Carnivorous plants try to catch their prey using very different methods. They form pitchers, folding traps or, like the pitcher plant, funnels that attract insects. Once trapped, mosquitoes, flies and other insects have no chance of escaping.
How does the funnel of a carnivorous plant work?
The pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant that catches insects such as mosquitoes and flies through a funnel-shaped calyx. The funnel attracts the prey with an attractive color and sweet scent into the liquid digestive solution at the tip of the leaf, which digests it and extracts nutrients.
This is how the funnel of a pitcher plant works
The leaves of the pitcher plant form a trap. They roll up to form a funnel that is wide at the top and tapered at the bottom. The larger the upper funnel diameter, the larger the insects can be. The pitcher plant can even catch wasps in its calyx.
The color of the funnel attracts insects. The trap also gives off a sweet scent that is very attractive.
As soon as an insect settles on the edge, it slips and falls directly into the liquid at the bottom of the funnel.
Enzymes ensure digestion
So that the prey can be digested, the liquid in the funnels contains various enzymes. They decompose the prey and remove its nutrients - especially nitrogen and minerals.
Hardly anything remains of the prey itself. Only the chitin shells and the legs of insects are indigestible.
Care for pitcher plants in the house
If you want to keep a pitcher plant indoors, you need a very bright place. A sunny, south-facing window is well suited.
Since the plants also need high humidity to form lots of funnels, they can be grown well in a terrarium (€99.00 on Amazon) or under glass. Of course, this only applies to the smaller species of this carnivorous plant.
Like all carnivorous plants, pitcher plants do not tolerate hard water. Water them exclusively with rainwater or, alternatively, still mineral water.
Pitch plants are usually hardy
In winter, pitcher plants that are grown indoors are kept cooler. Make sure that the humidity does not drop too much. The plant substrate must never dry out completely.
Tip
Hose plants can also be kept very well on the terrace. The funnels are very decorative, especially since they have a reddish color depending on the species. In contrast to other carnivores, they can tolerate temperatures slightly below zero and can also be hibernated outside.
