those plants! Punish them! And may God have mercy on their souls...

Page citations: Rice, B.A. 2006a; personal observations.