Temperature: Carnivorous plants grow in many parts of the world and prefer different temperatures.  Some may be happy growing outside, whereas others will not survive unless housed in a greenhouse.

Water: Rainwater is best for carnivorous plants. The chemical, Aluminium Sulphate can also be used to acidify water, as can reverse osmosis systems. Whichever method is used, care should be taken to check the pH to ensure slight acidity. Most tap water in the UK is treated with chorine or other germicides. These can build up in the soil over time and may eventually kill plants. Tap water can contain high amounts of calcium, which is toxic to most CPs.  In an emergency, water can be boiled twice and left in the open air for 24 hours before being used.  However, it is advisable to re-pot any plants watered this way, with new soil after a time. High humidity in a greenhouse is beneficial to the plants during the growing season, but in winter it must be lowered, as fungus will kill the plants. Carnivorous plants grown in the greenhouse can stand in water between February and October, but for the rest of the year, the trays are dry and the soil is just kept damp.
 
Light: In the wild, most Carnivorous Plants grow in open bogs, in full sun, with little or no shade.

Compost: The following can all be used for carnivorous plants; living or dead sphagnum moss, sphagnum moss peat, silver sand, horticultural washed sand, horticultural grade perlite, vermiculite, osmundum fibre and silica sand. Limestone sand is used for those few plants that prefer alkaline soils. Live sphagnum moss placed around your plants may be an indication of soil condition. If the moss turns brown the soil may be too dry, if slime mould starts to kill the sphagnum moss, the soil may be too wet. Live sphagnum moss can also be used in the pots when sowing some seeds. The most commonly used soil mixture for CPs is equal parts of peat and sand.  This mixture will support most carnivorous plants.

Propagation: Carnivorous plants can be grown from seed, cuttings (roots, leaves, stems and flowers) and also by division. Some seed is very easy to germinate and grow. Drosera capensis can reach flowering size in just one season.  However, Sarracenia grown from seed can take seven years to reach maturity. The Carnivorous Plant Society has a large seed bank, which is available to members. Cuttings are a quicker method of obtaining a mature plant. Drosera binata forms, D. capensis forms, D. slackii and most other thick-rooted sundews are easily propagated from root cuttings. Cephalotus follicularis and Darlingtonia californica can be propagated from leaf cuttings.

Pest and Diseases: Most diseases are transmitted via pests.  Good husbandry is important.  Plants should not be kept too damp in winter; cut away any dead leaves/pitchers and generally keep the plants clean. Check for pests, some are obvious, but others live under the soil, look out for any signs. More detailed information can be found in books. (The Carnivorous Plant Society has an extensive library for member’s use.  Books are available through the Information Officer.)

Dormancy: During the winter months, carnivorous plants slow down their rate of growth.  Some produce winter leaves; some stop growing altogether and others die down to a resting bulb or rhizome. Plants grown indoors that require dormancy require both the light levels and the temperature to be reduced. Most species that require a dormant period will be content with temperatures down to 0°C (32°F).

Growing CPs Indoors: As stated above, carnivorous plants mostly grow in bogs that are open to full sun. If they are grown indoors, they may need some form of artificial lighting to simulate the conditions found in the wild. Bright windowsills can be a cheaper alternative.  Most carnivorous plants can be grown on a south, or southwest-facing windowsill. Take into account that it can get cooler behind a curtain at night and some plants may need cooler temperatures for a winter rest. Terrariums, which are essentially aquaria without the fish, can be used as indoor greenhouses. A terrarium will often have artificial heat and lighting, which enable a greater range of plants to be grown, such as lowland Nepenthes and Heliamphora.

Growing CPs Outdoors: Carnivorous plants have the basic needs of water, light, soil, temperature and insects. Plants will trap all the prey that they need.  It is not necessary to feed outdoor-grown CPs with fertilizer. In the UK, many carnivorous plants can be grown outside all year round.  All species of Sarracenia, *Drosera anglica, *D. intermedia, *D. rotundifolia (*native to the UK), the three types of D. filiformis, D. binata (which will grow from the roots after winter), Darlingtonia californica (Cobra Lily), Dionaea muscipula (Venus Fly Trap), which will not be as vigorous as when grown in a greenhouse or windowsill, Pinguicula grandiflora, P. vulgaris, as well as a few Utricularia. These plants can either be grown in pots, or in a bog garden. In winter, in colder parts of the UK, it may be necessary to protect some of the plants by moving them to a garage or shed, or by mulching. If you have a greenhouse then you can grow many more types of carnivorous plants. In an unheated greenhouse or a cold frame, more CPs can be grown than in unprotected areas outside.  In a cool greenhouse, which is heated to at least 5 °C (41°F) in winter, some of the less frost-tolerant plants can be grown. A hot house (heated at all times of the year) will allow you to grow most CPs, including Nepenthes.