Organic Pest Control

“How can I possibly be green when I have to get rid of bugs from my house?” This is a question I have been asked on more than one occasion. When you think of pest control, most people assume that the only choice is to spray your house with dangerous chemicals. But you have other options. One of them not only gobbles up pests, but freshens the air.  I am talking, of course, about carnivorous plants.

When most people think of carnivorous plants, they immediately think of little shop of horrors. Far from Audrey II, carnivorous plants pose absolutely no threat to humans. Flies and ants on the other hand, stand no chance with them. Most carnivorous plants lure flies and ants with an attractive scent that will draw them from any part of your house, straight to the plant. The insects think they will get a tasty treat, but in fact, they are the tasty treat for the plant.

Carnivorous plants are so good at luring and catching insects that just 2-3 small plants can provide the same level of pest control for a 1000 sq. ft. home as monthly chemical spraying does, only without all the harmful chemicals that will damage your health. Furthermore, because the plants also use photosynthesis, they’ll also help clean your indoor air.

There are three main types of plants, and I would recommend at least one of each. The one most people are familiar with are the spring-trap plants; this includes plants like the Venus Fly Trap which most people are familiar with. These are some of the most fun plants to watch as they catch their next meal. You may even find yourself wishing you had more pests just so you could watch them get eaten.

The second is pitcher plants which use a small cup of liquid with ultra-slick walls so that any bugs that fall in can’t climb back out. The Asian Pitcher Plant has to be one of the most common pitcher plants. These plants are often a great addition to hanging baskets as the pitchers on many varieties will hang down from the basket which adds interest to the basket.

Finally there are the sticky-leaf plants like Butterwort that simply use glue to trap any insect that is unlucky enough to walk across or land on one of its leaves. These plants are often the best form of ant control. With more than 600 different species of carnivorous plants, many of which are vibrantly colorful, it’s almost guaranteed that you can find a few of each type to suit your home.