When mosquitoes get out of hand in the house in summer, many gardeners consider getting a carnivorous plant to combat mosquitoes. However, the prospect of success in controlling a mosquito plague by planting carnivores is slim.
Do carnivorous plants help against mosquitoes in the apartment?
Carnivorous plants are not an effective solution to mosquito plagues because they catch few insects and the digestion process takes a long time. In addition, their care is complex and they require ideal conditions such as high humidity and lots of light. Alternatives such as lavender or tomato plants are easier to care for and more effective.
Carnivorous plants only catch a few insects
Carnivorous plants catch significantly fewer insects than most hobby gardeners believe. For one thing, the individual traps can only pick up and digest one mosquito or other insect at a time.
Secondly, the digestion process takes several days, during which the trap does not attract any new mosquitoes. So it takes the breeding of a lot of carnivorous plants to achieve a noticeable effect.
Fedacea for small mosquitoes
If you have very small mosquitoes, it may be worth trying to cultivate butterwort in your home. This species is quite easy to keep even for beginners.
However, butterwort can only deal with very small insects such as mosquitoes or fruit flies. You would also have to place pots with the herb everywhere in the apartment if possible to keep mosquito plagues under control.
The care of carnivores is complex
Another point that speaks against the usefulness of carnivorous plants against mosquito plagues is the fact that most species are not exactly easy to care for.
Depending on the species, the humidity should be at least between 40 and 60 percent. This is accompanied by an increased risk of mold in the house.
Watering carnivorous plants also requires some sensitivity. The most suitable method is the damming process, in which the coaster is filled with water. Pitcher plants also need to be sprayed regularly with water.
A good location for carnivorous plants
In addition to proper care, the location plays a major role in the breeding of carnivorous plants. You cannot keep carnivores on dark windows to catch mosquitoes.
Carnivorous plants need a lot of light, which they only get from a south or west window.
Tip
Other plants such as lavender or tomatoes in front of the window are better for repelling mosquitoes. They give off a strong scent that deters mosquitoes from flying into the room. These plants are much easier to care for than carnivorous plants.